# AI data centre development in Australia

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ai-data-centre-development-in-australia
> Updated: 2026-10-26T04:00:15.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

Initial reports indicated that AirTrunk, a consortium led by Blackstone, was developing a major data centre campus in Kurri Kurri, Australia. This facility was intended to serve as a critical hub for a global AI network, facilitating high-speed data transfers between the United States and the Indo-Pacific region, with Anthropic identified as the primary candidate for occupancy.

Subsequently, Anthropic signed a lease to become the first major tenant of the Western Downs Digital Park, a proposed $22 billion AI data centre project in rural Queensland. Developed by Singaporean firm Zerra DC, the facility would comprise four massive buildings and require temporary housing for 1,500 construction workers. While the project offers potential for economic diversification in an agricultural and gas-dominated region, it faces a pending decision from the local council and coincides with national debates regarding regulatory guardrails and data security.

## Claims

- Anthropic has signed a lease to be the first major tenant of the Western Downs Digital Park. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Singaporean developer Zerra DC has proposed a $22 billion investment for the data center. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The final decision regarding the project rests with the local council. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The project has not yet been formally approved. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The proposed facility would include four buildings, each the size of five football fields. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The project requires temporary accommodation for 1,500 workers during construction. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-26: Anthropic signs lease for proposed $22 billion Australian AI data center

Anthropic has signed a lease for the Western Downs Digital Park, a proposed $22 billion AI data center project in Queensland, Australia, led by developer Zerra DC.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/anthropic-signs-lease-for-proposed-22-billion-australian-ai-data-center

### 2026-10-05: Kurri Kurri data centre project targets role in global AI network

AirTrunk and Blackstone are developing a major data centre in Kurri Kurri, Australia, intended to serve as a vital hub for Anthropic’s Claude AI model and Indo-Pacific data transfers.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kurri-kurri-data-centre-project-targets-role-in-global-ai-network

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Cite as: AI data centre development in Australia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ai-data-centre-development-in-australia