Sir John Sulman Medal

Medal designer: George Rayner Hoff (1894-1937), sculptor and teacher. Famed for his sculptures in Sydney's Anzac Memorial.

Not to be confused with Sir John Sulman Prize.

Sir John Sulman Medal
Current: Grimshaw Architects
1959 Sulman Medal Australian Academy of Science
Awarded for	Public Architecture
Country	Australia
Presented by	Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter)
First awarded	1932; 92 years ago (1932)
Last awarded	2024
Website	architecture.com.au

The Sir John Sulman Medal for Public Architecture is an architectural award presented by the New South Wales chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects since 1932.^[1] The medal is sometimes referred to as the Sulman Award and now recognises excellence in public buildings in either New South Wales or in the Australian Capital Territory. Before the advent of the Wilkinson Award in 1961, it was on occasion presented to residential housing projects.

The medal is presented in memory of the Australian architect Sir John Sulman (29 August 1849 – 18 August 1934).^[1] Sulman was born in Greenwich, England, and emigrated to Sydney in 1885. From 1921 to 1924 he was chairman of the Federal Capital Advisory Committee and influenced the development of Canberra.

History of the Award

Sulman was an enthusiastic about town planning, and it was intended that the Medal was for "a building of exceptional merit that contributed to the streetscape".^[2] This interest in the greater urban environment and the relationship of the building to the public domain parallels the earlier Royal Institute of British Architects Street Architecture Medal instigated in 1923, and the RVIA Street Architecture Medal in Melbourne that began in 1929, later to be known as the Victorian Architecture Medal.

In the 1950 Year Book of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, the Sir John Sulman Medal and Diploma was defined as being "awarded annually for a building of exceptional merit in one of the following classes: (1) Public and Monumental, (2) Educational and Ecclesiastical, (3) Commercial and Industrial, (4) Recreational, (5) Domestic and Residential. The building must have been erected in New South Wales within the previous five years and must be readily accessible and visible. The Jury comprises four Architects, one Painter, one Art Critic, and the Director of the National Art Gallery."^[3]

