AirTrunk unveils second Melbourne campus, operational from 2027

The new hyperscale data centre will create over 4,000 jobs, according to the company.

AirTrunk has unveiled its second Melbourne location for the data centre company, in a move to meet AI demand.

The campus, named MEL2, will be based in the north west suburbs of Melbourne with it scheduled to be open by the second half of 2027 through a multi-phase construction.

With over 354MW capacity, MEL2 will reportedly add more than A$5 billion in new direct investment and lift AirTrunk’s total deployable capacity in Melbourne to over 630 MW.

According to AirTrunk this new campus will create over 4,000 jobs during the multi-phase construction and over 200 direct jobs, once operational. In addition, the company will create more than 1,000 full-time jobs to support its data centres.

Speaking to CRN Australia, Robin Khuda, founder and CEO at AirTrunk said the company is expanding its Melbourne platform to meet surging demand for AI-ready, cloud-scale infrastructure.

“MEL2 will deliver sustainable, resilient capacity to support global technology providers and Victoria’s digital economy,” he said.

AirTrunk will operate five campuses nationally, SYD1 (121 MW+), SYD2 (158 MW+), SYD3 (330 MW+), MEL1 (276 MW+) and eventually MEL2 (354 MW+). This will deliver a combined capacity of more than 1.2 GW.

Commenting on the opportunities for the channel, Khuda said, “MEL2 creates opportunities for channel partners to deliver services, hardware, and solutions that enable hyperscale customers to scale efficiently and sustainably.

“The multi-phase build and ongoing operations will drive demand for local contractors, technology vendors, and service providers, strengthening Victoria’s IT ecosystem.”

Khuda said that MEL2 represents more than $5 billion in new direct investment.

“[It] will create thousands of jobs, boost local supply chains, and reinforce Victoria’s position as a hub for cloud and AI innovation,” he added.

AirTrunk’s Melbourne expansion comes as the federal government announced its National AI Plan late last year.

The data centre company recently announced a new hyperscale campus in Osaka, Japan, delivering up to 100MW of IT load in Japan and a $3 billion new direct investment in Japan.