The site at 150 Narrabundah Lane, Symonston, was home to IT services provider Digital Digest Data Design (4Data). The block is NUZ1 broadacre zoned and has an existing 1271 square-metre brick building that was used by the company.

A spokeswoman for the environment, planning and sustainable development directorate said the NUZ1 broadacre was for a block in a predominantly rural landscape setting for uses that required larger sites and/or a location outside urban areas.

She said it also had provision for activities requiring clearance zones or protection from conflicting development.

The building was built by the Commonwealth of Australia as a purpose-built laboratory, but CBRE ACT managing director Michael Heather said in recent years had been significant refurbished for its most recent use.

He said the property was being offered for sale as vacant possession and could be used for uses allowed under the NUZ1 Broadacre zoning, subject to a development application.

"The site could be used for residential care accommodation subject to a development application being approved and we are seeing quite a bit of demand from aged care operators for the inner south of Canberra at the moment."

Mr Heather said it could be used for animal care, a caravan park, communications, a defence installation and education among other uses.

Health, scientific research and vet use were also possible.

"A range of buyers have shown interest given the number of uses permissible under the broadacre zoning with strongest interest from IT and data centre operators so far given its most recent use and fibre network that is located at the front gate," Mr Heather said.

IT Company 4data went bust for a second time last year after its director was ordered to pay $3.5 million to the Australian Taxation Office. The company traded for 21 years before entering administration in mid 2015 and was subsequently liquidated.

The auction will be held at the CBRE office in Canberra on Tuesday March 20.