List of Sulman Medal Winners

Year	Architect	Project	Image	Location	Other awards and notes
1932	Peddle Thorp & Walker	Science House		157–169 Gloucester Street and Essex Street, The Rocks	[4]
1933	Budden & Mackey	Primary Producers' Bank		105 Pitt Street, Sydney	(demolished 1964)
1934	Professor Leslie Wilkinson	Wiston Gardens		4–6 Wiston Gardens, Double Bay	[5]
1935	Fowell & McConnel	St. Anne's Shrine		60 Blair Street, Bondi	[6]
1936	Budden & Mackey	Transport House also known as NSW Government Railways Offices		19 York Street, Sydney	[7][8]
1937	J.D. Moore & V. L. Dowling	West Wing, Frensham School		Mittagong
1938	F.A. Scorer	City Incinerator		Newcastle	(demolished 1989)
1939	Eric W. Andrew	Surf Pavilion		South Steyne, Manly	(demolished 1980)[9]
1940	G.H.B. McDonell	House		67 Elgin Street, Gordon
1941	Stephenson & Turner	King George V Memorial Hospital for Mothers and Babies		Missenden Road, Camperdown
1942	Professor Leslie Wilkinson	St. Michael's Church Complex Additions		Corner Gilliver Avenue & Vaucluse Road, Vaucluse
1943	Fowell, McConnel & Mansfield in association with Brian O'Rorke	Orient Line Building		2–6 Spring Street, Sydney	(altered)
1944	NO AWARD
1945	Sydney Ancher	House		3 Maytone Avenue, Killara
1946	Stephenson & Turner	Concord Repatriation General Hospital		Hospital Road, Concord
1947	Stafford, Moor & Farrington	Wormald Bros		208 Young Street, Waterloo	(demolished)
1948	A.H.A. Hanson	House		55 Illeroy Avenue, Killara
1949	NO AWARD
1950	Spencer, Spencer & Bloomfield	Top Dog Men's		Pittwater Road, Dee Why	(substantially altered)
1951	Harry Seidler	Rose Seidler House		71 Clissold Road, Wahroonga, historically referred as North Turramurra
1952	Peddle Thorp & Walker	Royal Swedish Legation		5 Turrana Street, Yarralumla, Canberra
1953	Professor Brian Lewis	University House		Australian National University, Canberra
1954	Stafford Moor & Farrington	Boots Pure Drug Company		376 Eastern Valley Way, Roseville	(demolished)
1955	Canberra Branch Commonwealth Department of Works (Architect Ian Slater)	Canberra Olympic Pool		36 Constitution Avenue, Canberra
1956	Baldwinson, Booth & Peters	Hotel Belmont		Belmont
1957	John Allen & Russell Jack	House		62 Boundary Road, Wahroonga
1958	Architect's Branch Sydney City Council	Florence Bartley Library		Fitzroy Gardens, Potts Point	(demolished 1995)
1959	Grounds, Romberg & Boyd	Australian Academy of Science (The Shine Dome)		15 Gordon Street, Acton, Canberra	Meritorious Architecture Award, ACT, 1959 Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture, 2001
1960	Ancher Mortlock Murray & Woolley	Badham House		89 Dolans Road South, Caringbah
1961	Bunning & Madden	Liner House		13–15 Bridge Street, Sydney	[10]
1962	NSW Government Architect (Ted Farmer, Tom O’Mahony, Ken Woolley)	Fisher Library		University of Sydney
1963	Ian McKay & Philip Cox	St Andrews Presbyterian Agricultural College Boys Home[11]		Leppington	(closed 1980s, demolished 2015)
1964	NSW Government Architect (Ted Farmer and Peter Hall)	Goldstein Hall[12]		Fig Tree Lane, Kensington Campus, University of New South Wales
	Hely, Bell & Horne	75 St Johns Road & Glebe Point Road (now Anglicare St Johns Village)		75 St Johns Road, Glebe
1965	Ian McKay & Philip Cox	C.B. Alexander Presbyterian Agricultural College (Tocal College)		Tocal, Paterson	[13]
1966	Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo & Partners	Warringah Shire Library (now Dee Why Library)[14]		725 Pittwater Road, Dee Why
1967	Harry Seidler & Associates	Australia Square		George Street, Sydney
1968	NO AWARD
1969	NSW Government Architect (Ted Farmer)	Marsden Retarded Children's Centre		Mons Road, Westmead, historically referred as Parramatta	(partially demolished)
1970	Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo & Briggs in conjunction with NSW Government Architect (Ted Farmer)	Student Residence 'A'		Mitchell College of Advanced Education, Bathurst
1971	NO AWARD
1972
1973
1974
1975	NSW Government Architect (Charles Weatherburn)	Art Gallery of New South Wales additions		Art Gallery Road, Sydney	New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award, 2007
1976	NO AWARD
1977
1978	NSW Government Architect (Ian Thomson)	Kuring-gai College of Advanced Education		Eaton Road, Lindfield	New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award, 2005
1979	NO AWARD
1981	NSW Government Architect (Ian Thomson & Chris Johnson)	Hampden Park Primary School		Hampden Road, Lakemba
	Harry Seidler & Associates	Glen Street Offices		2 Glen Street, Milsons Point
1982	NO AWARD
1983	Harry Seidler & Associates	MLC Centre		Martin Place, Sydney
	John Andrews	American Express Tower (King George Tower) (now 388 George)		388 George Street, Sydney
1984	NSW Government Architect (Ian Thomson)	Parklea Prison		Sunnyholt Road, Parklea
1985	NSW Government Architect (Ian Thomson) in association with Vivian Fraser	Wharf Theatre		Pier 4/5, Millers Point	National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2008 New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award, 2008
	Glenn Murcutt	Zachary's Restaurant[15]		Mona Vale Road, Terrey Hills
1986	NSW Government Architect (Ian Thompson & Colin Still)	City Council Library & Regional Gallery		Orange
