Australian Urban Design Awards

Urban design awards program

Australian Urban Design Awards

Awarded for| Design achievement, leadership, advocacy, strategy, policy and research in Urban Design
Country| Australia
Presented by| Planning Institute of Australia, Australian Institute of Architects and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
First award| 2001; 24 years ago (2001)
Website| urbandesignawards.com.au

The Australian Urban Design Awards are a national annual urban design awards program.[1] The Award is hosted by the Planning Institute of Australia, Australian Institute of Architects and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.

## Background

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Established in 2001, it is the successor of Prime Minister Paul Keating's Urban Design Task Force Award that began in 1996. [2][3]

Previously the Awards were organised by Architecture Media, convened by the Planning Institute of Australia with the support of the following organisations: Australian Institute of Architects, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, Green Building Council of Australia, Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, Consult Australia, Engineers Australia, Urban Design Forum Australia and Government Architects Network Australia (GANA).[4]

## Award categories

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### Built outcomes

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This category recognises an outstanding work of city building that exemplifies an urban design project as a catalyst, improving what exists and anticipating and guiding what might come.[5] Projects must be constructed and complete and able to demonstrate how they have improved place and resulted in broad public benefit. Awards are adjudicated in two scales:

* City and Regional Scale
* Local and Neighbourhood Scale

### Strategic design and policy

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This category recognises an outstanding work of strategic design or urban policy that may transform the performance of an urban place and improve the quality of life of the community.[6] Projects can range in scale and scope, but all should be strategic, innovative, deliverable, and able to demonstrate how they will improve the qualities of place and result in broader public benefits. Awards are adjudicated in two scales:

* City and Regional Scale
* Local and Neighbourhood Scale

### Research and advocacy

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This category recognises outstanding work in urban design research or advocacy that has broad application and will improve urban quality of life in Australia. The research or advocacy must be published and publicly available, impartial and evidence-based, whilst also advancing knowledge and practice.[7] Awards are adjudicated in two scales:

* City and Regional Scale
* Local and Neighbourhood Scale

### Urban design champions

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This category added in 2025 recognises individuals who have had a significant impact on urban design, innovation and performance of our urban places, working to improve the quality of life of communities. Urban champions can come from a diverse range of sectors, including planning, architecture, landscape and urban design disciplines. They will have made an outstanding contribution to collaboration, knowledge, education, advocacy, project design and delivery.[8] Possible candidates may be for example: political champion, community champion, journalist, public servant, urban activist, developer or urban practitioner.[9]

#### Recipients

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* 2025: Jeremy McLeod – Architect, Breathe and Nightingale Projects
* 2025: Chris Thomas – Design Manager, City of Sydney[10]

## Recipients

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Australian Urban Design Awards since 2001  Year | Category | Project | Location | Team

