AI company Anthropic has signed its first data centre lease in Australia, at the Western Downs Digital Park in Queensland.

The site

  • Location: 37km north-west of Dalby, about 250km north-west of Brisbane.
  • Developer: Singapore-based Zerra DC, through project company WDDP Pty Ltd.
  • Scale: 1.44GW of IT capacity, with peak power draw of 2.16GW across four 360MW buildings.
  • Value: $31.9 billion.

Timeline and approvals

Anthropic is targeting a 2027 start. Zerra DC lodged its development application with Western Downs Regional Council in August, and the lease needs Foreign Investment Review Board approval.

Energy questions

The site is not tied to renewable energy. Queensland allowed a mix of sources including coal and gas, and the site sits near existing gas-fired power stations. The state says no new transmission lines are needed. The Climate Council and some locals have raised concerns about emissions and the impact on the community.

Earlier this year Anthropic signed a memorandum of understanding with the federal government, the first partnership under the National AI Plan.