The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has unveiled the contenders for this year’s national awards, ahead of a ceremony to be held in Lutruwita/Tasmania on 21 October.
The shortlist has been drawn from projects that took out honours at each of the state award programs earlier this year.
Eligible projects are now in the running across a wide range of categories. In a strong showing, Victoria has secured the largest number of spots on the national stage, with more than 30 nominations.
Queensland and New South Wales follow closely, each boasting more than 25 projects in contention.
Industry heavyweights and well-known design practices feature prominently in this year’s competition. ASPECT Studios, Hassell Studio, Tract, REALMstudios and TCL appear repeatedly among the finalists, alongside a strong showing from local councils that continue to lead in the design and delivery of public spaces.
Kate Luckraft, National Jury Chair, described the nominees as representing the very best in their profession.
“The diversity of this year’s designs illustrate how landscape architects are leading transformative projects — from creeks and beaches, to train stations, universities and parklands — it’s an incredible line up of outstanding projects,” she said.
“To be privileged with critiquing these designs is to witness, firsthand, the power of landscape architecture to enliven and enrich our natural and built environments,” Luckraft continued.
“The legacy of these awards will, of course, be the positive contributions made to communities, lands and waterways around the country.”
The national awards also serve as a reminder of the far-reaching impact of the profession. Landscape architects shape public places — from parks, precincts and wetlands, to squares and campuses — that strengthen communities and connect people with nature.
Beyond aesthetics, well-designed landscapes support thriving local economies by attracting visitors and employment.
More critically, they help cool cities, restore ecosystems, and embed care for Country at the heart of urban and regional design.
The 2025 AILA Awards aim to celebrate the projects and practitioners reimagining how Australians live with landscape and with each other.
Full list of 2025 AILA National Award nominees
The full list of nominees for the 2025 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) National Awards includes outstanding projects across a range of categories.
CIVIC LANDSCAPE NOMINEES
- Bridge Hall Redevelopment | VIC | Hassell Studio
- Cusack Lane Streetscape Upgrade | QLD | Logan City Council and AECOM Australia
- Marion Cultural Centre Plaza | SA | Outerspace Studios and City of Marion
- Middleton Beach Foreshore – Stage 1 | WA | City of Albany and See Design Studio
- Port Lincoln Foreshore | SA | WAX Design
- Prahran Skatepark and Basketball Court | VIC | Convic
- The Oval at Subi East | WA | UDLA + OCULUS
- Turbot Street Underpass Revitalisation | QLD | Vee Design
- Woodlea Town Centre | VIC | MDG Landscape Architects
CLIMATE POSITIVE DESIGN NOMINEES
- Breakout Creek / Purrana Pari – Stage 3 | SA | TCL with Green Adelaide, City of Charles Sturt and City of West Torrens
- Messara Park | VIC | SMEC
- Michelle Guglielmo Park | VIC | GLAS Landscape Architects
- Wagonga Inlet Living Foreshore | NSW | REALMstudios
- Washpool Creek Catchment Master Plan | QLD | Tract
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION NOMINEES
- 24 Carrot Gardens | TAS | Inspiring Place Pty Ltd
- Brightwater Huntington’s Campus | WA | PLAN E
- Lalor Neighbourhood House Garden | VIC | FOOKS Landscape Architecture
- Living Lab Northern Rivers | NSW | University of Technology Sydney and Living Lab Northern Rivers
- Swallowcliffe Children’s Precinct Vision | SA | JPE Design Studio
- Tiny Patches | VIC | GLAS Landscape Architects
CULTURAL HERITAGE NOMINEES
- Port Noarlunga South Memorial Seat | SA | City of Onkaparinga with Turner Family
- The Meandering Pathway of Tranquility | NSW | Phillips Marler
- The Oval at Subi East | WA | UDLA + OCULUS
GARDENS NOMINEES
- Green Our Roof | VIC | Hassell Studio
- Gumnut Garden | SA | Oxigen
- Hedge House | VIC | Emergent Studios (Bush Projects)
- Hope Street | WA | ASPECT Studios with Officer Woods Architects & MDC Architects
- NINE | NSW | McGregor Coxall
- Private Garden | VIC | T.C.L. with Paul Thompson
- Wallumbum at Lake Cooroibah | WLD | Coco-Dash Landscape Architecture
HEALTH AND EDUCATION NOMINEES
- All Hallows’ School St Gertrude’s Lawn | QLD | Place Design Group
- Brighton High School | TAS | Playstreet Pty Ltd
- Moondani Balluk | VIC | REALMstudios
- Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence | VIC | Emergent Studios (Bush Projects)
- Resilience – Karuah Primary School B | NSW | Terras Landscape Architects
- Riawunna Garden – River’s Edge, University of Tasmania | TAS | ASPECT Studios, Palawa Artists – Lynne Spotswood & Genie Battese, T3D Studios, SLR Consulting
- Casuarina Park | QLD | ASPECT Studios
- Central Park All-Abilities Playground | VIC | SBLA Studio with City of Stonnington
- Dunstan Adventure Playground | SA | City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters and CLOVER Green Space
- Fagan Park Children’s Forest | NSW | Hornsby Shire Council
- Gregson Park Playspace | NSW | Phillips Marler
- Ian Stromborg Play Space at Paul Keating Park | NSW | ASPECT Studios
- Melton Botanic Garden Nature Playspace | VIC | Melton City Council
- Parks for People – Beaumont Hills | NSW | Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure with PLACE Lab
REGIONAL ACHIEVEMENT NOMINEES
- Bridge Hall Redevelopment | VIC | Hassell Studio
- Devonport Waterfront Park | TAS | ASPECT Studios and Lyons
- Karunjie Homestead Visioning Plan | WA | Wiliggan Aboriginal Corporation, MudMap Studio & Conservation Management
- Living Lab Northern Rivers | NSW | University of Technology Sydney and Living Lab Northern Rivers, Fitzgerald Frisby Landscape Architecture
- Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat Renewal | NSW | Edmiston Jones
- Monkey Mia | WA | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attraction
- Shepparton Art Museum | VIC | Urban Initiatives
URBAN DESIGN NOMINEES
- Croydon Road Precinct | QLD | Logan City Council
- Future South Bank Masterplan | QLD | Urbis and South Bank Corporation
- Heidelberg West Business Park Masterplan | VIC | Mesh Livable Urban Communities in collaboration with Banyule City Council
- Logan Gold Coast Faster Rail Precinct Planning | QLD | Archipelago
- Parramatta Square | NSW | JMD Design with TCL, Gehl and TZG
- Sunshine Energy Park Vision Plan | VIC | Brimbank City Council
- Sydney Gateway | NSW | Transport Urban Design, CM+ and Context
