Blacket Prize
Annual regional architecture award in New South Wales, Australia
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The Blacket Prize for Regional Architecture is an award presented annually at the New South Wales Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects awards for a building project considered to be the most exemplary of the year, located outside of the Sydney metropolitan area.
| Blacket Prize | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Architectural achievement in regional New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Presented by | Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) |
| First award | 1964 |
| Currently held by | Dunn Hillam, 2025 |
Background
Initially named the Blacket Award, it was initiated in 1964 and in 1984 the title was adjusted to become the Blacket Prize for Regional Architecture. Projects eligible for entry in the New South Wales Regional Architecture Awards are entered in to the Blacket Prize for consideration.[1] The award is presented at the annual NSW Architecture Awards.[2] Prior to the Blacket Award, the first regional project to be recognised was the Newcastle Incinerator, winning the 1938 Sir John Sulman Medal.
Naming
The award is named for English born architect Edmund Blacket (1817–1883) who rose to become the Colonial Architect of New South Wales (1849–1854) and later architect for University of Sydney. Whilst Colonial Architect he delivered many projects in regional NSW, including a lighthouse and numerous churches.
Multiple awards
The NSW Government Architect Office has won the Blacket Prize on seven separate occasions (1964, 1968, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2002 and 2015). The firm of Allen, Jack and Cottier has won the award on five occasions (1966, 1970, 1986, 2007, 2008) and Ancher Mortlock and Woolley were awarded the prize three times (1967, 1969, 1987).
The University of Newcastle as a client has been awarded the prize five times for campus projects: 1967 Union Building, 1969 Staff House, 1995 Design Faculty, 2003 Birabahn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centre and 2016 Watt Space Gallery.
Recipients by year
| Year | Architect | Project | Location | Type | Other AIA awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | NSW Government Architect EH (Ted) Farmer, Project Architect: Michael Dysart | Taree Technical College | Taree | Education | |
| 1965 | Ian McKay and Philip Cox Architects in Association | Tocal College (C.B. Alexander Presbyterian Agricultural College) | 815 Tocal Road, Paterson | Education | |
| 1966 | Allen, Jack and Cottier | Clubbe Hall, Frensham School | Waverley Parade and Range Road, Mittagong | Education | |
| 1967 | Ancher, Mortlock, Murray and Woolley | Union Building (Shortland Building) | Shortland Lane, Callaghan, University of Newcastle | Education | |
| 1968 | NSW Government Architect EH (Ted) Farmer, Project Architect: David Turner (joint winner) | Albury Government Offices | 516 Dean Street, Albury | Commercial | |
| Edwards Madigan Torzillo & Partners (joint winner) | Warren Library | 69 Dubbo Street, Warren | Cultural | ||
| 1969 | Ancher, Mortlock, Murray and Woolley | Staff House, University of Newcastle | Shortland Lane, Callaghan, Newcastle | Education | |
| 1970 | Allen, Jack and Cottier | Rothbury Estate Winery | 2213 Broke Road, Pokolbin | Commercial | |
| 1977 | Glenn Murcutt | Kempsey Farmhouse (Marie Short House)[3] | Kempsey | Residential | |
| 1980 | Brian Suters | Suters Residence[4] | 87 Wolfe Street, The Hill, Newcastle | Residential | |
| 1983 | Glenn Murcutt | Two Houses (Nicholas and Carruthers Houses) | Mount Irvine | Residential |
|
| 1986 | Allen, Jack and Cottier | Claremont Residence | Bellingen | Residential | |
| 1987 | Ancher, Mortlock and Woolley | The Anchorage, Townhouse & Unit Development | Tweed Heads | Residential | |
| 1988 | Travis Partners | Shortland Electricity Administration Headquarters (now Ausgrid) | 145 Newcastle Road, Wallsend | Commercial | |
| 1991 | NSW Government Architect Lindsay Kelly, Project Architect: Olga Kosterin | Aboriginal Cultural Museum | Darling Street, Brewarrina | Cultural | |
