NextDC acquired 169-hectare land parcel near Melbourne for future AI data center campus expansion.

Australian data center operator NextDC has acquired a 169-hectare land parcel near Melbourne, Victoria, for AU$165 million (approximately US$113.85 million). The strategically positioned site, located in Lovely Banks near Geelong approximately 70 kilometres west of Melbourne, was previously designated for residential development.

The acquisition's value lies in its proximity to critical power infrastructure. The property is situated close to a major electrical substation and the Victorian Big Battery energy storage facility—factors that are essential for data center site selection, as they provide access to significant power capacity for future builds. NextDC has not yet issued an official statement regarding the purchase.

The land acquisition complements the company's broader regional expansion strategy. NextDC is currently developing a 4.4-megawatt edge data center facility designated GE1 in Geelong, for which the company broke ground earlier this year. This investment in the Melbourne-Geelong corridor reflects the company's commitment to meeting growing digital infrastructure demands across the region.