CQUniversity has supported computational research for more than twenty years through a succession of High Performance Computing (HPC) systems. In 2025, the University deployed its fifth generation HPC system, representing a substantial upgrade in computational capability, storage performance, and overall system architecture.

This presentation provides a technical overview of CQUniversity’s HPC evolution. The primary focus is a twelve month retrospective evaluation of the new system. We examine the hardware and software decisions made during the design and procurement phases, assessing how those choices have performed under real world workloads.

Although CQUniversity operates a comparatively small HPC facility, many of the engineering considerations, operational challenges, and lessons learned mirror those encountered at larger centres, differing mainly in scale rather than in principle. After a year of operation, we discuss what has gone as expected, what has not, and what has been learned.

User feedback is summarised to highlight how the institutions research community has adapted to the new environment and where improvements have been most impactful. We also present current usage trends and areas of emerging growth. In addition, the talk describes how the University’s Research Data Management system has been integrated to handle user access to shared project directories within our HPC environment.

The presentation concludes with expected future usage trends for CQUniversity’s HPC facility.