Perth’s Data Centre Boom Could Put WA on Cloud Nine
Synopsis
Perth data centres are attracting developer interest as Australia expands capacity beyond Sydney and Melbourne, with power, land and connectivity shaping new development locations.
Perth data centres are growing in popularity as the booming digital infrastructure market looks to diversify from key markets in Sydney and Melbourne.
Other markets in the region, such as Perth, are rising as alternatives for operators, according to Australia's Data Centre Market: Outlook for 2026 from JLL. Availability of power, lack of competition and rapid time to market are contributing to increased sites, JLL says.
Perth Draws Attention Beyond Eastern Hubs
In addition to an added connectivity benefit, the country's submarine cable layout is linking WA to international networks.
JLL's report found that developers are likely to consider sites outside the standard Sydney and Melbourne availability zones as larger facilities are demanding more power and access to suitable sites.
Australia's total live data centre capacity is projected to increase to 1.8GW in three years from around 1.4GW in 2025, CBRE's Australia's Data Centres 2024 report found. The supply, however, is estimated to be 0.7GW or 1.7GW by 2028, given demand and site and power capacity limitations.
Perth data centres continue to lag behind the existing market, where Sydney and Melbourne both have the advantage of larger numbers. Australia has almost 1.5GW of built-out capacity, with Sydney having the largest concentration, C BRE's Australia's Data Centres 2024 report stated.
Power Becomes Central to New Development
The expansion of electricity demand is also having a significant impact on perth data centres as well as the Asia-Pacific market as a whole.
CBRE's 2026 Asia Pacific Data Centre Trends & Outlook stated electricity demand across the region has almost doubled from 2020 to 2024, and will triple over the next few years. Average new facilities have now risen above 100MW and are causing strain on the available power networks.
Some established centres exist in Japan, Singapore, India and Australia, and China is the biggest market within the region. Australia's primary centres are Sydney and Melbourne, and Perth is considered as a potential site.
Australia has a further large investment pipeline as well. A$100 billion in potential investments in data centres by companies were announced between 2023 and 2025, according to the federal Department of Industry.
The new stimulation of the developer interest is coming as Perth's data centre operators are evaluating sites with power, land and network connectivity for bigger operations.
Source: The West Australian
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
