The massive heritage-listed White Bay power station beside #SydneyHarbour, 2km from the CBD, is likely to become #Google ’s new Australian headquarters as part of a $20 billion redevelopment of waterfront land. The building – currently a rusted shell including two disused chimney stacks – is a highly visible and recognisable landmark in Sydney, with broad water views, located off one side of the #AnzacBridge which connects the CBD with the main traffic arteries to the west of the city. The interior of the building still features some of its original plant fittings. A spokesman for Google confirmed to Business Insider today that the global tech giant was in direct negotiations with UrbanGrowth NSW, but would not elaborate further. Google’s current Australian headquarters are at nearby Darling Island. Google maintains a sales force in Sydney as well as an engineering division, which was most famously responsible for the creation of Google Maps. Reports that Google was looking at the site first emerged eight months ago, after state premier Mike Baird flagged turning the area, which includes 10 hectares industrial waterfront land, into a tech hub. “The White Bay Power Station will be transformed into a global centre for hi-tech jobs and innovation. It will be a place where global giants of technology and innovation cluster and connect with start-up entrepreneurs, business incubators and accelerators,” Baird said in outlining his vision last year. After calling for submissions from the private sector last year, the NSW government and planning minister Rob Stokes rejected all 13 proposals they received in June, instead appointing the government’s property developer UrbanGrowth NSW as master developer of the precinct, planning to break up Glebe Island site – currently home for the temporary Sydney exhibition centre – into smaller, staged developments. Google, which currently has its Australian headquarters at nearby Darling Island, was believed to be part of a consortium with Lendlease that put forward one of the rejected proposals.
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