Sharon AI, described as Australia’s leading “neocloud” and focused on AI and cloud computing, has purchased a former industrial site in Albury as a potential location for the Border region’s first dedicated AI data centre. The former Ettamogah paper mill in Albury has been sold by Visy to the sovereign AI company Sharon AI, potentially becoming the Border’s first AI data centre. The mill was previously owned and operated by Visy, the Australian-American packaging and recycling giant.
Sharon AI has two existing data centres, located in Melbourne and Sydney, and maintains headquarters in both Sydney and New York. A company spokesperson confirmed the Ettamogah acquisition, stating the intention is to convert the under-utilised brownfield site into an operational facility that benefits the local community, and reiterated a broader commitment to building infrastructure across Australia that creates jobs and positive local impact.
Importantly, the project is still at an early stage. No development applications have yet been lodged with Albury Council for the RW Henry Drive address, meaning formal plans for an AI data centre have not officially commenced. In the meantime, Visy is expected to continue operating its warehouse on the site under a lease arrangement with Sharon AI, the new owner. Visy’s Global Logistics vice-president Craig Luxton noted the company remains proud to continue providing warehousing and transport services from the Albury site.
This move is part of a wider pattern of AI infrastructure expansion by Sharon AI, which has also been active internationally — including a much larger joint venture in West Texas involving a multi-phase, gigawatt-scale AI and high-performance computing campus, where the company has been steadily acquiring additional acreage to support hyperscale customer demand.
The Albury development, if it proceeds, would mark a significant step in bringing large-scale AI infrastructure to regional New South Wales’ and Victorian Border region.
Completely sensible approach to building data centres in regional areas around larger regional cities. Perhaps they are thinking of using renewable power from the Snowy Project 2.0?
Better to have data centres at those locations like Albury, Geelong and Ballarat than in the middle of cities. This is a smart move from Sharon AI who would have paid a lot less for the land in Melbourne or Sydney with no power now being available in the Sydney area anyhow.