Macquarie Data Centres plans 200MW campus on A$240 million Sydney site

Macquarie Data Centres has exercised an option to purchase a 34,200 sqm industrial site in Sydney for A$240 million, where it plans to develop a data centre and engineering campus with a capacity of approximately 200MW for computing equipment.

Located between Talavera Road and the M2 motorway in Macquarie Park, the site will expand the company’s presence in Sydney’s North Zone. The acquisition is expected to settle in the coming weeks, though the development itself remains subject to planning, power, and regulatory approvals.

These approvals will shape both the project timeline and the final design. Macquarie Data Centres expects initial construction to be completed in late 2029, while customer requirements and power availability will dictate how specific sections of the facility are configured.

Cooling design supports denser computing systems

The proposed campus is being designed to accommodate computing equipment that generates substantial heat and requires more specialised cooling.

Macquarie Data Centres plans to utilise a closed-loop air-cooling system for the facility’s primary heat-rejection process, aiming to reduce operational water consumption. The data halls will also support liquid cooling delivered directly to computing equipment, alongside conventional air cooling.

Combining these systems will allow the facility to serve a broader range of customer requirements, including high-density installations. Existing and prospective customers may contribute design specifications while the project is in its early stages, though any modifications will remain dependent on planning and power approvals.

The proposed 200MW capacity refers to the power available for servers and other computing equipment within the campus. Its eventual scale and configuration will therefore depend on approved power volumes and how customers intend to use the facility.

University partnership shapes the campus model

The development will also feature an engineering and technology campus operated in conjunction with Macquarie University, extending a recently announced partnership between the institution and Macquarie Technology Group.

Students and researchers are expected to gain hands-on access to data centre, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and cloud technologies at the site. The arrangement is designed to connect academic research directly with the practical technology and engineering activities conducted within the campus.

This university component forms an integral part of Macquarie Data Centres’ broader campus proposal, which integrates commercial data centre capacity with research and education facilities.

Community facilities form part of the site plan

Subject to approval, Macquarie Data Centres also intends to convert more than one acre of the industrial site into a public park. Plans for the space include recreational areas, a community garden, and an outdoor art gallery featuring work by local residents, Macquarie University students, and faculty. These facilities will occupy a portion of the site that is currently zoned for light industrial use.

Further details regarding the data centre, university facilities, and public areas are expected to be released as the project moves through the planning and development application process.