Good Samaritan College, Eromanga Natural History museum among architecture recognised in regional awards

From a thoughtful renovation of a school inspired by the family kitchen, to a remote museum further from the sea than any other. See the photos of the incredible projects across South West Queensland here.

Eromanga Natural History Museum was recognised with a People's Choice Award and Regional Commendation for Public Architecture. Photo: Brett Boardman.

The Australian Institute of Architecture recognised some of the most exceptional architectural designs across South West Queensland at an awards evening on Friday night.

The awards, held in Toowoomba on June 14, shortlisted the best projects from the region in the last year, to then be eligible to take home the statewide award on June 21.

Seven projects in the Darling Downs and West Moreton region were recognised, each from a different category.

Three Toowoomba-based projects were recognised in the awards, in the categories of educational architecture, housing alteration or addition, and small project.

Polding Place, Good Samaritan College

A new building on the Good Samaritan College campus, designed by Speculative Architecture and Brammer architects, was recognised as the regional project of the year, and received a regional commendation in the educational architecture category.

Speculative Architecture design architect, Dirk Yates, said the project brief was to design a space that leant into the ethos of the school.

“It’s a small community of about 60 students, with a focus on wellbeing,” Mr Yates said.

He said meals are a big part of student life at Good Samaritan College, which made the kitchen space a big focus of the project.

“The sharing of meals is a key activity at Good Samaritan College so we made the kitchen area a focal point within the centre of the campus.

“It is developed as a social space – similar to a family kitchen where you might share a morning tea, do your homework, or make a Mother’s Day card.”

Mr Yates said the firm nominated the project for the award because it was an opportunity for the school to be recognised for their work.

“We are very pleased in being able to help the school achieve this outcome and for the realisation of their ambitions to be recognised.”

East Toowoomba Renovation

The renovation of a cottage in East Toowoomba was awarded as the region’s “house of the year,” and also received a regional commendation in the category of house alterations and additions.

Designed by Kin Architects, the project to renovate the cottage took shape in stages over four years.

Project architects Leah Gallagher and Marjorie Dixon said they worked on the project together.

Ms Dixon said the project was unique, because as the project progressed in stages, so too did the family who called it home.

“We started with a family of four and ended with six,” Ms Dixon said.

Ms Gallagher said unlike most renovations of Queenslanders or cottages, the renovation involved building around the original structure, rather than raising it.

Shed for Propagation

An incredibly unique project, “Shed for Propagation” won a regional commendation in the small project category.

Director of Marc & Co architects, Angus Munro, said he wanted the project to be recognisably Australian, and yet unusual in it’s own way.

“When you go into the bush people are really creative with how they put things together,” Mr Munro said.

With this inspiration, Mr Munro said he wanted to use traditional joining systems in the building, with the intention they will eventually grow over with foliage.

Other winners at the awards recognised projects very far off the beaten track, highlighting feats of architectural excellence in rural Western Queensland communities.

Eromanga Natural History Museum

A new building as part of the Eromanga Natural History Museum was awarded a “people’s choice award,” and received a regional commendation in the Public Architecture category.

Known for being the Australian town furthest from the sea, Eromanga is now also home to an award-winning architectural design.

Stephen Long and Stephanie Donigi of Architectus were both involved in the project start to finish.

Ms Donigi said one of the first things she notice about Eromanga was that the true beauty of the landscape took time and contemplation to appreciate.

She said when they first arrived it looked like a “moonscape.”

Mr Long said one of the most important features of the design was constructing a building to withstand the harsh, arid climate.

Cunnamulla Hot Springs

Cunnamulla Hot Springs received a regional commendation in the commercial architecture category.

The facility in the Paroo Shire of Western Queensland was designed by Tim Morgan of Cox Architecture.

Mr Morgan said he first became involved in the project after the firm won a competition to design the Paroo Shire Council-commissioned facility in 2020.

Mr Morgan said the project was “all about the environment.”

“It’s the expanse, all these beautiful things.

“It’s such a beautiful place.”

The project which was most highly acclaimed, winning the William Hodgen Award for Building of the Year, was the Ipswich Hospital Mental Health Acute Inpatient Services.

The project which took home the regional commendation for a new house, was “Coulson Creek Shed” in Clumber in the Southern Downs.