Sydney will be home to the biggest technology hub of its kind in Australia with Tech Central to become a world-class innovation and technology precinct.
The NSW Government has committed to facilitating 250,000 square metres of office space in the precinct which stretches several kilometres from Central Station to Camperdown, including South Eveleigh.
Tech Central will be home to start-ups, scale-ups and innovation ecosystem partners – putting NSW at the forefront of tech development.
Local technology giant Atlassian has committed to become an anchor tenant of the precinct, basing its Australian headquarters at the new site.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Tech Central will rival Silicon Valley as the place to be, establishing NSW as a global leader in innovation and technology.
“Technology and innovation are key planks of the government’s strategy to attract investment and create the jobs of the future for the people of NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We have some brilliant tech innovators and entrepreneurs in our state and Tech Central will help us retain local talent and attract some of the brightest minds in the world. This will be more important than ever as we recover from the pandemic.”
Atlassian and the NSW Government have negotiated to develop and build the company’s new Australian headquarters at the Central site, above YHA Central Railways Square.
The building will help Atlassian expand its strong local research presence, housing over 4,000 jobs focused on product development.
Atlassian co-founder and co-CEO Scott Farquhar said technology can turbo-charge Australia’s recovery.
“That’s why we’re building this precinct. We want to create jobs, ideas and innovation. This will be home to thousands of workers and the best new ideas. If you want to work in tech - this is the place you will want to be,” Mr Farquhar said.
“Sydney has the potential to be one of the world’s leading technology cities and the creation of a tech precinct sends a loud signal that we’re in the race to take a slice of the world’s most valuable market. That’s an exciting place to be.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the long-term goal of Tech Central was to create 25,000 innovation jobs and encourage 25,000 new students to focus on Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) and life sciences studies.
The NSW Government today announced $48.2 million in funding to bring Tech Central
to life.
Tech Central will in time provide 50,000 square metres of affordable space for startup and scale-up businesses and is predicted to bring up to 25,000 new jobs to NSW, further strengthening the state’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
“Today’s commitments show that Tech Central is moving from vision to reality. This will establish Sydney as a major player on the global tech scene,” Mr Ayres said.
“This will be the largest hub of its kind in Australia, a home for tech giants, new and innovative startups and leading talent all in one place, right here in NSW.”
Following today’s announcement, the NSW Government will work to secure further agreements with other anchor tenants.
The precinct will expand Sydney CBD’s commercial core to the south and ensure that Central station remains and is enhanced as a key NSW transport hub.