Queensland’s finest landscapes recognised

From a field of over 50 entries, the AILA Queensland Awards jury honoured outstanding designs across a broad range of categories spanning civic, infrastructure, health and education landscapes — through to gardens and play spaces.

The Archerfield Wetlands Land Management project took home a trio of awards. An initiative of Brisbane Sustainability Agency’s (BSA) Oxley Creek Transformation project. This design is transforming a 150-hectare degraded green space (and one of Brisbane’s largest floodplain ecosystems) into a recreational and environmental asset for Brisbane.The Archerfield Wetlands Land Management project (BSA) received an Award of Excellence for land management. Meanwhile, the Archerfield Wetlands District Park (designed by Urbis for BSA) took out the Award of Excellence for parks and open space, along with a Landscape Architecture Award for play spaces.

Urbis and South Bank Corporation’s Future South Bank Master Plan was awarded the state’s best Urban Design. Applauded for exemplifying excellence in urban design, the jury went on to describe the project as “redefining the precinct’s role” in Brisbane. “More than a vision, it is a robust urban framework that repositions South Bank as a connected and resilient civic parkland precinct.” The project also received a Landscape Architecture Award for parks and open space. Meanwhile, the South Bank Biodiversity Strategy, designed by McGregor Coxall, BAAM & South Bank Corporation, received a Landscape Architecture Award.

The University of Queensland Ampitheatre, by Hassell, received an Award of Excellence in the health and education landscape category. The jury described the design as a “versatile and welcoming outdoor space”. Their praise continued:  “This elegant and thoughtful intervention responds to shifting post-pandemic behaviours — reinviting students outdoors and reinvigorating campus life through a landscape that is culturally aware, ecologically attuned, and beautifully resolved.”

Related: Victoria AILA Awards

Wallumburn at Lake Cooroibah, designed by Coco-Dash Landscape Architecture, was the only garden to be awarded a Landscape Architecture Award. This garden cleverly blurs the boundaries between bush and native garden. The jury summarised the approach: “Responding to climate, landscape and seasonal cycles, the garden fosters biodiversity, food production, and resilience. It offers a compelling model for sustainable rural living — merging beauty, functionality and environmental stewardship in a way that is both grounded and inspiring.”

Read about the WA AILA 2025 winners here