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2001 | Winner | Gosnells Town Centre Revitalisation | Gosnells, Western Australia | City of Gosnells
2002 | Winner | Steampacket Place, Geelong Waterfront | Geelong, Victoria | City of Greater Geelong
2003 | Winner | Cairns Esplanade | Cairns, Queensland | City of Cairns
2004 | Winner | Melbourne Docklands | Melbourne, Victoria | VicUrban
2004 | Public Domain Award | Victoria Park Urban Renewal | Sydney, New South Wales | Hassell, NSW Government Architects
2004 | Heritage Waterfront Award | Walsh Bay Redevelopment | Sydney, New South Wales | Walsh Bay Partnership, HPA & PTW
2005 | Winner | Places for People and Melbourne CBD and Pedestrian Traffic Study | Melbourne, Victoria | City of Melbourne, Gehl Architects
2005 | Strategic Urban Design Award | NSW Coastal Urban Design Initiative  | New South Wales | Urban Design Advisory Service et al.
2005 | Public Domain Award | Point Fraser Stage 1 | Perth, Western Australia | Syrinx Environmental, City of Perth
2005 | Research and Publication Award | Fluid City: Transforming Melbourne's Urban Waterfront | Melbourne, Victoria | Kim Dovey
2006 | Winner | Balaclava Walk and Community Housing | Melbourne, Victoria | City of Port Phillip, MGS Architects
2006 | Winner | North Terrace Redevelopment | Adelaide, South Australia | City of Adelaide, Taylor Cullity Lethlean
2006 | Education Award | My Neighbourhood | New South Wales | Landcom
2006 | Public Domain Award | Sandridge Bridge Precinct Redevelopment | Melbourne, Victoria | Department of Sustainability & Environment, City of Melbourne
2007 | Winner | Coastal Towns Design Framework | Victoria | Department of Sustainability & Environment et al.
2008 | Winner | Bendigo City Centre: a journey of transformation and commitment to quality  | Bendigo, Victoria | City of Greater Bendigo, Don Goldsworthy and Associates
2009 | Winner | Paddington Reservoir Gardens | Sydney, New South Wales | City of Sydney
2009 | Winner | Transforming Australian Cities | Victoria | Victorian Government and City of Melbourne
2010 | Winner | Inner Northern Busway | Brisbane, Queensland | Queensland Department of Transport, BVN Architecture
2010 | Winner | Geelong Youth Activities Precinct | Geelong, Victoria | City of Greater Geelong
2010 | Winner | Beyond the Pavement: RTA urban design policy | New South Wales | Roads & Traffic Authority
2011 | Winner | SW1 South Bank Urban Village | Brisbane, Queensland | South Bank Corporation, Cox Rayner Architects
2012 | Winner: Delivered Large Scale | Darling Quarter | Sydney, New South Wales | Lendlease
2012 | Winner: Delivered Small Scale | River Quay | Brisbane, Queensland | Arkhefield Architects and Cardno
2012 | Winner: Policies, Programs and Concepts Large Scale | Parramatta River Urban Design Strategy | Sydney, New South Wales | McGregor Coxall
2012 | Winner: Policies, Programs and Concepts Small Scale | Penrith of the Future | Sydney, New South Wales | Campement Urbain
2013 | Winner: Delivered Large Scale | Northern Busway | Brisbane, Queensland | Tract Consultants et al.
2013 | Winner: Delivered Small Scale | Sydney Laneway Upgrades | Sydney, New South Wales | ASPECT Studios, City of Sydney
2013 | Winner: Policies, Programs and Concepts Large Scale | Linking Canberra City to the Lake | Canberra, ACT | ACT Office of the Coordinator General, Hill Thalis, et. al.
2014 | Winner: Delivered Large Scale | NewActon Precinct | Acton, Canberra | Molonglo Group, Fender Katsalidis Architects, Oculus
2014 | Winner: Delivered Large Scale | Prince Alfred Park and Pool | Sydney, New South Wales | Neeson Murcutt Architects, Sue Barnsley Design, City of Sydney
2014 | Winner: Delivered Small Scale | Fremantle Esplanade Youth Plaza | Fremantle, Western Australia | Convic, City of Fremantle
2014 | Winner: Policies, Programs & Concepts Small Scale | The Goods Line | Sydney, New South Wales | Aspect Studios with Chrofi for the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
2014 | Winner: Sustained Contribution to Urban Design | Urban Voices – celebrating urban design in Australia |  | Bruce Echberg, Bill Chandler, John Byrne
2015 | Winner: Delivered Large Scale | Brookfield Place | Perth, Western Australia | Hassell, Fitzpatrick + Partners and Brookfield
2015 | Winner: Delivered Small Scale | Port Adelaide Renewal: Hart’s Mill Surrounds | Port Adelaide, South Australia | Aspect Studios, Mulloway Studio and Renewal SA
2015 | Winner: Policies, Programs and Concepts Large Scale | Home:LIFE Making Livable Affordable & Sustainable Housing Choices | Victoria | SJB Urban and RMIT University
2015 | Winner: Policies, Programs and Concepts Large Scale | Sunshine Coast Light Rail: Shaping Our Future | Sunshine Coast, Queensland | Sunshine Coast Council and Hassell
2015 | Winner: Policies, Programs & Concepts Small Scale | Victoria Quay Enabling Precinct Plans | Fremantle,Western Australia | CODA, Fremantle Ports, Allerding & Associates & Creating Communities
2016 | Winner: Delivered Large Scale | Sydney Park Stormwater Re-Use Project | Sydney, New South Wales | Turf Design Studio and Environmental Partnership
2016 | Winner: Delivered Small Scale | Bowen Place Crossing | ACT | Lahznimmo Architects and Spackman Mossop Michaels
2016 | Winner: Delivered Small Scale | The Goods Line | Sydney, New South Wales | Aspect Studios, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, CHROFI and Gartner Rose
2016 | Winner: Policies, Programs and Concepts Large Scale | Turramurra Community Hub Masterplan | Sydney, New South Wales | CHROFI in association with Ku-ring-gai Council
2016 | Winner: Policies, Programs and Concepts Large Scale | Green Square Town Centre | Sydney, New South Wales | City of Sydney
2016 | Winner: Policies, Programs and Concepts Small Scale | WGV at White Gum Valley | White Gum Valley, Western Australia | CODA Studio, Urbis, LandCorp and Josh Byrne and Associates
2017 | Winner: Delivered Large Scale | Tonsley Innovation District | Adelaide, South Australia | Oxigen, Woods Bagot, Tridente Architects, KBR, WSP and Renewal SA
2017 | Winner: Delivered Small Scale | Orange Regional Museum | Orange, New South Wales | Crone
2017 | Winner: Policies, Programs and Concepts Large Scale | Better Placed – An integrated design policy for the built environment of New South Wales | New South Wales | New South Wales Government Architect
2018 | Winner: Built Projects – City and Regional Scale | Bendigo Hospital Project | Bendigo, Victoria | Silver Thomas Hanley with Bates Smart and Oculus
