Canberra Medallion Explained

Canberra Medallion
Current Awards:	Joanna Nelson Architect
Awarded For:	Highest Architecture Award in Australian Capital Territory
Presenter:	Australian Institute of Architects (ACT Chapter)
Country:	Australia
Year2:	2024
Website:	Canberra Medallion Winner 2024

The Canberra Medallion is an annual architecture award presented by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects. It is regarded as the highest award at the annual ACT architecture awards.

Background

Established in 1956, the Canberra Medallion is one of the oldest architecture awards in Australia. Only the Victorian Architecture Medal/Street Architecture Medal (1929) and the NSW Sir John Sulman Medal (1932) are older state based awards for architecture.^[1]

Early awards and name change

Initially the award was known as the Award for Meritorious Architecture by the Canberra Area Committee of the RAIA. In 1962 when the ACT Chapter was established the award was renamed and a bronze medallion to 'equal the prestige of the Sulman Medal' was added. The medallion is named for Australia's capital city, Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory, although most winning projects are located in the city not all winners are located in Canberra.^[2]

Bronze medallion design

The medallion was designed by Peter Swalling in 1968 and first presented to the 1968 Canberra Medallion winning project, the Norwood Park Crematorium.^[3]

Canberra Medallion winners since 2000

ACT Chapter Canberra Medallion winners since 2000 (reverse order) ^[4]

Year	Architect	Project	Location	State	Type	Other AIA awards
2024	Joanna Nelson Architect	House on a Path	Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Commercial	Gene Willsford Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), 2024 (ACT)
2023		Brindabella^[5] ^[6]	6 Brindabella Circuit, Canberra Airport	Australian Capital Territory	Commercial	John Andrews Award for Commercial Architecture, 2023 (ACT)
2022		Birch Building Refurbishment^[7] ^[8]	Australian National University, 35 Science Road, Acton, Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Education	National Award for Heritage, 2022^[9] National Award for Educational Architecture, 2022^[10] National Commendation for Interior Architecture, 2022^[11] Enrico Taglietti Award for Educational Architecture, 2022 (ACT) W Hayward Morris Award for Interior Architecture, 2022 (ACT) J S Murdoch Award for Heritage, 2022 (ACT)
2021	Anthony Knobel	House for Hiroko^[12]	Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Residential	Malcolm Moir and Heather Sutherland Award for Residential Architecture, Houses (New), 2021 (ACT)
2020		For Our Country^[13] ^[14] ^[15]	Australian War Memorial, Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	War Memorial	Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture, 2020^[16]
2019	Austin Maynard Architects	Empire^[17] ^[18]	Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Residential	Gene Willsford Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), 2019 (ACT) National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), 2019^[19]
2018		Australian Federal Police Forensics and Data Centre, Majura	1 Tambreet Street, Majura	Australian Capital Territory	Government	National Commendation for Commercial Architecture, 2018^[20]
2017	National Capital Authority, Jane Irwin, Hill Thalis, SMEC and AECOM	Constitution Avenue Streetscape^[21] ^[22]	Constitution Avenue, Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Urban Design	Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2017 (ACT)
