This year’s Regional Shortlist is a showcase of an incredible array of architecture from across Regional NSW. The selection of projects highlights the breadth and depth of design excellence thriving beyond Greater Sydney, redefining what it means to design for place, people, and the future.
NSW Chapter President, Elizabeth Carpenter, commented on the outstanding calibre of this year’s regional entries. “What we are seeing across Regional NSW is a real depth of creativity and technical skill, matched with an extraordinary sensitivity to context, landscapes, and communities.”
“The work being done outside our cities is vital to the story of architecture in Australia. It’s so inspiring to see how architects across the state are leading with purpose and imagination.”
Following insightful presentations held recently in Byron Bay, Newcastle, and Wollongong, South Division Jury Chair, Jacqueline Connor, said “it was a fantastic week hearing from our peers about their work – each project a demonstration of innovation, creativity, and unique responses to context.”
“We saw some wonderful exemplars of what can be achieved in our regions when design is deeply connected to place.”
The Jury have carefully curated this shortlist, which will now proceed to the crucial stage of site visits.
North Division Jury Chair, David Brown, stated that they are “looking forward to visiting the shortlisted projects, which ranged from joyful demonstrations of architect and trade collaborations, serious explorations of sustainable living, and buildings with potential to become the hearts of the local community.”
Juries will be visiting each shortlisted project during site visits in the first week of December to ensure a deeper understanding of the projects’ impact and execution.
Central Division Jury Chair, Jo Bastian is excited to head out in early December to see the shortlisted projects, “the Central Jury was honoured to have projects of all sizes, typologies and locations presented to them over a day of presentations held at the City of Newcastle Council chambers. The quality of work was impressive as was the enthusiasm and care the architects had for these projects, ranging from micro buildings built by a team of neighbours to large education projects developed over almost a decade.”
The diverse categories celebrated in the awards include Commercial Architecture, Educational Architecture, Heritage, Interior Architecture, Public Architecture, Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), Residential Architecture – Houses (New), Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing, Small Project Architecture, Sustainable Architecture, and Urban Design.
Additional honours being presented this year include Regional Medallion, President Prize for Regional Architecture, Timber Prize, North Division Award, Central Division Award, and South Division Award.
A rigorous judging process was undertaken by three Juries composed of esteemed peers.
The winners of the 2026 Regional Architecture Awards will be announced at a special Gala weekend in Coffs Harbour – tickets are available now!
2026 Regional Architecture Awards Gala
The 2026 Regional Architecture Awards are proudly brought to you by Event Partners: Lysaght, Partridge and Krause Bricks.
For all media inquiries, please contact: Bella Walker, Marketing Manager by emailing bella.walker@architecture.com.au
Find more info on each project below via our Project Gallery available here.
2025 Shortlist
Commercial Architecture
- 42 Honeysuckle Drive | Bates Smart | Awabakal and Worimi Country | Central Division
- Bega Council Depot | GHD Design | Yuin Nations | Southern Division
- Kavillo Studios | Cameron Anderson Architects | Wiradjuri | Northern Division
- Surf Hotel Yamba | DKCarchitecture | Yaegl and Bundjalong | Northern Division
Educational Architecture
- Cobar Early Learning Centre | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan people | Northern Division
- Lake Cathie Public School | SHAC | Birpai people | Northern Division
- Newcastle Grammar School – Park Campus | SHAC | Awabakal & Worimi Peoples | Central Division
- St Bede’s Catholic College | SHAC | Wonnarua | Central Division
- St Joseph’s Primary School Adelong | Austin McFarland Pty Ltd | Wiradjuri People | Southern Division
Heritage
- Longfield | DFJ Architects | Arakwal people of the Bundjalung nation | Northern Division
- Old Bega Hospital | Design 5 – Architects | Djiringanj people of the Yuin Nation | Southern Division
Interior Architecture
- J-Pod | Maxwell & Page Architects | Awabakel | Central Division
- Swansea Heads House | Anthrosite | the Bahtabah clan of the Awabakal people | Central Division
Public Architecture
- First Steps Count Child and Community Centre | Austin McFarland Pty Ltd | Biripi | Northern Division
