The Regional and Newcastle Awards programs are two significant and historic programs which have been operating in one form or another in NSW since 1960 and 1981 respectively. These programs highlight the very best of architecture outside of Greater Sydney in places less often visited or serviced by architects.
Since 2020 there has been more interest in, and more architects working in the regions and the caliber of architecture being produced in regional, rural and remote NSW is outstanding. This increase has resulted in a growth in entries and changes to the program.
The NSW Chapter, along with the NSW Regional Committee, and the newly formed NSW Regional Awards Working Group, have been working to review the awards to create a program that reflects not only the national awards pathway, but the specific context of the state’s regional architects, practices, and architecture. The Regional Awards Working Group, in consultation with the Chapter and the Committee, has put forward a proposal for changes to to the program, presenting a future-proofed pathway to create scalability while preserving the intent and purpose of the awards.
The Chapter invites regional and non-regional members to review the proposal. The Chapter will be accepting feedback submissions via email until Tuesday 1st of July, with the 2026 Regional Awards currently scheduled to open later that month.
