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 (1934) are older state based awards for architecture.
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.
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. The circular style of the medallion has remained the same although materials and finishes have changed over the years.
Canberra Medallion winners since 2000 ACT Chapter Canberra Medallion winners since 2000 (reverse order)YearArchitect Project Location State Type Other AIA awards2026 Cox Architecture with CK Architecture Australia Gugan Gulwan36 Grattan Court, WanniassaAustralian Capital TerritoryCultural Public Architecture Award, 2026 (ACT) W. Hayward Morris Award for Interior Architecture, 2026 (ACT) Connection to Country Narrative Prize, 2026 (ACT) Pamille Berg Prize for Art in Architecture, 2026 (ACT) People’s Choice Award, 2026 (ACT)2025 Stewart Architecture Daramalan College Performing Arts Centre121 Cowper Street, Dickson Australian Capital TerritoryEducation Enrico Taglietti Award for Educational Architecture, 2025 (ACT) Award for Interior Architecture, 2025 (ACT) EmAGN Project Award, 2025 (ACT)2024 Joanna Nelson Architect House on a PathCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryResidentialGene Willsford Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), 2024 (ACT)2023 Bates Smart Brindabella 6 Brindabella Circuit, Canberra AirportAustralian Capital TerritoryCommercial John Andrews Award for Commercial Architecture, 2023 (ACT)2022 Hassell Birch Building Refurbishment Australian National University, 35 Science Road, Acton, CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryEducation National Award for Heritage, 2022 National Award for Educational Architecture, 2022 National Commendation for Interior Architecture, 2022 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 CanberraAustralian Capital Territory Residential Malcolm Moir and Heather Sutherland Award for Residential Architecture, Houses (New), 2021 (ACT)2020 Edition Office and Daniel Boyd For Our Country Australian War Memorial, CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryWar Memorial Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture, 2020 Cynthia Breheny Award for Small Project Architecture (ACT) Pamille Berg Award for Art in Architecture (ACT) Robert Foster Award for Light in Architecture (ACT)2019 Austin Maynard Architects Empire CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryResidential Gene Willsford Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), 2019 (ACT) National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), 20192018 Hassell Australian Federal Police Forensics and Data Centre, Majura 1 Tambreet Street, MajuraAustralian Capital TerritoryGovernment National Commendation for Commercial Architecture, 20182017 National Capital Authority, Jane Irwin, Hill Thalis, SMEC and AECOM Constitution Avenue Streetscape Constitution Avenue, CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryUrban Design Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2017 (ACT)2016 lahznimmo Bowen Place Crossing Bowen Place & Kings Avenue, Parkes, Canberra Australian Capital TerritoryUrban Design Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 2016 (National) Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2016 (ACT)2015 Fender Katsalidis New Acton Precinct Acton, Canberra Australian Capital TerritoryMixed Use Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 2015 (National) 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 Forest Drive, Canberra Australian Capital TerritoryCultural Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 20142013 Fender Katsalidis 2 & 4 National Circuit 2 & 4 National Circuit, Canberra Australian Capital TerritoryCommercial Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 20132012 Collins Caddaye St Gregory's HallSt. Gregory's Primary School (MacQuoid Street Campus), Molonglo Street, Queanbeyan Australian Capital TerritoryEducation Romaldo Giurgola Award for Public Architecture, 20122011 Johnson Pilton Walker Australian War Memorial Eastern Precinct Australian War Memorial, Canberra Australian Capital TerritoryWar 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 20 Blackbutt Street, O’Connor Australian Capital Territory Residential Small Project Award, 2010 (ACT)2009 Johnson Pilton Walker National Portrait Gallery King Edward Terrace, Parkes, CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryCultural Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2009 (National) Architecture Award for Interior Architecture, 2009 (National) Romaldo Giurgola Award for Public Architecture, 2009 (ACT) Light in Architecture Prize, 2009 (ACT)2008 Fender Katsalidis New Acton East Corner of Marcus Clarke Street & Edinburgh Avenue, Acton, CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryMixed Use/Commercial National Award for Commercial Architecture, 20082007 Cox Humphries Moss Australian Institute of Sport Aquatic Testing and Training Centre 26 Leverrier Street, Bruce, CanberraAustralian Capital TerritorySport Award for Public Architecture, 2007 (ACT) Bligh Voller Nield ANU Medical School Canberra Hospital, GarranAustralian Capital TerritoryHealth2006 Roger Pegrum Reid House 19 Euree Street, Reid, CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryResidential2005 Denton Corker Marshall ANZAC Hall Australian War Memorial, Campbell, CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryWar MemorialSir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 20052004No Award2003No Award2002 Cox Humphries Moss (Rodney Moss) Clynes House (Catherine & Robert Clynes) Yarralumla, CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryResidential Woods Bagot Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS House) 45 Benjamin Way, BelconnenAustralian Capital TerritoryCommercial2001 Mitchell Giurgola & Thorp Australian War Memorial Gallery RedevelopmentAustralian War Memorial, Campbell CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryWar Memorial2000 Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn CSIRO Discovery CentreNorth Science Road, Acton, CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryCommercial2000 Dawson Brown Architecture (now Casey Brown Architecture) Sastrugi Lodge 12 Diggings Terace, ThredboNew South WalesResidentialRedevelopment of 1958 lodge by Otto Ernegg and Eric Nicholls.
