World’s tallest hybrid timber tower to be built next to Sydney’s Central Station

Software giant Atlassian is planning to build the world’s tallest timber tower at the southern end of the Sydney CBD.

Australian tech behemoth Atlassian is set to build a 40-storey hybrid timber tower right next to Central Station at the southern end of Sydney’s CBD, in what will be the tallest structure of its kind in the world.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the announcement today alongside Atlassian CEOs Scott Farquhar and Mike Cannon-Brookes.

New York-based architects SHoP and Australian firm BVN have been enlisted to help to build the tower, which will by powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.

Standing at 40 storeys, the skyscraper will transform the skyline because, for one, it will not adopt a traditional appearance.

Instead, the tower will feature open spaces laced with an abundance of plants, and a glass and steel exterior, with a variety of spaces both outdoor and indoor.

The new building will be home to thousands of technology workers when complete in 2025.

Ms Berejiklian said the new headquarters would help the capital rival California’s famous Silicon Valley.

“Atlassian is a great Australian success story and it’s very fitting for them to have their headquarters here in Sydney,” she said.

“Tech Central will rival Silicon Valley as the place to be. This means more jobs and opportunities for all of our citizens.”

It is understood the construction will generate another 2500 jobs and is due to be complete in 2025.

In a statement released today, the NSW Government said it was committed to facilitating 250,000 square metres of office space in the precinct, which will stretch from Central Station to Camperdown.

Aptly named Tech Central, the establishment will also house a number of tech start-ups.

“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's new Tech Central hub in Sydney. Source: Supplied

The building is intended to help Atlassian expand its local research presence, which focuses on product development, while housing more than 4000 jobs. Mr Farquhar said the company wanted to help Australia recover from the pandemic.

“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,” he said.

Jobs Minister Stuart Ayres said the long-term goal of Tech Central was to create 25,000 innovation jobs while encouraging students to focus on STEM (science and maths) subjects.

The NSW government will inject $48.3 million into Tech Central. It will also work to secure further agreements with other anchor tenants.