Some of the best new residential, commercial, and public buildings from regional New South Wales have been named in the Australian Institute of Architects 2025 NSW Regional Architecture Awards.

Selected from a shortlist of 36 architectural projects by a jury of industry experts, the 21 winners and commendations can be seen as a window into the changing built environment of contemporary regional Australia.

The 2025 winning cohort showed a pathway forward for sustainable and heritage buildings, including insightful adaptive reuses and considered renovations and additions. They have also shone a spotlight on design that has a deep connection to context and an intrinsic consideration of culture and Country.

This year’s jury comprised of Jarad Grice, Sam Crawford Architects; Carly Martin, Akimbo Architecture; and Eddie Page, Maxwell & Page Architects.

Jury chair Grice said, “It was a privilege for Carly, Eddie, and I to serve as jurors for the Regional Division awards this year. With more entries than ever before, we were presented with the unenviable task of whittling down a shortlist for which we were rewarded with the opportunity to experience 16 admirable works of regional architecture.”

The jury embarked on a five-day jury tour right across regional NSW, going as far north as Brunswick Heads and as far south as Rosedale.

“This is only the second year that the jury has visited shortlisted regional projects in person. We can confirm the great value of this process. Seeing projects first-hand greatly enhanced our understanding of them, and the awards given are a testament to the rigor and quality of the Institute’s NSW Regional Awards program,” Grice observed.

“Regional architects have the incredible opportunity of being more intimately connected to the richness of the Australian landscape than those of us working in dense urban environments. As we continue to develop an Australian architecture, the greatest work will recognise the responsibility we have to Country and to the knowledge and history of the Indigenous inhabitants of the land that was stolen, on which we live and with which our stories are now entwined,” Grice added.

2025 Regional Architecture Awards & Commendations

Commercial Architecture

Award – Hotel Marvell | HGA Studio | The Bundjalung Nation of Byron Bay – Arakwal People, the Minjungbal People and the Widjabul People

Educational Architecture

Award – New Boarding House, Yanco Agricultural High School, SINSW | ARM Architecture | Wiradjuri Country

Heritage

Commendation – Sadlier Residence | Source Architects | Wiradjuri Country

Interior Architecture

Commendation – Yukari House | Tanev Muir Architects | Arakwal People of the Bundjalung Nation

Award – Bonito | HGA Studio | The Arakwal People, the Minjungbal People and the Widjabul People of the Bundjalung Nation

Award – Women's Trauma Recovery Centre, Shellharbour | Edmiston Jones | Wodi Wodi People, Dharawal Country

Public Architecture

Commendation – Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore Community Building | King and Campbell | Gumbaynggirr Country

Award – Bathurst Animal Rehoming Centre (BARC) | Welsh and Major | Wiradjuri Country

Small Project Architecture

Award – Wallabies Watch | StudioMODA | The Arakwal People, the Minjungbal People and the Widjabul People of the Bundjalung Nation

Urban Design

Award – Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore Community Building | King and Campbell | Gumbaynggirr

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

Commendation – Brahminy House | HGA Studio | The Arakwal People, the Minjungbal People and the Widjabul People of the Bundjalung Nation

Commendation – House Nabiac | Nicholas Flatman Architecture | Katang-speaking Aboriginal people of the Biripi and Worimi Tribes

Award – High Tide House | Ware Architects | Arakwal Bumberlin People of the Bundjalung Nation

Award – House in the Dry | MRTN Architects | Kamilaroi/Gomeroi of the Kamilaroi Nation

Award – Rosedale House | Scale Architecture | Yuin Country

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

Commendation – Yukari House | Tanev Muir Architects | Arakwal People of the Bundjalung Nation

Award – House in Narrawallee | Architect George | Budawang People of the Yuin Nation

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

Award – Cedar on Collins | Kennedy Associates Architects | Wodi Wodi People, Dharawal Country

James Barnet Award

Award – High Tide House | Ware Architects | Arakwal Bumberlin People of the Bundjalung Nation

Medallion

Award – Women's Trauma Recovery Centre, Shellharbour | Edmiston Jones | Wodi Wodi People of Dharawal Country

Timber Award

Award – High Tide House | Ware Architects | Arakwal Bumberlin People of the Bundjalung Nation

Vision Award

Award – Women's Trauma Recovery Centre, Shellharbour | Edmiston Jones | Wodi Wodi People of Dharawal Country

Branko Miletic

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