Inside Googleplex Sydney

Google launched its new Australian and New Zealand head office today, located in an office tower overlookig Sydney’s Darling Harbour. In fact, it’s seven floors below me in the Darling Park building, and just one floor below the Fairfax executive level. Now there’s an interesting bit of trivia.

So aside from news about the long distance I traveled to the launch this morning, I also have these cameraphone pics, below. Couple of interesting things to note:

1. Google actually let us take photos. This activity is banned at HQ in Mountainview, Calif. I should know, cos a security guard busted me last July on my visit.

2. Check out the cool tractor beam! Geeks rejoice.

3. Federal IT minister Helen Coonan came to open the ‘plex. That’s pretty high praise in this country.

4. They have about 30 staff, 75% sales and 25% real engineers. They’re hiring like crazy, and are boosting the engineering staff. Larry and Sergei themselves gave the OK to ramp up the Sydney operations. Local engineers are contributing to real code, not just localising Google products. In fact, Aussie engineers are responsible for 50% of the work that went into Google Maps.

5. Speaking of staff, this shot through the door into their off-limits work space gave me an insight into their plans.  It looked to me like there was room enough for many, many more people. They have a lease on the whole floor, which by my guess can hold 200+, judging by the AFR’s space.

Here’s a few more random shots, including the requisite pool table and kitchen that supplies Googlers with free food every day: