About the AILA Landscape Architecture Awards Program

The AILA Landscape Architecture Awards program provides a key vehicle for the promotion of the achievements and work of landscape architects in Australia.

The Awards process is an opportunity for public and peer recognition of landscape architect’s work, and demonstrates to industry, business, government and the wider community the positive impact the profession has on Australian lives through the planning and design of the built and natural environments.

For questions please contact your local Chapter for State Awards programs, and [email protected] for the National Awards program.   

Stage 1: Enter the Awards

NSW, QLD, SA, VIC and WA present a Chapter level Awards annually. International entrants are announced in the national program.

ACT, TAS and NT run once every two years. Check key awards dates below for more information.

Stage 2: National Awards

Winners of the Chapter awards programs will be proceeding to the National Awards program.

International entrants are announced in the national program.

Awards Information

Enter the Awards

Entrants must complete an online entry form and pay the entry fee.  For full entry requirements view the Entry Guide.  Should your entry win at Chapter level, it will automatically progress to the National Awards. 

Key awards dates

Don’t miss an important upcoming Awards date. View all the Chapter and National important events: entries opening, entry deadlines, and Awards presentations.

National Awards Jury

The Landscape Architecture Awards jury serves an important role in determining Awards in recognition of exceptional Landscape Architecture practice. The jury awards practices and members in confirmation of talent, commitment, and design excellence.

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Awards Categories

16 National Awards categories across varying disciplines are awarded Landscape Architecture Awards and Awards of Excellence in recognition of outstanding work in these areas. The National Awards program includes a category of International.

Awards Guides & Policies

To assist in your preparation of your submission, please read important Landscape Architecture Awards program documents.

Past Landscape Architecture Awards

Reflect on historical Awards programs, listing all National and Chapter winners.

2021 National Awards Winners

Immerse yourself in the best of Landscape Architecture

Australia's best new landscape architecture projects are building back cities and towns through the reveal of public and private outdoor spaces. AILA recognised 47 projects across 17 different categories as part of the Awards.

 

AWARDS MAGAZINE

PRESS RELEASE


Chapter Awards

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2022 AILA ACT Award of Excellence for Gardens | National Museum of Australia Forecourt Garden | T.C.L. | Ngunnawal, Ngambri and Ngunawal | Photo: Anne Stroud

ACT Awards

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2022 AILA NSW Landscape Architecture Award for Tourism | Bago Maze | Bago Maze and Wine | Biripi Country | Photo: Andrew Kowalewski

NSW Awards 

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2022 AILA NT Landscape Architecture Award for Urban Design | Cooling Darwin | CLOUSTON Associates | Larrakia Country (Gulumoerrgin Language Group) | Photo: CLOUSTON Associates

NT Awards

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2022 AILA QLD Award of Excellence for Parks and Open Space | The Spit Redevelopment | Place Design Group | Yugambeh | Photo: Ravens At Odds

QLD Awards

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2022 AILA SA Landscape Architecture Award for Cultural Heritage | Yunggorendi Mande Cultural Gathering Space | WAX Design | Kaurna | Photo: Tom Roschi Photographer

SA Awards

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2019 Tas Award Of Excellence for Small Projects | The Lily Pads | Practice: Inspiring Place | South East Nation | Photo: Matt Osbourne

TAS Awards

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2023 AILA Victoria Award of Excellence for Landscape Planning | Great Ocean Road Coastal Trail Master Plan | Tract and World Trails | Eastern Maar Nation | Photo: DELWP

VIC Awards

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2022 AILA WA Award of Excellence for Health and Education Landscape | Karla Katitjin - Bushfire Centre for Excellence | Josh Byrne & Associates | Australia | Photo: Robert Frith

WA Awards

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2021 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for International | Xichong Coast Recovery Plan | Hassell | Xichong, Shenzhen, China | Photo: Hassell

International Entrant

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Awards Categories

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2020 AILA SA Award of Excellence for Health and Education Landscape | 2020 Healthy Parks Healthy People SA Award Winner | Paringa Park Primary School | Peter Semple Landscape Architects | Kaurna | Photo: Jason Tyndall

Health and Education Landscape

Projects in this category are constructed landscape projects in and surrounding institutional spaces including educational, health or aged care facilities. Projects in this category demonstrate how the design contributes to the usability and operation of the facility and the wellbeing of the user.

