Defence industry

Minutes from the heart of Rockingham, Fleet Base West is located at HMASStirling on Garden Island and is the Royal Australian Navy’s largest base in Australia. 

At present, 12 fleet units including Anzac Class frigates and Collins Class submarines are stationed here, along with an additional 70 units including the Submarine Training and Systems Centre, Submarine Escape Training Facility (one of only six in the world), Clearance Diving Team Four, and the Defence Communications Station Perth.

Under the planned Navy Capability Infrastructure Sub‑Program, HMAS Stirling will become the homeport for additional Hunter Class frigates, Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels and SSN‑AUKUS class submarines as they enter service. This will result in significant expansion, sustainment and maintenance opportunities in the coming years.

As part of the AUKUS program announced in March 2023, HMAS Stirling will continue to be the home of Australian submarines. The base will be receiving frequent port visits from the UK and US nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) from the second half of 2023, rotational presence from as early as 2027 and housing of Australia's first SSN capability - the US Virginia class submarine from the early 2030s. 

The Australian Government will invest up to $8 billion over the next decade to expand HMAS Stirling, creating around 3,000 direct jobs and supporting growth of the local economy. This includes wharf upgrades, operational maintenance, logistics and training facilities, and other opportunities for supporting infrastructure outside of HMAS Stirling.

Rockingham's strategic advantages

Rockingham’s strategic advantages as a Defence innovation precinct include:

• Long history of working with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
• Close proximity to:
  • HMAS Stirling (10 km, <10 min)
  • Australian Marine Complex, Henderson (25 km, < 20 min)
  • Western Trade Coast and future Westport (11 km, < 10 min)
• Strong workforce and population growth
• Large veteran community
• Considerable land for housing, industry and education uses
• Great coastal lifestyle and amenities

Defence industry update

This initiative from the City’s Economic Development Strategy 2020–2025 provides local businesses with valuable insights into the defence industry and upcoming opportunities in the Rockingham region, where $8 billion will be invested in infrastructure over the next 10 years.

There are three parts to this initiative:

• Part 1 - The City has run a series of workshops and events to support local businesses to become Defence Ready. In-person workshops were designed to provide need-to-know information and critical insights to help businesses prepare and tender for work in the Defence supply chain.
• Part 2 - A series of events designed to connect businesses with key leaders, assess upcoming projects and provide networking opportunities.
• Part 3 - The Defence Industry Update event provides a short, focused briefing on outcomes from Parts 1 and 2. Presented by key stakeholders within the Defence and defence-related industry supply chain, this initiative provides opportunity for local businesses to find out more about the up and coming work available in the local area.

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Defence Ready business forum

To further support local businesses to participate in the estimated $8 billion infrastructure projects set to occur at HMAS Stirling (Fleet Base West) on Garden Island, the City partnered with the Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce (RKCC) to deliver the City of Rockingham WA Defence Forum 2025 on 30 April 2025 at Gary Holland Community Centre. 

Key topics set for the event included:

• Defence in WA and the opportunities for Rockingham - government perspective
• Profile of the Defence industry in Rockingham and potential future opportunities - industry perspective
• How to enter into the Defence industry supply chain - key learnings for local SMEs.

For more information, contact RKCC on 9592 3333 or admin@rkcc.org.au.