2018 | Winner: Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale | Main Street, Barcaldine[11] | Barcaldine, Queensland | M3 Architecture and Brian Hooper Architect (architects in association)
2018 | Winner: Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale | South Sydney Hospital Site – Stage 1[12] | Green Square, New South Wales | City of Sydney with Peter Stutchbury Architecture, Design5, JMD, Sprout, CAB, Fox Johnston, Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture and CHROFI
2018 | Winner: Leadership, Advocacy and Research – City and Regional Scale[13] | Central Melbourne Design Guide | Melbourne, Victoria | City of Melbourne
2018 | Winner: Leadership, Advocacy and Research – City and Regional Scale | Level Crossing Removal Project Urban Design Framework[14] | Melbourne, Victoria | Level Crossing Removal Authority
2019 | Winner: Built Projects – City and Regional Scale | Howard Smith Wharves | Brisbane, Queensland | HSW Nominees, Urbis and Woods Bagot
2019 | Winner: Built Projects – City and Regional Scale | Maitland Levee and Maitland Riverlink | Maitland, New South Wales | McGregor Coxall and CHROFI
2019 | Winner: Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale | Ferrars Street Education and Community Precinct | Ferrars Street, Melbourne | Tract
2019 | Winner: Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale | Flour Mill of Summer Hill | Summer Hill, New South Wales | Hassell
2019 | Winner: Leadership, Advocacy and Research – City and Regional Scale | Building Height Standards Review [15] | Hobart, Tasmania | Leigh Woolley Architect and Urban Design Consultant
2020 | Winner: Built Projects – City and Regional Scale | Sydney Metro Northwest[16] | Sydney, New South Wales | Hassell in collaboration with Turpin Crawford Studio and McGregor Westlake Architecture
2020 | Winner: Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale | Darling Square, Sydney[17] | Sydney, New South Wales | ASPECT Studios with Kengo Kuma and Associates
2020 | Winner: Leadership, Advocacy and Research – City and Regional Scale | Eastern Regional Trails Strategy[18] | Victoria | Fitzgerald Frisby Landscape Architecture
2020 | Winner: Leadership, Advocacy and Research – Local and Neighbourhood Scale | ANU Acton Campus Master Plan and Design Guide | Victoria | Arup in collaboration with Urban Enquiry, Lovell Chen, Mantra Studios, Karen Wright Projects, John Wardle Architects and Turnberry Consulting
2020 | Winner: Leadership, Advocacy and Research – Local and Neighbourhood Scale | Transforming Southbank Boulevard | Southbank, Victoria | City of Melbourne, City Design Studio
2021 | Winner: Built Projects – City and Regional Scale | Goyder Square[19][20] | Palmerston, Northern Territory | Hatch RobertsDay and Turf Design Studio with Electrolight
2021 | Winner: Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale | Prahran Square | Prahran, Victoria | Lyons Architecture and Aspect Studios
2021 | Winner: Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale | The Canopy Precinct[21] | Lane Cove, New South Wales | Arcadia Landscape Architecture and Scott Carver Landscape Architecture
2021 | Winner: Leadership, Advocacy and Research – City and Regional Scale | Darwin Civic and State Square Vision[22] | Darwin, Northern Territory | TCL
2021 | Winner: Advocacy and Research – Local and Neighbourhood Scale | QUT Campus to Country | Brisbane, Queensland | BVN Architecture
2022 | Winner: Built Projects – City and Regional Scale | Level Crossing Removal Project | Melbourne, Victoria | Level Crossing Removal Authority
2022 | Winner: Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale | Bendigo Kangan TAFE Redevelopment | Bendigo, Victoria | SBLA, Six Degrees Architects and Architectus
2022 | Winner: Leadership, Advocacy and Research — City and Regional Scale | Delivering Best Practice Urban Design Through Planning | Canberra, ACT | Government of the Australian Capital Territory, Hodyl and Co, Andy Fergus, Adam’s Urban, Oculus and Creative Environment Enterprises
2022 | Winner: Leadership, Advocacy and Research — City and Regional Scale | Green Track for Parramatta Light Rail | Parramatta, New South Wales | Transport for New South Wales with Urban Planning and Management, School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University
2022 | Winner: Leadership, Advocacy and Research — Local and Neighbourhood Scale |  Campsie Town Centre Masterplan | Campsie, New South Wales | City of Canterbury Bankstown
2023 | No Awards
2024 | Winner: Built Projects – City and Regional Scale | George Street, Sydney | Sydney, New South Wales | City of Sydney
2024 | Winner: Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale | Transforming Southbank Boulevard[23] | Southbank, Victoria | City of Melbourne with Taylor Cullity Lethlean and Mike Hewson
2024 | Winner: Leadership, Advocacy and Research — City and Regional Scale | The Greenline Project | Melbourne, Victoria | City of Melbourne with ASPECT Studios x Taylor Cullity Lethlean
2024 | Winner: Leadership, Advocacy and Research — Local and Neighbourhood Scale |  Quantifying quality [24] | Ultimo, New South Wales | SJB and University of Technology Sydney
2025 | Winner: Built Outcomes | Central Park Public Domain[25] | Chippendale, New South Wales | Turf Design Studio with Jeppe Aagaard Andersen
2025 | Winner: Built Outcomes | Mary’s Place, Dalby | Dalby, Queensland | Blight Rayner Architecture in association with Wild Studio
2025 | Winner: Built Outcomes | Rozelle Parklands | Rozelle, New South Wales | Transport for NSW Urban Design Team
2025 | Winner: Research and Advocacy | Healthy Higher Density Living for Families with Children: An Advocacy, Planning and Design Guide | New South Wales | Centre for Population Health, Western Sydney Local Health District
2025 | Winner: Strategic Design and Policy | Beyond A to B: Urban design policy, procedures and principles for public transport infrastructure projects  | New South Wales | Transport for NSW Urban Design Team (Public Transport and Precincts)
2025 | Winner: Strategic Design and Policy | Cockatoo Island Waremah Masterplan  | Cockatoo Island, New South Wales | Tyrrell Studio in collaboration with Mott McDonald, Klok Advisory, Bangawarra, Left Bank and The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
2025 | Winner: Strategic Design and Policy | Martin Place Metro Precinct Urban Design Framework  | Martin Place | Tzannes

