The Victorian Architecture Awards are granted annually by the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects. They began with the Street Architecture Medal, awarded between 1929 and 1942. Apart from a single award in 1954, annual awards did not resume until 1964, backdated by one year.75 Years of Victorian Architecture Awards, Australian Institute of Architects
Awards and Prizes The most prestigious award has been variously called the Medal, the Bronze Medal, or Merit Award, but since but since 1987 it has been called the Victorian Architecture Medal.
The numbers and categories of awards has expanded and changed over the years. Since the 1990s, some categories have been named after significant architects or firms who have practiced in Victoria.
Awards Victorian Architecture Medal (started 1929 as RVIA Street Architecture Medal) William Wardell Award for Public Architecture (started 1996) Harold Desbrowe-Annear Award for Residential Architecture Houses – New (started 1996) Marion Mahony Award for Interior Architecture (started 1996) Sir Osborn McCutcheon Award for Commercial Architecture (started 1997) Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design (started 1997) Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize (started 1997, named 2023) Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award (started 2003, named 2023) John George Knight Award for Heritage Architecture, Conservation/Creative Adaptation (started 2005) Best Overend Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing (started 2007) Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable Architecture (named 2013) Kevin Borland Award for Small Project Architecture (started 2013) Henry Bastow Award for Educational Architecture (started 2015) John and Phyllis Murphy Award for Residential Architecture Houses – Alterations and Additions (named 2017) Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture EmAGN Project Award
Prizes Source: Victorian President’s Prize (started 2000) Regional Prize (started 2001) Bates Smart Award for Architecture in the Media (National, State and Advocacy categories) Victorian Emerging Architect Prize Victorian Student Ideas Prize Victorian Graduate Prize Robert Caulfield Graduate Research Scholarship Sinclair–Nelson Drawing Scholarship
Discontinued Awards
RVIA Street Architecture Medal (1929—1942) The Age RAIA House of the Year Award (1972—1979) The Age Public Award (1987—1989) Robin Boyd Environmental Award (1972—1981) Community Design Awards (1975—1977) Project Housing Award (1978—1979) Environmental Design: Urban and Community Design Award (1978—1986) Walter Burley Griffin Award for the Environment (1982—1985) Environmental Award (started 1982) ACROD/RAIA Award (1979—1982) Energy Efficient Buildings (Medal) 1982 President's Award: Young Architects 1982 William Pitt Award for Restoration (started 1984) Robert Joseph Haddon Medal for Excellence in Architecture (1985) Rejuvenated Housing, Rejuvenated Buildings, Recycled Buildings William Wilkinson Wardell Award (for individuals) (1983) John George Knight Award (for individuals) (1983) ACI Award for Innovation (1984—1987) Institutional Ecclesiastical Industrial Recreational Domestic
Robin Boyd Environmental Award 1972–1981
After the death in 1971 of influential Victorian architect and writer Robin Boyd, a posthumous award was established by the Victorian Chapter in 1972. The state based award ceased in 1981 when the national Robin Boyd Award for new housing was established as part of a new national awards program.
Robin Boyd Environmental Award by Year YearAward Winner For Reference Other1972Named AwardMerchant BuildersContribution to housing development in Melbourne1972Award of MeritThe Melbourne TimesFor responsible community reporting1972Award of MeritRuth and Morrie CrowFor contribution to planning literature and issues in Melbourne1973Bronze MedalCarlton AssociationFor their Report No.5 Urban Renewal, Carlton — An analysis1973Award of MeritDepartment of Fisheries and WildlifeFor the management and development of Tower Hill1973Award of MeritFitzroy Fun FactoryFor their use of recycled materials1974Bronze MedalVictorian Public Interest Research Group LtdFor Dandenong Ranges project1974CitationCentre for Environmental Studies, University of Melbourne and the Western Port Regional Planning AuthorityFor a study on landscape assessment of the southern Mornington Peninsula1975Bronze MedalEllis Stones (1895—1975)Posthumous award for his work as a landscape designer1975CitationAustralian GovernmentFor environmental protection and conservation initiatives 1974—19751975CitationInterplan Pty LtdCity of Melbourne Strategic Plan1975CitationWestern Port Regional Planning AuthorityWestern Port Conservation Plan1976Bronze MedalDavid Yencken (Chairman)The Interim Committee of the National Estate1976CitationDr E Graeme RobertsonFor his work in recording and documenting ornamental cast iron (posthumous)1976CitationRandell Champion and Paul ThompsonKoonung–Mullum Freeway Action Plan1976CitationBarbara Niven (Director), Interim Committee of the National Estate (Sponsor) Historic Conservation Areas Project 1977Bronze MedalMay MoonFor her work as founder and secretary for 27 years of the Save the Dandenongs League1977CitationResidents of Golf Links Estate, CroydonImplementation of a private street scheme1977CitationWestern Port Regional Planning AuthorityPhillip Island Capability Study prepared by the Centre for Environmental Studies under Professor George Seddon (Director)1977CitationVictorian Public Interest Research Group LtdFor their report A Coastal Retreat1978Bronze MedalThe Friends of the Organ Pipes Group, Victorian National Parks AssociationRehabilitation and conservation of the Organ Pipes National Park1978Bronze MedalFitzroy Collingwood Rental Housing AssociationA pilot residential house association1978CitationSocial Education Materials Project — Urbanism TeamSocial Education Material Project Urbanism Kit1979Bronze MedalTown and Country Planning Board, Shire of Maldon, and Jacobs–Lewis & VinesMaldon Historic Conservation Project1979CitationConservation of energy working group of Conservation Council of VictoriaPublication Seeds for change: creatively confronting the energy crisis1980Bronze MedalAnne Latreille, Journalist, The AgeInitiative in establishing the Environs columns1981Bronze MedalDr Tim EaleyPioneering concepts in environment by people other than architects1981Bronze MedalLinda StevensonWork with North Melbourne Library in extension of the concepts and roles of community library services
Source: Judging Architecture, Victorian Architecture Awards 1929—2003 Goad, Gollings, Pigeon
2024 Awards In 2024 the AIA Victoria Chapter received the largest total entries of all Australian States and Territories chapters with 228 submissions across 15 categories for judging. At the awards held on Friday 7 June 2024 a total of 15 named awards, 24 architecture awards and 22 commendations were presented.
2025 Awards In 2025 the AIA Victoria Chapter received a total of 384 submissions across 15 categories with 126 projects shortlisted for the awards. The awards were held on 27 June 2025 presenting a total of 19 named awards, 21 architecture awards, and 17 commendations.
2026 Awards On 24 April 2026, 120 projects were shortlisted in 15 categories. A total of 64 winners and commendations were announced at the awards night held on 19 June 2026.
Publications
To mark the 75th Victorian Architecture Awards in 2003, the Institute published Judging Architecture – Issues, Divisions, Triumphs, which listed all awards from 1929 to 2003.
See also Australian Institute of Architects Australian Institute of Architects Awards and Prizes Victorian Architecture Medal Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award National Award for Enduring Architecture Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize
References
External links AIA Victoria Chapter Architecture Awards