Guulabaa – Place of Koala, the world’s first purpose-built wild koala breeding and rehabilitation centre, has been named a winner of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) 2025 Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence.

Presented by the Urban Land Institute, the Awards for Excellence are among the region’s most respected honours in real estate and urban development, celebrating projects that raise the bar for design quality, sustainability, and positive community impact.

Guulabaa is one of only twelve winners across the Asia Pacific, and one of just two from Australia to be recognised this year.

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Developed by the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales and designed by global architecture and design firm Gensler, Guulabaa was conceived in direct response to the catastrophic 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires, which impacted koala habitats across the region.

The project is grounded in deep collaboration with First Nations communities and integrates traditional cool burning practices to reduce bushfire risk and restore forest health. This approach also enabled the use of local sustainably sourced native hardwoods in construction, setting a benchmark for ecologically responsible and culturally informed design.

“Guulabaa challenged us to rethink what regenerative architecture should be. It is not about making a bold statement, but about designing with care, deep listening, and respect for Country,” says Ken McBryde, Design Director at Gensler Australia.

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“This project shows what is possible when we listen to our client, stakeholders, project partners, and First Nations knowledge holders, and design with long-term impact in mind. We are honoured that ULI has recognised that vision.”

Set within a 25-hectare site in Cowarra State Forest, NSW, Guulabaa, meaning “Place of Koala” in the local Gathang language, offers a unique blend of conservation, cultural storytelling, and eco-tourism.

Visitors experience elevated timber walkways, immersive educational spaces, and First Nations-led narratives that deepen understanding of wildlife, heritage, and environmental stewardship.

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“Guulabaa is about more than protecting koalas. It brings people together, across generations, cultures, and disciplines to care for Country and build a shared future where nature and community thrive,” says Kathy Lyons, Senior Manager, Country and Community, Forestry Corporation of NSW.

“Its success is already inspiring similar projects across New South Wales, and ULI’s recognition affirms that this model is both powerful and scalable when approached with care and respect.”

Guulabaa now serves as a flagship model for forest-based conservation infrastructure in Australia, inspiring four additional forest tourism sites across NSW.

It stands as a compelling demonstration of how design, Indigenous knowledge and environmental stewardship can come together to protect biodiversity, support sustainable tourism, and create places of lasting impact.

Image: Guulabaa / Image Courtesy Forestry Corporation of NSW

Clémence Carayol

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