SYDNEY, Australia – 1 June 2009 – The Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce AC, officially opened the new Google Australia headquarters at a ceremony in Sydney today.
350 Australian Googlers will be based in the new headquarters in the 6-Star Green Star-designed Workplace6 building in Pyrmont.
Opening the headquarters, the Governor-General told the assembled Googlers: "You elicit the best of Australian ingenuity – what has always defined and distinguished us. You provide space and, importantly, time, for Australian ideas to emerge, develop, and proliferate… I thank you for your outstanding contribution to Australia’s economy, culture and progress."
Karim Temsamani, General Manager of Google Australia and New Zealand, said the new Australian headquarters represented a milestone in the history of Google Australia, which started in 2002 with a single employee selling Google AdWords from her lounge.
"This spectacular office embodies Google’s aspirations in Australia – make a great contribution to the vibrant Australian life, be a good steward of our earth, and make it fun and exciting for our employees and our Australian users."
Google Australia’s Head of Engineering, Alan Noble noted the broad range of innovations that Google’s Australian engineers work on – including Google Maps, developer products such as Google App Engine, and the new communications platform Google Wave. Noble said: "There’s phenomenal computer science talent in Australia, so we’re investing in the ecosystem here. Software engineers and developers are the true heroes of the web – the people who make the platforms and products that benefit millions of users and businesses."
To coincide with the move to Pyrmont, Google announced that it had worked with Fairfax Media to digitise archival copies of Fairfax newspapers, including the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. The collaboration means that Australians can now get free access to Australia’s rich journalistic heritage through Google News and Google Search.
Lisa Hagenmaier, group syndication manager, Fairfax Media, said: "The project to digitise and make searchable our archived content will help people to more easily experience and appreciate our journalistic heritage – letting them see newspapers exactly as they were first printed, with original headlines and images. It’s a great example of how technology and news media can work together to benefit all Australians."
Google also announced that public transit information for Sydney’s light rail and monorail network (Metro Transport) and Canberra’s bus network (ACTION buses) would be available in Google Maps later in June. Users of Google Maps in Sydney and Canberra will be able to easily access public transport schedules, routes, and plan trips using local public transport options.
Michelle Silberman, marketing director for Metro Transport, said: "We’re thrilled to be the first transit provider in New South Wales to have our data added to Google Maps, making it easier for Australians and visitors alike to check out the great sights and activities Sydney has to offer."
Google Australia was recently named by BRW Magazine and the Great Place to Work Institute as Australia’s Number 1 employer.
The new office contains a number of Australian-themed areas, including offices with picnic benches, fish tanks, Australian flora, the beach-themed "Cafe Esky" and a games room named "The Rissole".
In describing the office fit-out and features, Alan Noble said: "It’s in an architectural style that can best be described as Googley."
Photos of the new office available at: picasaweb.google.com/redagencysydney/GoogleAustraliaOfficeOpening#
Labels: Australia new announcements
