The project is located on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation.
Western Australia
The METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line Project delivers 5 new stations and precincts at Morley, Noranda, Ballajura, Whiteman Park and Ellenbrook. The project spans 21 kilometres through the growing northeast suburbs of Perth, and at $1.65 billion, is a transformative investment in public transport in Western Australia.
The breadth of the project provided a unique opportunity for the design team to create a line-wide identity and cohesive architectural narrative across the line. Inherently public in nature, the Ellenbrook Line represents a thoughtful integration of civic architecture within Perth’s suburban landscape. The design plays with scale, balancing civic grandeur with domestic scaled environments.
The design narrative draws inspiration from its suburban context, with stations that embrace the qualities, aspiration and sensibilities of Australian suburbia to create human-centred spaces that are safe and easy to navigate, with a sense of familiarity. The project sets new sustainability benchmarks for rail infrastructure in Western Australia.
Metronet Morley – Ellenbrook Line sets an impressive new benchmark for the design and delivery of government infrastructure in Australia. Spanning 21 kilometres of rail and encompassing five new station precincts, the project team has leveraged the opportunities provided by an ambitious sustainability brief coupled with a strong governance framework that promoted collaboration and innovation under an Alliance delivery model, and incentivised outcomes.
The project’s holistic approach to design, procurement, construction and operations has achieved landmark ratings under both building and infrastructure sustainability tools. And the design of station precincts establishes the project’s civic role in the ongoing development of Perth’s north-eastern residential corridor, with multi-modal transport hubs providing quality community amenity well integrated with shady landscaped areas and gathering spaces.
The jury were impressed with the many innovative initiatives embedded in the project design and construction. The project pioneered the first large scale use of FOGO compost in landscaping, set new industry precedents for recycled material content, achieved 99% diversion of construction and demolition waste from landfill, installed a 500kW PV solar system (across the five stations), and utilised a solar farm with battery to power an off-grid construction site, mitigating the use of diesel generators during construction. Targets for reduction of the carbon footprint in energy use, water consumption and embodied energy were all exceeded.
Importantly, the project also celebrates significant outcomes in social and economic sustainability measures, with 52 local Aboriginal businesses included in the team. In addition to an extensive public art component, a thoughtful approach to procurement resulted in the creation of small design packages tailored to suit local indigenous businesses. Gnarla Biddi Strategy targets for Indigenous business spend were exceeded, with $56m achieved, and perhaps more meaningful, an enduring legacy of traineeships and knowledge building has been created.
“Woods Bagot’s innovative approach to functionality, safety, and aesthetic appeal ensured that Morley to Ellenbrook Line stations met operational requirements and enhanced the user experience. Their thoughtful design solutions enabled the project to address both the practical and environmental considerations, creating stations each with a unique character and sense of place. Throughout the project, Woods Bagot maintained open lines of communication, worked diligently to meet project milestones, and consistently provided resolution to any challenges that arose. Their commitment to excellence was evident in every phase and the project is incredibly proud of the final results.”- Nick Andrioff
Kukame McPierzie, Project Director
Neil Hill, Design Leader
Fred Chaney, Precincts Lead
Linda Randall, Project Manager
Michael Gay, Project Lead
Charl Testa, Stations Lead (Ellenbrook, Whiteman Park, Ballajura)
David O’Brien, Stations Lead (Noranda, Morley)
John Liddiard, Technical Lead
Yow Voon Choong, Technical Design Lead
Emily Duncan, Station Lead – Ballajura
Tatiana Priest, Station Lead – Ballajura
Luciana Boudou, Station Lead – Whiteman Park
Kevin Liew, Station Lead – Ellenbrook
Josh Mangan, Station Lead – Morley
Sally Kingwell, Station Lead – Noranda
Thomas Allan, Design & Documentation
Eddie Chia, Design & Documentation
Joshua Bastian, Design & Documentation
Carissa Araminta, Design & Documentation
Neil Grime, Design & Documentation
Bianca Triscari, Design & Documentation
RJ Estacio, Design & Documentation
Derrick Lim, Design & Documentation
Ryan Deyonker, Design & Documentation
Jordan Blagaich, Design & Documentation
Csilla Csabai, Design & Documentation
Luke Myers, Design & Documentation
Brittany Dalziell, Design & Documentation
Naveen Thomas, Design & Documentation
Jonny Dalton, BIM Manager
Eldon Borkwood, BIM Manager
Graham Whawell, BIM Manager
Scott Adams, Landscape Architecture Lead
Scott Lang, Landscape Design Review
Daniel Firns, Landscape Design Review
Carl Thompson, Landscape Project Lead
Enoch Liew, Landscape Design Lead
Mike Harris, Landscape Architect
Dave Bailey, Landscape Architect
Ruby Coombes, Landscape Architect
Stejara Timis, Landscape Design & Documentation
Ruby Coombes, Landscape Design & Documentation
Katherine Hailstone, Landscape Design & Documentation
Kurt Tanner, Landscape Design & Documentation
Mitch Lobb, Landscape Design & Documentation
Lin Markus, Landscape Design & Documentation
Jacob Conquer, Landscape BIM Lead
Ashley Lloyd, Landscape BIM Coordinator
Taylor Robinson Chaney Broderick (TRCB), Architecture
TCL, Landscape Architect
UDLA, Landscape Architect
Milestone, Building Certification
O’Brien Harrop Access, DDA consultant
JAJV | FLOTH, Electrical Consultant
JAJV | FLOTH, Mechanical Engineering
JAJV | FLOTH, Communication Engineering
JAJV | FLOTH, Lighting Consultant
JAJV | FLOTH, Rail Engineering
JAJV | FLOTH, Traffic Engineering
JAJV | FLOTH, Fire Engineering
JAJV | FLOTH, Hydraulic Consultant
Definition, Signage
Cundall, ESD Consultant
JAJV | FLOTH | ADG, Structural Engineer
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
