Anthropic anchors proposed $32b Queensland data centre
Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company behind Claude, has signed a major deal to take up residence at a proposed $32 billion data centre in Queensland’s Western Downs.
Dexus confirmed the agreement in an ASX announcement, saying its Australian Data Centres business was working with Singapore-based developer Zerra DC and Macquarie Capital on the proposed site for Anthropic’s Australian subsidiary.
Announcing the agreement, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli described it as a major investment for the state.
“This is a major win that will deliver more jobs, put more energy into Queensland’s grid and drive down power prices for Queenslanders,” Crisafulli said in comments reported by the ABC.
The premier added that the agreement followed a meeting with Anthropic during a recent trade mission to the United States, where he promoted Queensland’s energy security, available development sites and planning-approval process.
“My meeting with Anthropic was to outline why Queensland was the place to invest in, with energy security and a streamlined approval process,” Crisafulli said.
The proposed data centre, dubbed the Western Downs Digital Park, would be located at 1933 Dalby-Kogan Road, which is north-west of Brisbane, and, if built, would span four data centre buildings, each providing about 36,000 square metres of data centre floor space.
The staged development, which will take four to six years to complete, would also include a 540MVA substation, battery-backed power-conditioning systems, internal roads, an operations campus and supporting electrical infrastructure along with temporary accommodation for up to 1500 construction workers.
Application lodged with council
While the planning stage is progressing, nothing has been approved yet. Zerra DC lodged a development application with Western Downs Regional Council on August 17, 2026 and is awaiting an outcome.
The site was selected for its proximity to the Braemar electricity-generation precinct and associated transmission infrastructure. Three gas-fired power stations, a solar farm and the Braemar substation are located in the surrounding area. The proposal includes a direct connection to the existing high-voltage network rather than the local electricity distribution system.
The data centre would primarily use air-cooled technology, supplemented by a closed-loop liquid-cooling system. Rainwater harvesting and treated wastewater reuse are proposed to reduce potable water demand.
Council approval is not the only potential barrier; Anthropic’s involvement is also subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval.
Data centres attract property capital
The proposal comes as developers and institutional investors increase their capital spending on Australian data centres.
Dexus’ involvement reflects the growing intersection between commercial property, energy infrastructure and cloud-computing capacity. Unlike conventional industrial developments, hyperscale data centres require access to large volumes of electricity, multiple fibre connections, specialised cooling systems and backup power.
Power availability has consequently become one of the principal factors determining the value and development potential of data centre land.
The Western Downs proposal differs from most of Australia’s existing data centre stock, which is concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne. Its regional location places it close to large-scale generation and transmission assets while providing enough land for a multi-staged development.
