A new landmark has taken shape beside Sydney’s Central Station, with Atlassian Central reaching more than 180 metres and becoming the world’s tallest hybrid timber tower.
Read: Surry Hills: Triumph Over Adversity at Central Station
The 39-storey development has reached its full structural height, marking the construction milestone known as “topping out.” The project is being developed by Dexus and Atlassian, with practical completion targeted for the end of 2026.
The tower rises about 100 metres higher than the previous record holder, Ascent in Milwaukee, United States. Its structure combines mass timber with steel and concrete, using the different materials together to provide the strength and stability required at high-rise scale.
Sustainability is a central feature of the project. Dexus said Atlassian Central is targeting a 50 per cent reduction in upfront embodied carbon across its structure compared with a conventional premium commercial office tower. It is also targeting a 50 per cent improvement in operational energy efficiency compared with a conventional 5 Star NABERS base building.
The design includes seven timber “habitats,” which bring together natural materials, light and ventilation in spaces intended for work and collaboration. The timber elements form part of a broader structural system incorporating steel and concrete, while a steel exoskeleton supports the building’s glass facade.
The development also incorporates the heritage-listed Parcel Building at the site. Dexus says the building, formerly occupied by YHA, is being restored and will become the lobby for Atlassian Central. A new YHA hotel is also part of the development.
Atlassian Central is located at 8-10 Lee Street in Haymarket, immediately beside Central Station. It forms part of Tech Central, Sydney’s technology and innovation precinct, which includes areas around Haymarket and Surry Hills as well as Ultimo, Camperdown, Darlington and Eveleigh.
The project sits on the edge of Surry Hills, beside Central Station and within the broader Tech Central precinct. Atlassian Central is intended to become the Australian headquarters of Atlassian and is being developed as a major workplace within the precinct.
The project has also been designed with technology and changing workplace patterns in mind. Atlassian CEO and co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes has described the building as being designed for a future of work that will continue to be reshaped by artificial intelligence.
With the structural frame now complete, construction has moved into the next phase. Façade installation and central building services are continuing, with the development on track for practical completion by the end of 2026.
Read: New Community, Parks Planned Over Sydney Central Station Rail Yards
For a project that has made timber the defining feature of a major Sydney office tower, reaching its full height marks a significant construction milestone. The next stage will bring the façade, services and internal spaces closer to completion as Atlassian Central takes its place beside one of Sydney’s busiest transport hubs.
Published 21-August-2026
