Australia's most impressive developments honoured with state awards

From a multibillion-dollar mixed-use development in the Sydney CBD to an air force officer’s airbase residence in Darwin, the Property Council’s development of the year awards encapsulate the diversity and creativity of Australian building and design.

The state and territory winners announced on Tuesday (11 July) are now in the running to claim the Property Council’s National Innovation and Excellence Awards, including the arguably the most prestigious prize in the industry, the Australian Development of the Year.

The Property Council’s 2023 Rider Levett Bucknall State/Territory Development of the Year awards “showcase the positive impact that Australia’s most innovative projects will have on the future of our cities,” according to Property Council of Australia Chief Executive Mike Zorbas.

“The Innovation and Excellence awards celebrate the pinnacle of property achievement.

“Our winners have created incredible places for people to enjoy and to thrive in and I congratulate them for their extraordinary role-modelling and their dedication to the communities they serve,” he said.

From 112 eligible finalists, the winners (listed below with photographs) were selected by a high calibre judging panel made up of 11 property specialists and chaired by former Chair of both the Federal Government's National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) and the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), Adrian Harrington.

The NSW Development of the Year was awarded to the transformational Brookfield Place Sydney which combined heritage preservation while delivering a modern transport hub, the cantilevered 405 Bourke Street won in Victoria, and the BHP Adelaide workplace was named South Australia’s Development of the Year for its family-friendly and accessibility focus.

In Queensland, the revitalisation of two older buildings into the new Midtown Centre was named the state’s best, the bustling civic heart of Fremantle, the new Walyalup Koort, received the honours in Western Australia, and the bold The Tasman Hotel won in Tasmania.

The community-focused Thorsby Residential Community and the meticulously restored RAAF Darwin Banksian House won awards in ACT and the Northern Territory, respectively.

RLB Oceania Chairman Peter Tulla said 2023 was another great cohort of entrants.

“The property sector’s beautiful designs, innovative techniques and enduring sustainability results are on full display in this year’s winners,” Mr Tulla said.

“Every winning project serves as a testament to the lasting impact property development has on our cities and communities in creating places of real and enduring value.”

Property Council state award winners for best development

Australian Capital Territory

Throsby Residential Community, by Suburban Land Agency

Throsby Residential Community | Suburban Land Agency

Quintessentially Canberran, Throsby is a residential subdivision in Gungahlin, developed by the ACT Government’s Suburban Land Agency and is home to 2,500 people. Spanning approximately 106 ha, it features 1,100 dwellings, community facilities, and high-quality open spaces. The innovative planning created several natural view and habitat corridors to facilitate the migration of the ecologically vulnerable superb parrot through the suburb.

New South Wales

Brookfield Place Sydney, by Brookfield Properties

Brookfield Place Sydney | Brookfield Properties

Brookfield Place Sydney is a transformational mixed-use development combining heritage preservation with a rejuvenated transport hub and delivering next-generation commercial and retail space by amalgamating five individual properties. An innovative solution to a challenging transport amalgam, it was the first real estate Unsolicited Proposal approved by NSW Government and sets a new benchmark for transport-oriented developments.

Northern Territory

RAAF Darwin Banksian House Refurbishment, by Aurecon

RAAF Darwin Banksian House Refurbishment | Aurecon

Banksian House is the Commander’s residence at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, designed by acclaimed architect Beni Burnett and built in 1941. Extensive restoration work was undertaken and completed in 13 months, bringing the building up to modern standards while preserving original building fabrics for future generations to enjoy and providing functional VIP spaces to RAAF users.

Queensland

Midtown Centre, by AsheMorgan and DMC Projects

Midtown Centre | AsheMorgan & DMC Projects

Midtown Centre sets a new benchmark in commercial development across architecture, sustainability, innovative design, and construction through merging of two adjoining buildings nearing the end of their economic lives in the Brisbane CBD. An exemplar project of how to repurpose existing underutilised assets into an innovative, relevant and contemporary workplace.

South Australia

BHP Adelaide, by BHP

BHP Adelaide | BHP

By creating a workplace that promotes inclusivity with family friendly spaces for working parents to host children onsite, gender-neutral bathrooms and an accessible and wheelchair friendly environment, BHP created a base where people want to work and one that feels uniquely South Australian.

Tasmania

The Tasman Hotel, by Citta Property Group

The Tasman Hotel, Parliament Square Hobart | Citta Property Group

The Tasman Hotel links heritage buildings of various eras with bold contemporary additions creating a contrasting yet harmonious ensemble of structures embracing Parliament Square, Hobart. The undertaking necessitated a meticulous overhaul of deteriorated heritage structures, focusing on intricate attention to detail. In its opening year, Marriott’s first Luxury Collection branded hotel in Australia has garnered extensive hospitality industry accolades locally and internationally.

Victoria

405 Bourke Street, by Brookfield Properties

405 Bourke Street | Brookfield Properties

The award-winning 405 Bourke Street comprises a 32-level, 66,000 sqm vertical commercial campus and retail laneway connecting Bourke and Little Collins Streets. Utilising a cantilevered truss system - inventively deployed over an existing residential building - to unlock expansive, campus-style floorplates from a 700 sqm land parcel, 405 Bourke Street redefines Melbourne’s city skyline while exemplifying cutting-edge workplace design.

Western Australia

Walyalup Koort, by Sirona Urban

Walyalup Koort | Sirona Urban

Designed as the bustling civic heart of Fremantle, Walyalup Koort marked the revitalisation of the once declining city centre. With a focus on providing considered public amenity within Walyalup Civic Centre and an engaging retail experience in FOMO, the project saw considerable support by the community and emerged a success.