2016	lahznimmo	Bowen Place Crossing^[23]		Australian Capital Territory	Urban Design	Walter Burley Griffin Award, 2016 (National)^[24] Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2016 (ACT)
2015	Fender Katsalidis	New Acton Precinct^[25]		Australian Capital Territory	Mixed Use	Walter Burley Griffin Award, 2015 (National)^[26] Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2015 (ACT) Award for Sustainable Architecture, 2015 (ACT) Award for Interior Architecture, 2015 (ACT)
2014	Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Taylor Cullity Lethlean	National Arboretum^[27]		Australian Capital Territory	Cultural	Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2014
2013	Fender Katsalidis	2 & 4 National Circuit^[28]		Australian Capital Territory	Commercial	Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2013
2012	Collins Caddaye	St Gregory's Hall^[29]		Australian Capital Territory	Education	Romaldo Giurgola Award for Public Architecture, 2012
2011	Johnson Pilton Walker	Australian War Memorial Eastern Precinct^[30] ^[31]		Australian Capital Territory	War Memorial	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2011 (National) Romaldo Giurgola Award for Public Architecture, 2011 (ACT)
2010	Nino Bellantonio, AIL Studio & Joanna Nelson	H House^[32] ^[33]	O’Connor		Residential	Small Project Award, 2010 (ACT)
2009		National Portrait Gallery^[34]	King Edward Terrace, Parkes, Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Cultural	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2009 (National)^[35] Architecture Award for Interior Architecture, 2009 (National) Romaldo Giurgola Award for Public Architecture, 2009 (ACT) Light in Architecture Prize, 2009 (ACT)
2008		New Acton East^[36] ^[37]	Corner of Marcus Clarke Street & Edinburgh Avenue, Acton, Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Mixed Use/Commercial	National Award for Commercial Architecture, 2008^[38]
2007	Cox Humphries Moss	Australian Institute of Sport Aquatic Testing and Training Centre^[39]	26 Leverrier Street, Bruce, Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Sport	Award for Public Architecture, 2007 (ACT)
	Bligh Voller Nield	ANU Medical School	Canberra Hospital, Garran	Australian Capital Territory	Health
2006	Roger Pegrum	Reid House^[40]	19 Euree Street, Reid, Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Residential
2005	Denton Corker Marshall	ANZAC Hall	Australian War Memorial, Campbell, Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	War Memorial	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2005
2004	NO AWARD
2003	NO AWARD
2002	Cox Humphries Moss (Rodney Moss)	Clynes House^[41] ^[42] (Catherine & Robert Clynes)	Yarralumla, Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Residential
		Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS House)^[43]	45 Benjamin Way, Belconnen	Australian Capital Territory	Commercial
2001	Mitchell Giurgola & Thorp	Australian War Memorial Gallery Redevelopment	Australian War Memorial, Campbell Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	War Memorial
2000	Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn	CSIRO Discovery Centre^[44]	North Science Road, Acton, Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Commercial
2000	Dawson Brown Architecture	Sastrugi Lodge (redevelopment of 1958 lodge by Eric Nicholls)^[45] ^[46]	12 Diggings Terace, Thredbo	New South Wales	Residential

