Bunbury, Albany and Subi East are among the sites taking out prizes at the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Western Australian Chapter Awards.

The AILA WA has announced the winners of the state’s best landscape architecture in a ceremony held at the Royal Perth Yacht Club on Friday 30th May. The ceremony celebrated 12 award-winning projects, from a field of 20 entries, across categories spanning civic and infrastructure projects through to play spaces, gardens, health, education landscapes and more.

The night’s top honour, the WA Medal, was awarded to Maidens Reserve, in Bunbury. Maidens Reserve is a coastal nature reserve featuring lookouts, hiking and walking trails, and picnic and play spaces situated in Bunbury, south of Perth. The City of Bunbury (Adjacent Land Manager) and the City of Bunbury Co-Design Access Panel (Accessibility Specialists) were among the collaborators who helped realise the project. Designed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions, the AILA WA Jury Chair Amanda Mannolini said the project captivated the jury.

“Through subtle interventions and careful restoration, the project enhances both access and ecological integrity — allowing the landscape to heal while welcoming more people to experience it,” says Mannolini. “Its sensitive design minimises impact while maximising engagement, weaving built form seamlessly into the natural setting. This is a landmark example of regional landscape architecture that offers a bold, memorable, and deeply inclusive experience for all.”

Maidens Reserve was also honoured with an Award of Excellence in the category of Parks and Open Space, in addition to receiving a Regional Achievement Award.

The landscape architecture of The Oval at Subi East– a redevelopment masterplan and one of the most significant urban infill projects in WA’s built environment history – was designed by UDLA + OCULUS. The project took home an Award of Excellence in the category of Cultural Heritage. Additionally, The Oval at Subi East was awarded two Landscape Architecture Awards — in the categories of Parks and Open Space, as well as Civic Landscape.

The jury complemented the designers’ reimagining of this landscape: “This complex, high-profile project meets significant technical and community expectations with clarity and sensitivity. Leadership in Indigenous engagement is central to its success, shifting from consultation to co-decision-making with Traditional Owners.”

Middelton Beach Foreshore Stage 1, a renewal project on one of Albany’s most cherished coastal destinations, was honoured with an Award of Excellence in the Civic Landscape category. The project, designed by the City of Albany and See Design, also received a Regional Achievement Award.

The jury applauded the designers’ material selection and their response to the coastline’s erosion: “The design leverages the site’s natural beauty and applies a restrained, elegant material palette to shape a series of multifunctional public spaces that improve beach access and amenity. A concealed sea wall has been seamlessly integrated into the landscape to address long-term coastal erosion, ensuring resilience and continued public use for generations to come.”

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All winners of an AILA WA Award will now proceed to the National Landscape Architecture Awards, to be announced later this year.

Here is the full list of winners:

Civic Landscape

• Middleton Beach Foreshore Stage 1 – City of Albany and See Design Studio – Award of Excellence
• The Oval at Subi East – UDLA + OCULUS – Landscape Architecture Award

Community Contribution

• Brightwater Huntington’s Campus – PLAN E – Landscape Architecture Award

Cultural Heritage

• The Oval at Subi East – UDLA + OCULUS – Award of Excellence

Gardens

• Hope Street – ASPECT Studios with Officer Woods Architects & MDC Architects – Landscape Architecture Award

Health and Education Landscape

• Scotch College Junior School Playspace – Four Landscape Studio – Landscape Architecture Award

Land Management

• Karunjie Homestead Visioning Plan – Wiliggan Aboriginal Corporation, MudMap Studio & Conservation Management – Award of Excellence

Landscape Planning

• Hilton Park Masterplan – REALMstudios, Shape Urban and City of Fremantle – Landscape Architecture Award

Parks and Open Space

• Maidens Reserve – Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions – Award of Excellence
• The Oval at Subi East – UDLA + OCULUS – Landscape Architecture Award

Research, Policy and Communications

• Department of Communities Landscape Design Brief and Guide – REALMstudios and Grafted Studio – Landscape Architecture Award

Small Projects

• OneNinety – See Design Studio – Landscape Architecture Award

Tourism

• Monkey Mia – Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions – Landscape Architecture Award

Regional Achievement

• Middleton Beach Foreshore Stage 1 – City of Albany and See Design Studio – Regional Achievement Award
• Karunjie Homestead Visioning Plan – Wiliggan Aboriginal Corporation, MudMap Studio & Conservation Management – Regional Achievement Award
• Maidens Reserve – Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions – Regional Achievement Award

WA Medal

• Maidens Reserve – Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions – WA Medal

Jury:

• Amanda Mannolini (Jury Chair)
• Jon Everett
• Emma Young
• Peter Hillman
• Joel Barker
• Eleanor Reuvers

AILA
aila.org.au

Read about this football project in Mexico for some landscape inspiration