| 1992 | Robert Pullar, Kendale Architect Design | Matcham House | Matcham | Residential | |
| 1993 | NSW Government Architect Lindsay Kelly and Rebecca Hearty, Public Works Department in association with Campbell Luscombe Associates | Wyong Court House | 6 Anzac Avenue, Wyong | Public | |
| 1995 | Stutchbury and Pape/EJE Architecture | Design Faculty Building | University of Newcastle, Newcastle | Education | |
| 1996 | NSW Government Architect Lindsay Kelly, Public Works Department in association with Conrad & Gargett | Coffs Harbour Education Campus | Coffs Harbour | Education | |
| 1997 | Rod Seymour Architects | House for 5 | Dudley | Residential | |
| 1998 | Alec Tzannes Associates | Kronenberg House | Killcare | Residential | |
| 1999 | Terry Dorrough | Dangar Island House[5] | Dangar Island | Residential | |
| 2000 | Mason Architects (Donald Mason) | Blue Mountains River Run | Megalong Valley | Commercial | |
| 2001 | Harry Seidler & Associates | Southern Highlands House | 612 Richards Lane, Joadja | Residential | |
| 2002 | NSW Government Architect Chris Johnson with Merrima Aboriginal Design Unit | Wilcannia Health Service | Wilcannia Hospital, Wilcannia | Health | |
| 2003 | Richard Leplastrier, Peter Stutchbury and Sue Harper | Birabahn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centre | University of Newcastle, Newcastle | Education | |
| 2004 | Caroline Pidcock Architects and Richard Goodwin Architects | Shellharbour Workers Club | Corner Wattle & Shellharbour Roads, Shellharbour | Commercial | |
| 2005 | Stutchbury and Pape | Deepwater Woolshed | Bulls Run Station, Old Narrandera Rd, Currawarna, Wagga Wagga | Agricultural | |
| 2006 | Stutchbury and Pape | Bangalay[6][7] | Upper Kangaroo Valley | Residential |
|
| 2007 | Allen, Jack and Cottier | Lake Ainsworth Recreation Hall[8] | Pacific Parade, Lennox Head | Recreation |
|
| 2008 | Allen, Jack and Cottier | Berry Sports and Recreation Centre[9] | 660 Coolangatta Road, Berry | Recreation |
|
| 2009 | James Stockwell Architect | Kalkite House[10] | Kalkite Road, Kalkite, Snowy Mountains | Residential |
|
| 2010 | Tonkin Zulaikha Greer | Glasshouse: Arts, Conference and Entertainment Centre[11] | 30-42 Clarence & Hay Streets, Port Macquarie | Cultural | |
| 2011 | Austin McFarland Architects | St Joseph's Primary School Hall and Library | Church Crescent, Wingham | Education | |
| 2012 | Silvester Fuller | Dapto Anglican Church Auditorium[12] | 100 Moombara Street, Dapto | Religion |
|
| 2013 | BVN Donovan Hill | Charles Sturt University National Life Sciences Hub[14] | Charles Sturt University, Boorooma Street, North Wagga Wagga | Education | |
| 2014 | Fender Katsalidis / Mirams Architects | Garangula Gallery[15] | 1855 Back Jugiong Road, Jugiong | Cultural |
|
| 2015 | NSW Government Architect | NSW Aboriginal Child and Family Centre[16] (now Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre) | 12 Hunter Street, Gunnedah | Health | |
| 2016 | Andrew Donaldson | University of Newcastle Watt Space Gallery[17] | 20 Auckland Street, Newcastle | Cultural |
|
| 2017 | TKD Architects | Glasshouse at Goonoo Goonoo Station[19] | 13304 New England Highway, Timbumburi | Commercial |
|
| 2018 | SHAC | St Patrick's Primary School, Stage 1[20][21] | 65 New England Highway, Lochinvar | Education |
|
| 2019 | Chrofi with McGregor Coxall | Maitland Riverlink[22] | Maitland | Public |
|
| 2020 | CKDS Architecture with Hill Thalis | Verve Residences[23] | 464—470 King Street, Newcastle | Residential | |
| 2021 | Crone with Urbis | Rocky Hill Memorial Museum[24] | Memorial Road, Goulburn | Cultural | |
| 2022 | Cox Architecture | Eden Port Welcome Centre[25] | Weecoon Street, Eden | Public | |
| 2023 | Brewster Hjorth Architects | Goulburn Performing Arts Centre[26] | 163 Auburn Street, Goulburn | Cultural | |
| 2024 | Sibling Architecture | South East Centre for Contemporary Art (SECCA)[27][28] | Zingel Place, Bega | Cultural |
|
| 2025 | Dunn Hillam | Ward Oval Pavilion[30] | Maidens Avenue, Cobar | Recreation |
|
Note: the list of awards recipients from 1964 to 2015 is based a review and timeline of the Blacket Prize published in the NSW Architecture Bulletin, 2015.[31]