## References

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1. ^ Australian Institute of Landscape Architects: "2011 Australian Award for Urban Design Announced", retrieved 17 October 2013
2. ^ PIA Awards Accessed 11 September 2015
3. ^ "Australian Urban Design Awards". Australian Urban Design Awards. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
4. ^ "2018 Australian Urban Design Awards announced". Landscape Australia. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
5. ^ "About the Awards". Planning Institute of Australia. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
6. ^ "About the Awards". Planning Institute of Australia. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
7. ^ "About the Awards". Planning Institute of Australia. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
8. ^ "About the Awards". Planning Institute of Australia. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
9. ^ "Urban Design Awards Categories". Urban Design Awards. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
10. ^ "Decision details: Vale Chris Thomas". City of Sydney. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
11. ^ "2018 Australian Urban Design Awards announced". Landscape Australia. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
12. ^ "2018 Australian Urban Design Awards announced". Landscape Australia. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
13. ^ "2018 Australian Urban Design Awards announced". Landscape Australia. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
14. ^ "2018 Australian Urban Design Awards announced". Landscape Australia. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
15. ^ "2019 Australian Urban Design Awards: Winner of Leadership, Advocacy and Research – City and Regional Scale". Landscape Australia. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
16. ^ "Winners announced: 2020 Australian Urban Design Awards". Landscape Australia. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
17. ^ "2020 Australian Urban Design Awards: Winner of Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale". Landscape Australia. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
18. ^ "Winner of Leadership, Advocacy and Research – City and Regional Scale". Landscape Australia. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
19. ^ "Winners revealed: Australian Urban Design Awards 2021". Archtiecture AU. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
20. ^ "2021 Australian Urban Design Awards: Winner of Built Projects – City and Regional Scale". Landscape Austraiia. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
21. ^ "2021 Australian Urban Design Awards: Winner of Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale". Landscape Australia. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
22. ^ "2021 Australian Urban Design Awards: Winner of Leadership, Advocacy and Research – City and Regional Scale". Landscape Australia. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
23. ^ "2024 Australian Urban Design Awards: Winner of Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale". Landscape Australia. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
24. ^ "2024 Australian Urban Design Awards: Winner of Leadership, Advocacy and Research – Local and Neighbourhood Scale". Landscape Australia. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
25. ^ Architecture AU Editorial (30 April 2025). "Winners revealed: 2025 Australian Urban Design Awards". Architecture AU. Retrieved 11 June 2025.