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2022 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Civic Landscape | 2022 AILA QLD Landscape Architecture Award for Civic Landscape | Mollison Park | RPS | Turrbal and Yuggera people | Photo: Scott Burrows

Civic Landscape

Projects in this category are constructed urban landscape projects that are public in nature and capture and contribute to the culture and amenity of the urban environment around them. Projects will demonstrate how the landscape architecture has contributed to the overall outcomes.

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2021 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Parks and Open Space | 2021 AILA WA Award of Excellence for Parks and Open Space | Bina Parkland | Ecoscape | Whadjuk Nyoongar | Photo: Michael Macaulay

Parks and Open Space

Projects in this category are constructed public parks and open space, or strategic open space projects that balance the demand for recreation, culture and the environment.

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2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Play Spaces | 2020 AILA SA Landscape Architecture Award for Play Spaces | Para Wirra Nature Playspace | TCL | Kaurna Nation | Photo: Emily Taylor

Play Spaces

Projects in this category are constructed play spaces or strategies which promote the notion of active play and embraces the temporal elements of the active play space.

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2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Infrastructure | 2020 AILA QLD Landscape Architecture Award for Civic Landscape | Aerodrome Road Intersection | Hassell | Gubbi Gubbi / Kabi Kabi | Photo: Christopher Frederick Jones

Infrastructure

Projects in this category are constructed landscape infrastructure projects, landscape strategies or works associated with civil infrastructure that demonstrates the successful integration of landscape values and which contribute to a future sustainability.

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2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Cultural Heritage | 2020 AILA WA Award of Excellence for Cultural Heritage | UWA Cultural Heritage Mapping | UDLA | Whadjuk Nyoongar | Photo: Jason Thomas

Cultural Heritage

Projects in this category are constructed projects or strategies that demonstrate the restoration, conservation, enhancement, maintenance, or adaptive reuse of culturally significant sites.

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2022 AILA NSW Landscape Architecture Award for Land Management | University of Newcastle - Delprat Garden | University of Newcastle, School of Architecture & Built Environment | Awabakal Country | Photo: Miranda Cunningham

Land Management

Projects in this category are constructed projects or strategies for the restoration, conservation or management of significant landscapes that demonstrate a tangible physical outcome. The project may recognise and reconcile the natural and cultural values of communities and the landscape in which they are placed.

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2022 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Tourism | 2022 AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Award for Tourism | Lake Tyrrell Tourism Infrastructure Design | Thomson Hay Landscape Architects | Wergaia Peoples (Boorong clan) | Photo: Anne Morley

Tourism

Projects in this category are constructed or strategic projects that demonstrate excellence in landscape design and demonstrate a tangible contribution to tourism, either nationally or in the local region that significantly enhances the profile of the area.

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2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Urban Design | 2020 AILA WA Award of Excellence for Urban Design | The Rocks Laneway | UDLA | Yamatji | Photo: Josh Monagan

Urban Design

Projects in this category are constructed or strategic projects that demonstrate how the design, construction management and built outcome of the landscape, contributes to the wellbeing of the urban setting through the improvement of social interaction, economic activity, liveability, accessibility and safety. Projects will have a specific focus on how landscape architecture has contributed to the urban design outcome.

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2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Landscape Planning | 2020 AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Award for Infrastructure | Maribyrnong Waterfront IWM | REALMstudios | Kulin Nation | Photo: REALMstudios

Landscape Planning

Projects in this category are constructed or strategic projects and include strategic design and guiding policy documents and visual assessments for urban development, residential and planned communities, local community and rural or regional planning.