Canberra Medallion winners 1956—1999
ACT Chapter Canberra Medallion winners from 1956 to 1999 (reverse order)YearArchitect Project Location State Type Other AIA awards1999 Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp Blake Dawson Waldron Fit-out12 Moore Street, CanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryCommercialTownsend & Associates Fowler House 288 Duffy Street, Ainslie Australian Capital TerritoryResidentialSimon Kringas Jenkins Farmhouse Australian Capital TerritoryResidentialDaryl Jackson Alastair Swayn Capital Jet Facility Boomerang Street, Canberra Airport, Pialligo Australian Capital TerritoryCommercial1998Munns Sly Scott–Bohanna MossHyson Green, Calvary HospitalMary Potter Circuit, BruceAustralian Capital TerritoryHealth1997 Graeme Trickett Robert Morrison House (Alterations & Additions)52 Beauchamp Street, DeakinAustralian Capital TerritoryResidentialEggleston Macdonald Australian Geographical Survey Organisation HQSymonston Australian Capital TerritoryCommercialDaryl Jackson Alastair SwaynAIS Ansett Sports Visitor CentreLeverriar Crescent, Bruce Australian Capital TerritorySportMCC Architects (consortium of Munns Sly Scott–Bohanna Moss, Collins Caddaye Humphries and Colin Stewart)ACT Magistrates Court London Circuit, Canberra Australian Capital TerritoryJustice1996 Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp ACT Legislative AssemblyCivic Square, Canberra Australian Capital TerritoryGovernmentFreeman Collett & Partners My CafeFranklin Street, ManukaAustralian Capital TerritoryCommercialShane Blue & Rachel BourneHouse at Fadden Hills10 Decker Place, FaddenAustralian Capital TerritoryResidential1995No Award1994 Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp Ainslie Fire StationWakefield Avenue, Ainslie Australian Capital TerritoryPublicAustralian Construction Services Therapeutic Goods Administration Building Narrabundah Lane, SymonstonAustralian Capital TerritoryCommercialClarke & JacksonAinslie Village RedevelopmentQuick Street, AinslieAustralian Capital TerritoryCommercial1993Daryl Jackson Alastair SwaynBoiler House Lecture TheatreUniversity of Canberra, BruceAustralian Capital TerritoryEducation1992Mitchell/Giurgola & ThorpFaculty of Information Sciences & Engineering BuildingUniversity of Canberra, BruceAustralian Capital TerritoryEducation1991Daryl Jackson Alastair SwaynAthletics Field GrandstandAustralian Institute of Sport, Masterman Street, BruceAustralian Capital TerritorySport1990Mitchell/Giurgola & ThorpSt Thomas Aquinas Parish Church Lhotsky Street, Charnwood Australian Capital TerritoryReligionSir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture, 20181989Lawrence Nield & PartnersNational Science & Technology Centre (now Questacon) King Edward Terrace, Parkes Australian Capital TerritoryCultural1988Mitchell/Giurgola & ThorpAustralian Parliament House Parliament Drive, Capital Hill Australian Capital TerritoryCulturalNational Award for Enduring Architecture, 2013 Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture, 2013 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1989Ken Maher & PartnersPsychiatric Hostel Mary Potter Circuit, Bruce Australian Capital TerritoryHealth1987Daryl JacksonIndoor Sports Centre Australian Defence Force Academy, Fairbairn Ave, Campbell Australian Capital TerritorySport1986Department of Housing & Construction (ACT) with Ancher Mortlock & Woolley Cadets Mess Australian Defence Force Academy, Fairbairn Avenue, Campbell Australian Capital TerritoryDefence Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 19861985Daryl Jackson Singapore High Commission Chancery Forster Crescent, Yarralumla Australian Capital TerritoryGovernment1984Daryl Jackson National Sports Centre Swimming Halls Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Crescent, Bruce Australian Capital TerritorySportSir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1984