Canberra Medallion winners 1956—1999

ACT Chapter Canberra Medallion winners from 1956 to 1999 (reverse order) ^[47]

Year	Architect	Project	Location	State	Type	Other AIA awards
1999	Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp	Blake Dawson Waldron Fit-out	12 Moore Street, Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Commercial
	Townsend & Associates	Fowler House	288 Duffy Street, Ainslie	Australian Capital Territory	Residential
	Simon Kringas	Jenkins Farmhouse^[48] ^[49]		Australian Capital Territory	Residential
	Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn	Capital Jet Facility	Boomerang Street, Canberra Airport, Pialligo	Australian Capital Territory	Commercial
1998	Munns Sly Scott–Bohanna Moss	Hyson Green, Calvary Hospital	Mary Potter Circuit, Bruce	Australian Capital Territory	Health
1997	Graeme Trickett	Robert Morrison House (Alterations & Additions)	52 Beauchamp Street, Deakin	Australian Capital Territory	Residential
	Eggleston Macdonald	Australian Geographical Survey Organisation HQ	Symonston	Australian Capital Territory	Commercial
	Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn	AIS Ansett Sports Visitor Centre	Leverriar Crescent, Bruce	Australian Capital Territory	Sport
	MCC Architects (consortium of Munns Sly Scott–Bohanna Moss, Collins Caddaye Humphries and Colin Stewart)	ACT Magistrates Court		Australian Capital Territory	Justice
1996	Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp	ACT Legislative Assembly	Civic Square, Canberra	Australian Capital Territory	Government
	Freeman Collett & Partners	My Cafe	Franklin Street, Manuka	Australian Capital Territory	Commercial
	Shane Blue & Rachel Bourne	House at Fadden Hills	10 Decker Place, Fadden	Australian Capital Territory	Residential
1995	NO AWARD
1994	Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp	Ainslie Fire Station	Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie	Australian Capital Territory	Public
	Australian Construction Services	Therapeutic Goods Administration Building	Narrabundah Lane, Symonston	Australian Capital Territory	Commercial
	Clarke & Jackson	Ainslie Village Redevelopment	Quick Street, Ainslie	Australian Capital Territory	Commercial
1993	Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn	Boiler House Lecture Theatre	University of Canberra, Bruce	Australian Capital Territory	Education
1992	Mitchell\Giurgola & Thorp	Faculty of Information Sciences & Engineering Building	University of Canberra, Bruce	Australian Capital Territory	Education
1991	Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn	AIS Athletics Field Grandstand	Australian Institute of Sport, Masterman Street, Bruce	Australian Capital Territory	Sport
1990	Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp	St Thomas Aquinas Parish Church	Lhotsky Street, Charnwood	Australian Capital Territory	Religion	Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture, 2018
1989	Lawrence Nield & Partners	National Science & Technology Centre^[50] (now Questacon)	King Edward Terrace, Parkes	Australian Capital Territory	Cultural
1988	Mitchell\Giurgola & Thorp	Australian Parliament House	Parliament Drive, Capital Hill	Australian Capital Territory	Cultural	National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2013 Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture, 2013 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1989
	Ken Maher & Partners	Psychiatric Hostel	Mary Potter Circuit, Bruce	Australian Capital Territory	Health
