Byron Studios has unveiled a new name and an expanded vision as competition intensifies for a slice of the NSW Government’s new $380 million screen and stage funding package.

Now operating as Foundation Studios, the team behind the proposal to transform Alstonville’s Tuckombil Quarry into a major screen production hub says the rebrand marks a pivotal step in its ambition to create a world-class creative precinct for the Northern Rivers.

Foundation Studios CEO and visual effects veteran Will Gammon says the new name reflects the project’s broader scope and long-term regional commitment.

“Foundation Studios represents our goal to become the bedrock of the creative industries here in the Northern Rivers,” Gammon said. “It’s about establishing a sustainable foundation for regional storytelling, jobs, and opportunity  – not just in screen production, but across live performance, design, education and more.”

Gammon says the Byron Studios brand will continue under the new parent company and may also support other studio brands as the venture grows.

A Regional Vision Beyond Film

Foundation’s proposal for the disused quarry site has been years in the making and extends far beyond a film studio.

Plans include spaces for live performance, screen and visual arts education, design and post-production, and even temporary accommodation that can double as emergency housing during floods or bushfires.

The inclusion of accommodation directly addresses a key concern from local residents  – that new development might worsen the housing crisis. 

Gammon says the goal is to create purpose-built, flexible facilities that meet the needs of the screen industry without placing added pressure on local rentals or housing availability.

During the 2022 floods, the company opened its existing Alstonville facility to displaced residents from Wardell  – a model of community-focused infrastructure it hopes to formalise within the new precinct. The current plan includes 120–150 beds to accommodate both production crews and regional emergencies.

“We want to create a home for local stories to be told, and told professionally, right here in the Northern Rivers,” Gammon said.

 “We’re committed to growing a creative economy that’s inclusive, sustainable, and future-facing.”

Competitive Bidding Now Underway

The heat is building around the project, with the NSW Government now prepared to provide substantial backing for regional studio infrastructure under a newly announced $100 million fund.  Reports suggest three competing bids have emerged from Sydney, with others from the Central Coast and Coffs Harbour also in the running.

Gammon believes Foundation Studios’ track record and deep community ties give the Ballina Shire proposal a clear advantage.

“We’ve already shown we can deliver.  We’ve invested, we’ve built partnerships, and we’re here for the long haul,” he said. 

“This is not speculative. We’re ready to move.”

Foundation Studios has previously co-funded a $100,000 feasibility study with support from the NSW Government and Ballina Shire Council. It also retrofitted the Alstonville Cultural Centre during the pandemic, which was later used by Netflix for production.

“One of our major funding bids reached the final round before the last state election,” Gammon said. 

“It was tough to miss out — but with this new package on the table, we believe the timing is right.”

Collaboration Over Exclusivity

Ballina Shire Council is expected to open expressions of interest (EOIs) for the site in the coming months. While Disney Studios has reportedly shown interest in establishing a presence in the area, it has not formally flagged the Tuckombil Quarry as a target.

Gammon says Foundation Studios supports involvement from major industry players — as long as it enhances, rather than limits, the region’s broader creative potential.

“We’re not against Disney – far from it,” he said.   “But if a major player were to lock up the site exclusively for their own productions, we’d lose a generational opportunity to build something for the whole region.”

By contrast, Foundation’s vision is deliberately collaborative.

“This is about creating an ecosystem: screen, performance, post-production, training, design, events — even IRL entertainment,” he said. 

“We want to be a place where both regional and international stories can be told, side by side.”

A Personal Mission for the Northern Rivers

For Will and Anouska Gammon, the project is also a deeply personal one. The couple founded the Bangalow Theatre Company in 2015, producing Broadway-style shows and providing professional stage opportunities for hundreds of local creatives.

“We’ve lived here for 15 years and are raising our family here,” Gammon said. “This isn’t just business, it’s personal. We want to see young people in the Northern Rivers have real creative careers, right here at home.”

With state funding up for grabs and the race now well and truly on, Foundation Studios hopes its proven commitment, regional credibility and inclusive vision will set it apart.

“This is our chance to build something lasting — something for everyone,” Gammon said.

Top photo: Byron Studios CEO Will Gammon (right) with Mayor Sharon Cadwallader and Nationals MP Ben Franklin at the official opening of the company’s visual effect studio in Ballina in December 2021. The production facility continues today under new ownership, employing around 35 content creators and support crew. 

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