Anthropic Signs First Australian Data-Center Lease in Queensland

Anthropic has signed lease documentation for the first stage of a proposed Queensland data-center campus, giving the Claude developer its first Australian data-center agreement and a foothold in the country’s AI infrastructure market.

The Western Downs Digital Park is being developed by Zerra DC with Australian Data Centres and Macquarie Capital near Kogan and Dalby. The broader campus is planned to include four data-center buildings with combined IT capacity of about 1.44 gigawatts.

The lease remains subject to customary approvals, including review by Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). Anthropic’s lease value, duration, contracted IT capacity and power requirement were not disclosed.

The broader campus is estimated to cost A$31.9 billion to A$32 billion. That figure applies to the full proposed development and does not establish Anthropic’s investment or the value of its lease.

The proposed site spans roughly 801.3 hectares, while permanent disturbance could affect up to about 178.7 hectares. The campus will be developed in phases, while its final design and staging remain subject to approvals.

The facilities will use air-cooled technology. The developer will pay the full cost of grid connection and required network upgrades, and the project would be located near existing energy infrastructure in Queensland’s Western Downs.

Australian Data Centres owns a 25% stake in the consortium developing the campus, while Dexus holds an 85% interest in Australian Data Centres.

“Anthropic’s long-term commitment is a significant milestone for Western Downs Digital Park and a strong endorsement of the opportunity to build major digital infrastructure in regional Queensland,” Zerra CEO Dave Cooper said.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli called the agreement “a major win” that would deliver more jobs, add energy to Queensland’s grid and drive down power prices for Queenslanders.

The agreement follows Anthropic’s March 31, 2026, memorandum of understanding with the Australian government covering AI-safety research, evaluations and cooperation with Australia’s AI Safety Institute. Anthropic also announced a Sydney office and partnerships with Australian research institutions.

The Queensland lease adds to Anthropic’s efforts to secure dedicated computing capacity, including its previously discussed potential lease of up to 1 gigawatt of data-center capacity in the United States.

Construction and operations remain subject to planning, foreign-investment and other approvals.