- Gilgandra Library + Community Hub | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi & Wailwan | Northern Division
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations & Additions)
- Carlton St Terrace | OVDA Studio | Awabakal people of the Awabakal Nation | Central Division
- Fort House | Curious Practice | Awabakal | Central Division
- Longfield | DFJ Architects | Arakwal people of the Bundjalung nation | Northern Division
- Maryville Heirloom House | Anthrosite | the Pambalong clan of the Awabakal people | Central Division
- Zulaikha Laurence ‘Tree Change House’ | Studio ZAWA | Wodi Wodi | Southern Division
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
- Avoca Beach House | Dianna Thomas architect | Darkinjung | Central Division
- Coastal House | Walknorth Architects | Gumbaynggirr | Northern Division
- Copper Ribbon House | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | Yuin | Southern Division
- Cowrie Hole | Curious Practice | Awabakal | Central Division
- Depot@Boomerang Beach | Marra + Yeh Architects | Worimi Country | Northern Division
- Gerroa House | Scale Architecture | Tharawal | Southern Division
- Greybox | Welsh + Major | Dunghutti | Northern Division
- House Kimberley | AO Design Studio | Gundungurra and Dharawal people | Southern Division
- Ironbark House | Klaus Carson Studio | Yuin | Southern Division
- Mango Lane | DFJ Architects | Arakwal people of the Bundjalung nation | Northern Division
- Merewether Gully House | Anthrosite | the Pambalong clan of the Awabakal people | Central Division
- Myocum Ridge | DFJ Architects | Arakwal people of the Bundjalung nation | Northern Division
- Small House Big Shelter | Ware Architects | Gumbaynggirr people of Gumbaynggirr Country | Northern Division
- Surf Check | Incidental Architecture | Awabakal Country | Central Division
- Swansea Heads House | Anthrosite | the Bahtabah clan of the Awabakal people | Central Division
- Terra Anima | Ian Sercombe Architect | Worimi | Northern Division
- The Saddle House | Dylan Wood with Austin McFarland Pty Ltd | Worimi people | Northern Division
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
- Goonellabah Houses | Pearson Architecture | Widjabul Wia-bal People of the Bundjalung Nation | Northern Division
- Indigo | Design Workshop Australia | Dharawal People | Southern Division
- Verda | Morriarchi Architecture | Yaegl People | Northern Division
Small Project Architecture
- Blak Cede Gunyah | Papesch Architecture | Jerrinja, Wandi-Wandian, Wodi Wodi people of the 13 Clans | Southern Division
- Gilay Estate | Cameron Anderson Architects | Gomeroi | Northern Division
- Manning Gallery Amenities | Ode Architecture | Biripi | Northern Division
- Mary Mother of Hope Oratory | SHAC | Wonnarua | Central Division
- The Silos Accommodation | Cooee Architecture | Wiradjuri | Southern Division
Sustainable Architecture
- Bega Council Depot | GHD Design | Yuin Nations | Southern Division
- Coastal House | Walknorth Architects | Gumbaynggirr | Northern Division
- Cobar Early Learning Centre | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan people | Northern Division
- Copper Ribbon House | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | Yuin | Southern Division
- Depot@Boomerang Beach | Marra + Yeh Architects | Worimi Country | Northern Division
- First Steps Count Child and Community Centre | Austin McFarland Pty Ltd | Biripi | Northern Division
- Gallery House | Villar Architect | Gundungurra and Dharug peoples of the Ngurra nation | Southern Division
- Gerroa House | Scale Architecture | Tharawal | Southern Division
- Gilay Estate | Cameron Anderson Architects | Gomeroi | Northern Division
- Gilgandra Library + Community Hub | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi & Wailwan | Northern Division
- J-Pod | Maxwell & Page Architects | Awabakel | Central Division
- Kavillo Studios | Cameron Anderson Architects | Wiradjuri | Northern Division
- Lake Cathie Public School | SHAC | Birpai people | Northern Division
- Mango Lane | DFJ Architects | Arakwal people of the Bundjalung nation | Northern Division
- Sheep Chute House | LocalArchitect South Coast | Wodi-Wodi people of the Dharawal Nation | Southern Division
- Surf Check | Incidental Architecture | Awabakal Country | Central Division
- Terra Anima | Ian Sercombe Architect | Worimi | Northern Division
- The Silos Accommodation | Cooee Architecture | Wiradjuri | Southern Division
- UoN Health Education Research Building | EJE Architecture | The Awabakal people of the Awabakal Nation | Central Division
- Zulaikha Laurence ‘Tree Change House’ | Studio ZAWA | Wodi Wodi | Southern Division
Urban Design
- East End | CKDS Architecture | Awabakal | Central Division
- Gilgandra Library + Community Hub | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi & Wailwan | Northern Division