The Australian Institute of Architects welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement it will progress the sale of surplus Defence land, including the historic Victoria Barracks sites in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
These places hold deep cultural and architectural value. They are also rare inner-city precincts with the scale to deliver enduring public benefit if the next chapter is shaped with care.
“Victoria Barracks are more than real estate assets, they are important parts of our civic story,” said Adam Haddow, National President, Australian Institute of Architects. “Any future redevelopment must protect heritage significance, respect Country, and deliver high-quality outcomes that Australians can be proud of.”
The Institute emphasises divestment at this scale requires strong design governance from the outset, including early heritage assessment, meaningful community engagement, and independent design review.
“This is exactly why Australia needs a Federal Government Architect,” Mr Haddow said. “A Government Architect working at the national level would provide consistent, expert design leadership across Commonwealth projects and land transitions, ensuring heritage is safeguarded, public benefit is maximised, and design quality is upheld in the national interest. When the Commonwealth reshapes city-defining precincts, it must do so with the same rigour we expect of any major public project.”
In Queensland, Victoria Barracks Brisbane has long been part of the city’s fabric, hosting office-based Defence functions and the Army Museum of South East Queensland. The Institute urges a redevelopment pathway that expands public access and creates a vibrant precinct the community can truly celebrate.
“Selling a site like Victoria Barracks creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity to give something back to the public realm,” said Caroline Stalker, Queensland Chapter President. “We want to see transparent processes, strong cultural and heritage safeguards, and design-led planning that prioritises streets, parks, culture and community uses alongside any housing or commercial components.”
The Institute calls on governments to require best-practice design governance, including early heritage assessment, meaningful community engagement, and independent design review so these extraordinary precincts become places people celebrate for generations to come.
About us:
The Australian Institute of Architects (Institute) is the peak body for the architectural profession in Australia. It is an independent, national member organisation with around 14,500 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute exists to advance the interests of members, their professional standards and contemporary practice, and expand and advocate the value of architects and architecture to the sustainable growth of our communities, economy and culture. The Institute actively works to maintain and improve the quality of our built environment by promoting better, responsible and environmental design.
Contact details:
Roslyn Dundas - Head of National Council Policy and Advocacy
0407 916 328 roslyn.dundas@architecture.com.au
Kim Richards - Executive Leader, Queensland Chapter
0412 552 323
kim.richards@architecture.com.au
