Western Australia’s most outstanding architectural achievements have been celebrated at the 2025 WA Architecture Awards, with the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line Project dominating the event by securing four major accolades, including the coveted George Temple Poole Award.
The METRONET project, designed by Woods Bagot in collaboration with Taylor Robinson Chaney Broderick (TRCB), TCL, and UDLA, delivers 21 kilometres of new railway and five new stations and precincts at Morley, Noranda, Ballajura, Whiteman Park, and Ellenbrook.
The jury described the project as “an exemplar of public transport and community facilities”, noting its pivotal role in enhancing social and public infrastructure for Perth’s rapidly growing north-eastern corridor.
In addition to the state’s highest architectural honour, METRONET also received the Wallace Greenham Award for Sustainable Architecture, the Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture, and an Award for Public Architecture.
The jury praised the project for “setting an impressive new sustainability benchmark for government infrastructure in Australia, and for being an exemplar of public transport and community facilities, with the end-user experience at the forefront of the design”.
Another standout winner was the Ruah Centre for Women and Children in Northbridge, designed by Architectus.
The centre claimed the Jeffrey Howlett Award for Public Architecture and the Brian Kidd Enabling Architecture Prize. As Australia’s first purpose-built healing and recovery centre for women and children affected by family and domestic violence, the seven-storey facility provides integrated medical, counselling, legal, and accommodation services.
The jury applauded the project as “an elegant, well-planned and beautifully detailed building” that gives “broken lives a chance to rebuild”.
The Hale Memorial Hall and Stow Precinct, designed by KHA, was honoured with the Hillson Beasley Award for Educational Architecture and a Heritage Architecture award.
Originally constructed in 1961 to commemorate Hale School students who died in the World Wars, the jury commended the “ingenious refurbishment of a nationally significant modernist memorial hall that enriches the ceremonial life and heart of the school”.
The project “expands the capacity of the main auditorium and elegantly maintains the integrity and beauty of the original building,” the jury said.
Murdoch Square, designed by Hassell, was recognised with the Ross Chisholm and Gil Nicol Award for Commercial Architecture and the John Septimus Roe Award for Urban Design.
The project reimagines a health precinct as a vibrant community hub, integrating healthcare, offices, aged care, and accommodation.
The jury hailed it for “setting an innovative global benchmark for urban design,” adding: “Murdoch Square combines a complex health services brief and a busy street front into a welcoming, urban place.”
All awarded and commended projects now proceed to the Australian Institute of Architects National Architecture Awards, to be announced later this year.
Full List of 2025 WA Architecture Award Winners
| Award | Winner/Project Name | Architect(s) |
|---|---|---|
| George Temple Poole Award | METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line Project | Woods Bagot with TRCB, TCL, UDLA |
| Public Architecture – The Jeffrey Howlett Award | Ruah Centre for Women and Children | Architectus |
| Public Architecture – Award | METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line Project | Woods Bagot with TRCB, TCL, UDLA |
| Educational Architecture – Hillson Beasley Award | Hale Memorial Hall and Stow Precinct | KHA |
| Educational Architecture – Award | Scarborough Primary School – New Teaching Block | Site Architecture Studio |
| Educational Architecture – Award | Mother Teresa Catholic College – Secondary School | Parry and Rosenthal Architects |
| Heritage – Margaret Pitt Morison Award | Curtin Heritage Living Cottesloe Redevelopment | Griffiths Architects with GKA, Hames Sharley |
| Heritage – Award | Hale Memorial Hall and Stow Precinct | KHA |
| Commercial Architecture – Ross Chisholm and Gil Nicol Award | Murdoch Square | Hassell |
| Sustainable Architecture – Wallace Greenham Award | METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line Project | Woods Bagot with TRCB, TCL, UDLA |
| Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture | METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line Project | Woods Bagot with TRCB, TCL, UDLA |
| Urban Design – John Septimus Roe Award | Murdoch Square | Hassell |
| Brian Kidd Enabling Architecture Prize | Ruah Centre for Women and Children | Architectus |