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2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Research, Policy and Communications | 2020 AILA QLD Landscape Architecture Award for Research, Policy and Communications | Sunshine Coast Design Strategy and Book | Sunshine Coast Council | Jinibara and Kabi Kabi people | Photo: Andrew Maccoll

Research, Policy and Communications

Projects in this category include published works in research and or practice that extend the knowledge base and advocacy of landscape architecture.

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2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Community Contribution | 2020 AILA WA Award of Excellence for Community Contribution | Saint Joseph’s Nature Play Master Plan | Ecoscape Australia Pty Ltd | Miriwoong | Photo: Nicole Croudace

Community Contribution

Projects in this category included constructed projects or strategies delivered either: As a pro bono service (or significantly reduced fee) to the community OR have positively impacted a disadvantaged individual or group of users who wouldn’t normally have access to design expertise Entrants should be able to clearly demonstrate the benefit provided by the project to the communities, cultural groups and/or neighbourhoods in which they are located in or serve (e.g. through client letters of support explicitly referring to benefits gained).

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2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Small Projects | System Garden Rainforest Walk | SBLA Studio | Wurundjeri | Photo: Wade Trevean

Small Projects

Projects in this category include those considered to be 'small' in terms of size or budget. Projects are recognised that have been constrained by size or budget restrictions but have achieved a level of invention and creativity beyond these constraints.

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2020 National Landscape Architecture Award for Gardens | 2020 QLD Award of Excellence for Gardens | Domic | James Birrell Design Lab | Kabi Kabi | Photo: Scott Burrows

Gardens

Projects in this category include constructed private and public gardens that contribute to the role and understanding of the garden in contemporary society and culture.

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2020 AILA National Award of Excellence for International | Feng River Park | GVL Gossamer | Sha'anxi Province, China | Photo: GVL Gossamer

International

Projects in this category include constructed or strategic projects that demonstrate a contribution to landscape architecture internationally. Please note the International Awards are part of the National Awards program and are not judged at the state level.

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2022 AILA National Award of Excellence for Tourism | 2022 AILA Victoria Award of Excellence for Tourism | 2022 AILA National Regional Achievement Award | Grampians Peaks Trail (Gariwerd) | McGregor Coxall, Noxon Giffen | Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation & Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation | Photo: Shannon McGrath

Regional Achievement

This is a cross category award given in recognition of landscape architecture that has made a significant difference to improving the healthy communities and/or built and natural environments of regional Australia. Chapter Executives in collaboration with the Chapter Jury will determine the eligible key regions for their Chapter program.

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2016 National Award of Excellence for Civic | 2015 QLD Award of Excellence for Civic | Lady Cilento Children's Hospital | Landscape Architect: Conrad Gargett | Turrbal | Photo: Christopher Frederick Jones

Climate Positive Design

This is a cross category Award given in recognition of landscape architecture projects that have shown significant contribution to climate positive design. Entrants may opt in to this award and provide additional documentation on how their project has shown a strong effort toward climate mitigation, climate adaptation while also contribution to social, environmental and or economic benefits. Refer to the entry guide (page 4) for additional documentation required to submit for this award.

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Image credit coming

Future Leaders Student Award and Graduate Award

These two awards recognise achievement in design, planning, communications and research that is based upon the development of innovative, creative and practical solutions to landscape architectural challenges. Know a student or graduate member that you’d like to nominate?

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2024 National Awards Jury

VIEW NATIONAL JURY


Claire Martin, FAILA

National Jury Chair

Claire Martin is a Registered Landscape Architect and Associate Director of OCULUS. She is a Fellow and Immediate Past President of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, and Chair of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (Asia-Pacific Region) Climate Change Working Group. Claire is passionate about design education, advocacy, and communication and is a member of the Office of the Victorian Government Architect’s Victorian Design Review Panel, a contributing editor of Landscape Architecture Australia, and a regular guest lecturer at RMIT University, where she has taught, is an invited critic, and a member of the Landscape Architecture Industry Advisory Committee.