1987	Daryl Jackson	Indoor Sports Centre	Australian Defence Force Academy, Fairbairn Ave, Campbell	Australian Capital Territory	Sport
1986	Department of Housing & Construction (ACT) with Ancher Mortlock & Woolley	Cadets Mess	Australian Defence Force Academy, Fairbairn Avenue, Campbell	Australian Capital Territory	Defence	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1986
1985	Daryl Jackson	Singapore High Commission Chancery		Australian Capital Territory	Government
1984	Daryl Jackson	National Sports Centre Swimming Halls	Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Crescent, Bruce	Australian Capital Territory	Recreation	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1984 RAIA National Award for Design Excellence
	Peter Freeman	Hill Station Addition	51 Sheppard Street, Hume	Australian Capital Territory	Heritage	Shortlisted for Lachlan Macquarie Award, 1984 (National)^[51]
1983	Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo and Briggs	Australian National Gallery	Parkes	Australian Capital Territory	Cultural
1982	Robin Gibson	Belconnen Library	Chandler Street, Belconnen	Australian Capital Territory	Cultural	CS Daley Medal (ACT)
1981	Daryl Jackson Evan Walker Architects	Canberra School of Art	Australian National University, Acton	Australian Capital Territory	Education	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1981 (National) CS Daley Medal (ACT)
1980	Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo & Briggs	High Court of Australia Building	Parkes Place, Parkes	Australian Capital Territory	Justice	National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2007 Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture, 2007
	1979	Department of Housing & Construction (Michael Adams)	Taylor Primary School	Marconi Crescent, Kambah	Australian Capital Territory	Education
1978	Philip Cox & Partners	Kambah Health Centre		Australian Capital Territory	Health
1977		Giralang Primary School		Australian Capital Territory	Education
1976	NO AWARD
1975	NO AWARD
1974	NO AWARD
1973	NO AWARD
1972	Hancock, Renfree & Associates	Grandstand Amenities Pavilion	Randwick Road, Mitchell	Australian Capital Territory	Sport
1971	Collard, Clark & Jackson	Building No. 14	Russell Defence Group, Russell	Australian Capital Territory	Defence
1970	Ian Mackay & Partners	Food Services Building	Bowes Street, Phillip	Australian Capital Territory	Commercial
1969	NO AWARD
1968	Rosman, Hastings & Sorel (Peter Sorel)	Norwood Park Crematorium	65 Sandford Street, Mitchell	Australian Capital Territory	Cultural
1967	Fowell, Mansfield, Jarvis & Maclurcan	Commonwealth Club	25 Forster Crescent, Yarralumla	Australian Capital Territory	Cultural
1966	NO AWARD
1965	Allen, Jack and Cottier (Russell Jack)	Cater House^[52]	145 Mugga Way, Red Hill	Australian Capital Territory	Residential	Meritorious Architecture Award, 1965
1964	Mockridge, Stahle & Mitchell	Downer Primary School (1962–1988)	Bradfield Street, Downer	Australian Capital Territory	Education	(demolished 2014)
1963	NO AWARD
1962	McConnel, Smith and Johnson (Peter Keys)	Mackie House^[53] ^[54]	41 National Circuit, Forrest	Australian Capital Territory	Residential
1961	Roy Grounds of Grounds, Romberg & Boyd	Australian Academy of Science (The Shine Dome)	Gordon Street, Acton	Australian Capital Territory	Government	Sir John Sulman Medal, 1959 Meritorious Architecture Award, ACT, 1959 25 Year Award, 2001
1960	NO AWARD
1959	NO AWARD
1958	NO AWARD
1957	NO AWARD
1956	Robin Boyd	Fenner House^[55]	8 Monaro Crescent & 1 Torres Street, Red Hill	Australian Capital Territory	Residential	Meritorious Architecture Award, ACT, 1956

