Pranav Hotkar
Sydney, Australia - July 16, 2026 - Macquarie Data Centres has acquired a AUD 240 million (~USD 168 million) development site in Sydney's Macquarie Park, laying the foundation for a proposed 200 MW AI-focused data center campus that will significantly expand Australia's sovereign digital infrastructure capacity. The acquisition is one of the largest recent land investments for data center development in Sydney's North Zone and reflects growing demand for hyperscale AI infrastructure.
The newly acquired 34,200-square-meter site will become part of a broader engineering and technology campus designed to support hyperscale cloud providers, artificial intelligence workloads, and enterprise customers. Subject to planning approvals and power availability, the first phase of the campus is expected to be completed in late 2029.
According to Macquarie Data Centres, the facility is being engineered to accommodate next-generation AI deployments through a combination of direct-to-chip liquid cooling and advanced air-cooling infrastructure. The company plans to utilize a closed-loop cooling system that minimizes operational water consumption while providing the flexibility to support increasingly dense AI compute environments as customer requirements evolve.
The project will substantially expand Macquarie Data Centres' footprint in Sydney. The company currently operates and develops approximately 67 MW of IT capacity across its Sydney campuses, including the recently announced 47 MW IC3 Super West facility. Once fully developed, the new campus would nearly triple the operator's regional AI-ready capacity, positioning it among Australia's largest sovereign data center developments.
Beyond digital infrastructure, the campus has been designed to integrate research, education, and community facilities. Through a partnership with Macquarie University, students and researchers will gain access to technologies spanning data centers, AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. Plans also include a public park exceeding one acre, a community garden, and an outdoor art gallery featuring works from local artists and university students, subject to regulatory approvals.
David Hirst, CEO of Macquarie Data Centres, said the development is intended to deliver both AI infrastructure and long-term community value by combining high-capacity digital infrastructure with education and public amenities. He added that engaging customers during the design phase will allow the campus to meet evolving technical requirements before construction begins.
The investment comes as Australia experiences accelerating demand for AI computing capacity, prompting operators to secure land and power in strategically connected technology precincts. Macquarie Park remains one of the country's most fiber-rich locations, making it an attractive destination for hyperscale cloud providers and AI developers seeking low-latency connectivity and scalable infrastructure.
The proposed campus also underscores a broader shift in data center development, where operators are increasingly combining AI-ready facilities with research partnerships and community-focused planning. As AI workloads continue to drive larger and more power-intensive deployments, projects that integrate advanced cooling, sovereign infrastructure, and collaborative innovation ecosystems are expected to play an increasingly important role in Australia's digital economy.