Jannelle Arbon


Janelle Arbon, PhD, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, AILA SA Chapter Vice President and Associate with JPE Design Studio in Adelaide. She is an award-winning landscape architect with over 15 years’ professional experience working on complex multi-disciplinary public realm projects, in private practice and public sectors. Through her collaborative approach, Janelle bridges the gap between strategy and delivery, aligning landscape architecture, urban design, and infrastructure to achieve a positive socially sustainable outcome. 


Jack Qian


Jack is an internationally recognised multi-disciplinary designer and Australian Registered Landscape Architect, collaborating across urban design, art, and digital media. He is currently Principal at Arcadia Landscape Architects and had previously led acclaimed practices in Australian and China, including ASPECT Studios, McGregor Coxall and Gossamer in delivering a diverse range of award-winning projects around the world. Jack is dedicated to creating highly successful legacies for people, places and the environment.


Kaylie Salvatori


Budawang Yuin woman, Kaylie is a landscape architect and Indigenous strategic designer specialising in cultural placemaking and Country positive design. She is a passionate contributor to Country-driven design discourse, regularly contributing to design literature, talks, symposiums and presentations. Current board member for the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust, Kaylie is passionate about First Nations rights to public spaces and parks, representation in the built environment industry, biodiversity and systems thinking, advocating for Country positive design.


Rosie Halsmith


Rosie Halsmith is a Lecturer in Landscape Architecture at the School of Design, UWA and a consultant in co-design, engagement and communications. Her teaching and practice is focused on broadening perspectives on what design is and can do, with a commitment to projects which are grounded in a process of authentic community and stakeholder engagement. Rosie has written for numerous publications including Landscape Australia, Foreground and FutureWest; and her work has been recognised with both West Australian and national awards. 


Alan Hoban


Alan is a strong advocate for better collaboration between landscape architects and engineers, and is passionate about creating vibrant and sustainable cities.  He founded carshare company Flexicar, and has played a key role in advancing water sensitive design in Australia.  Alan was President of Stormwater Australia for five years and was recently awarded Queensland Engineer of the Year. His key projects include Singapore’s WSUD Strategy, developing urban typologies for Western Sydney, and the naturalisation of Small Creek. 

Entry Process

Entry into the AILA Landscape Architecture Awards program is limited to a person, or a team where the landscape architectural component is under the substantive control or direction of a person, who is a Registered Landscape Architect or Member (financial) and principal of the practice (who is an owner or formal licensee of the copyright in the work being entered).

To be eligible for entry, projects (where applicable) must have at least reached practical completion and be in all other respects complete to the point of enabling proper assessment by the Jury, no later than 31 December 2023. Entries will be considered in the Chapter in which the project is located, regardless of the business address of the entrant. Any project located outside Australia will only be eligible for an award in the International category.

Your entry into the awards is completed by our online platform, Awards Force. Entrants are able to start their entry as in progress before submitting. To assist in your preparation of your submission, please read the important documents

For questions please contact your local Chapter for State Awards programs, and [email protected] for the National Awards program.

NSW, QLD, SA, VIC and WA present a Chapter level Awards annually. ACT, TAS and NT run once every two years.

Enter the Awards

Cost: $380 + gst
2024 entries open 6 February 2024
Entries close at 11:59pm AEDT, 13 March 2024

Entry fee

To enter the Awards you must complete an online entry and pay the entry fee. Should your entry win at Chapter level, it will automatically progress to the National Award and no further fee is required.

Chapter

Fee per entry

ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, VIC, WA & International

$380 + gst

Key dates

Small Chapters ACT, NT, TAS run awards programs once every two years. These programs may be held in collaboration with other States.

VIEW AWARDS DATES NOW