Note: Prior to 1962 the Canberra Medallion was known as the ACT Meritorious Architecture Award.

See also

• Australian Institute of Architects Awards and Prizes
• Australian Institute of Architects
• Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture
• Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture
• Victorian Architecture Medal

Notes and References

1. Web site: Pegrum . Roger . 2013 . 201 ACT Architecture Awards Booklet (pp6—9) . 16 February 2024 . Architecture.com.au.
2. Web site: 2023 . 2023 ACT Architecture Awards Winners . 16 February 2024 . Architecture.com.au.
3. Book: Pegrum, Roger . 2013 ACT Architecture Awards Booklet . . 2013 . Canberra, ACT . 7.
4. Web site: Australian Institute of Architects . ACT Chapter Prizes . 3 November 2023 . architecture.com.au.
5. Web site: 2023 . 2023 ACT Architecture Awards Winners . 31 January 2024 . Australian Institute of Architects.
6. Web site: 2023 . Brindabella . 31 January 2024 . Bates Smart.
7. Web site: 3 June 2022 . 2022 ACT Architecture Awards . 30 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
8. Web site: ANU Birch . 30 January 2024 . Hassell Studio.
9. Web site: 3 November 2022 . The winners of the 2022 National Architecture Awards . 30 January 2022 . ArchitectureAU.com.
10. Web site: 3 November 2022 . The winners of the 2022 National Architecture Awards . 30 January 2022 . ArchitectureAU.com.
11. Web site: 3 November 2022 . The winners of the 2022 National Architecture Awards . 30 January 2022 . ArchitectureAU.com.
12. Web site: 2021 . 2021 ACT Architecture Awards Winners . 30 January 2024 . Australian Institute of Architects.
13. Web site: 15 June 2020 . For Our Country awarded highest accolade in 2020 ACT Architecture Awards . 15 February 2024 . Australian War Memorial.
14. Web site: 5 June 2020 . 2020 ACT Architecture Awards . 30 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
15. Web site: 1 July 2020 . For Our Country wins the Canberra Medallion . 15 February 2024 . Edition Office.
16. Web site: 5 November 2024 . Above and beyond’: The winners of the 2020 National Architecture Awards . 30 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
17. Web site: Empire, Canberra . 30 January 2024 . Maynard Architects.
18. Web site: 15 June 2019 . 2019 ACT Architecture Awards . 30 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
19. Web site: 7 November 2019 . Winners revealed: 2019 National Architecture Awards . 30 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
20. Web site: 1 November 2018 . Winners revealed: 2018 National Architecture Awards . 30 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
21. Web site: 24 June 2017 . 2017 ACT Architecture Awards . 30 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
22. Web site: Constitution Avenue, Canberra . 24 February 2024 . Hill Thalis.
23. Web site: 25 June 2016 . 2016 ACT Architecture Awards . 29 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
24. Web site: 3 November 2016 . Winners revealed: 2015 National Architecture Awards . 29 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
25. Web site: New Acton Precinct . 15 February 2024 . Fender Katsalidis.
26. Web site: 5 November 2015 . Winners revealed: 2015 National Architecture Awards . 29 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
27. Web site: 16 June 2014 . 2014 ACT Architecture Awards . 29 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
28. Web site: 2013 . 2 & 4 National Circuit . 29 January 2024 . Fender Katsalidis.
29. Web site: 5 June 2012 . Collins Caddaye Architects win top prize in 2012 ACT Architecture Awards . 29 January 2024 . Architecture & Design.
30. Web site: 29 July 2011 . 2011 Australian Capital Territory Architecture Awards . 25 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
31. Web site: 3 November 2011 . Australian War Memorial Eastern Precinct . 25 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
32. Web site: 1 July 2010 . State Awards . 29 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
33. Web site: Keefer Bell . Eugenie . 18 October 2012 . H House . 29 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
34. Web site: 5 July 2009 . Portrait Gallery wins top architecture awards . 29 January 2024 . ABC News.
35. Web site: 30 October 2009 . Architecture Award winners 20092 . 29 January 2024 . The Age.
36. Web site: 1 July 2008 . Awards . 31 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
37. Web site: 2008 . New Acton East . 31 January 2024 . Fender Katsalidis.
38. Web site: 2020 . National Award Winners 1981—2019 . 31 January 2024 . Australian Institute of Architects.
39. Web site: Australian Institute of Sport Aquatic Testing and Training Centre . 31 January 2024 . COX Architecture.
40. Web site: 1 July 2006 . Awards . 31 January 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
41. Web site: 1 September 2002 . Awards . 1 February 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
42. Web site: Yarralumla House, Canberra . 1 February 2024 . Bellevarde.
43. Web site: 1 September 2002 . Awards . 1 February 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
44. Web site: 1 September 2000 . Architecture Australia: RAIA State Awards . 2 February 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
45. Web site: 1 September 2000 . Architecture Australia: RAIA State Awards . 2 February 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
46. Web site: Sastrugi Lodge . 2 February 2024 . Casey Brown.
47. Web site: Australian Institute of Architects . ACT Chapter Prizes . 3 November 2023 . architecture.com.au.
48. Web site: Jenkins Farmhouse . 10 February 2024 . Kringas Architecture.
49. Web site: 1 September 1999 . RAIA State Awards (Architecture Australia archives) . 10 February 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
50. Web site: The foundations for fun are in the building itself . 15 February 2024 . Questacon.
51. Web site: 18 October 2012 . Heritage (Decision about Registration of Hill Station, Hume) Notice 2012 . 16 February 2024 . ACT Heritage Council.
52. Web site: Cater House (1965) revisited. 16 February 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
53. Web site: 25 August 2016 . Mackie House, 41 National Circuit (Block 16 Section 7, Forrest) . 15 February 2024 . ACT Heritage Council.
54. Web site: Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture RSTCA No: R038 Name of Place: Mackie House . 16 February 2024 . Australian Institute of Architects.
55. Web site: Fenner House . 15 February 2024 . Canberra House.