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 Sydney, Brisbane 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.”
Victoria Barracks in Paddington, Sydney, has the potential to be an extremely important community asset. The site contains one of the most significant and intact collections of military buildings in Australia and forms a key part of Sydney’s inner-city fabric - an important open space immediately adjacent to the CBD.
“Any future response should prioritise sensitive adaptive reuse that increases public access while respecting the site’s scale, setting, and cultural meaning. As a place that represents colonial power structures, it is important not only to preserve the site but also to critically interpret its history,” said Elizabeth Carpenter, NSW Chapter President.
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.”
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 14,000 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
Tammy Dickson - Executive Leader, NSW Chapter
02 9246 4006
