Interest in diversifying uses in the Australian marine estate is growing. Emerging activities are entering an ocean space that is already exploited and under pressure from direct and indirect threats. Understanding opportunities, roadblocks, and avenues for beneficial co-existence for future development is key to ensure sustainability and a critical building block of marine spatial planning to inform evidence-based decision-making. Here, we provide a systematic strategic assessment of geographic suitability and potential for emerging activities in the offshore Australian marine estate, focusing on those relying on the deployment of permanent infrastructure, such as offshore renewable energy and aquaculture. We detail and map key ecological, social, economic, and regulatory factors – and their interactions – influencing sitting and monitoring of offshore infrastructure. We mirror those factors with domestic needs and industry aspirations for these emerging activities, access to technology and suitable coastal facilities, data availability, and interactions and impacts on sensitive species and ecosystems. This nationwide assessment is an initial step to understand aspirations, potential, and inform systematic decision-making. More detailed regional and local assessments are warranted, where it is necessary to engage with impacted communities and include cumulative effects to guide adaptation and/or mitigation strategies.