1987	Rice Daubney in association with Stephenson & Turner	Queen Victoria Building restoration		George Street, Sydney
1988	NSW Government Architect (Lionel Glendenning)	Powerhouse Museum		500 Harris Street, Ultimo
1989	NSW Government Architect (Lindsay Kelly)	Art Gallery of New South Wales extensions & alterations		Art Gallery Road, Sydney
	Cox Richardson Taylor Partners	Sydney Exhibition Centre		Darling Harbour, Sydney	(demolished 2014)
1990	Bligh Robinson Architects	Lake Crackenback Village		Alpine Way, Thredbo
1991	Harry Seidler & Associates	Grosvenor Place		225 George Street, Sydney
1992	Jørn Utzon	Sydney Opera House		Sydney	(Commemorative Award)
1993	NO AWARD
1994	Denton Corker Marshall	Governor Phillip Tower		1 Farrer Place, Sydney
1995	NO AWARD
1996
1997	Grose Bradley Architects	Architecture Studios		University of Newcastle
1998	Hassell	Olympic Park Station		Sydney Olympic Park	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1998 Access Citation Award, 1998 New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award, 2023
1999	Glenn Murcutt, Wendy Lewin, Reg Lark	Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre		170 Riversdale Road, Illaroo NSW	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1999
2000	MGT Architects	The Scientia		University of New South Wales	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2000
	Bligh Voller Nield	Tennis Centre		Sydney Olympic Park
2001	Suters Architects with Stutchbury & Pape	Life Sciences Building		University of Newcastle
2002	Hassell in association with Peter Armstrong Architecture	National Institute of Dramatic Art		Anzac Parade, Kensington
2003	Bligh Voller Nield and Woods Bagot	University of Technology Sydney, City Campus, Building 10		Broadway, Sydney
2004	Renzo Piano Building Workshop in association with Lend Lease Design	Aurora Place		88 Phillip Street, Sydney
2005	Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp	The Mint, Historic Houses Trust of NSW		Macquarie Street, Sydney
2006	Bligh Voller Nield	36/37 Squadron Headquarters, Royal Australian Air Force		RAAF Base Richmond
2007	NO AWARD
2008	Kennedy Associates	Bowden Centre, Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan		Mount Annan
2009	Candalepas Associates	All Saints Grammar School		13–17 Cecilia Street, Belmore
2010	Hassell	Epping to Chatswood Rail Link, Intermediate Stations		Macquarie Park North Ryde	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2010
2011	Bligh Voller Nield	Brain and Mind Research Institute, Youth Mental Health Building		94 Mallett Street, Camperdown	World Architecture Festival, World Health Building, 2010 International Health Design Award, High Commendation, 2011 RIBA International Award for Architectural Excellence, 2011 National Award for Public Architecture, 2011 Chicago Antheneum International Architecture Award, 2012
2012	BVN Architecture	Mabel Fidler Building, Ravenswood School for Girls		Gordon
2013	Collins and Turner Architects	Waterloo Youth, Family and Community Centre (now Weave Youth & Community Services)		1B Elizabeth Street, Waterloo	National Award for Public Architecture, 2013
2014	Neeson Murcutt Architects in association with City of Sydney	Prince Alfred Park + Pool Upgrade		Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills	Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design, 2014[16] City of Sydney Lord Mayor’s Prize, 2014[17] National Award for Public Architecture, 2014
2015	BVN	Westmead Millennium Institute		Westmead
2016	Neeson Murcutt Architects	Kempsey Crescent Head Surf Life Saving Club		Crescent Head
2017	Crone Architects	Orange Regional Museum[18][19]		151 Byng Street, Orange	NSW Premier's Prize, 2017[20]
2018	Candalepas Associates	Punchbowl Mosque[21][22]		25–27 Matthews Street, Punchbowl	National Award for Public Architecture, 2018[23]
2019	CHROFI	Maitland Riverlink		Maitland	National Award for Public Architecture, 2019 NSW Architecture Medallion, 2019
2020	Johnson Pilton Walker with NSW Government Architect	Anzac Memorial Centenary Extension[24][25]		Hyde Park, Sydney	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2020
2021	Hassell Studio	Sydney Theatre Company[26]		Pier 4/5, Walsh Bay located at 15 Hickson Road, Dawes Point, Sydney
2022	Kerstin Thompson Architects	Bundanon Art Museum and Bridge[27][28]		Bundanon, 533 Bundanon Road, Illaroo, NSW	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2022 National Award for Sustainable Architecture, 2022 Architecture Award for Sustainable Architecture, 2022 (NSW)
2023	SANAA with Architectus (Executive Architects)	North Building (Sydney Modern), Art Gallery of New South Wales[29]		Art Gallery Road, Sydney	National Award for Public Architecture, 2023
2024	Grimshaw and Andrew Burges Architects with McGregor Coxall	Parramatta Aquatic Centre[30]		7A Park Parade, Parramatta

See also

• Architecture portal
• New South Wales portal
• Australia portal

• Australian Institute of Architects Awards and Prizes
• Architecture of Australia
• Victorian Architecture Medal
• Wilkinson Award
• Buildings and structures awarded the Sir John Sulman Medal
• Recipients of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal

References

1. 80th anniversary of the Sulman Medal
2. "NSW Awards History". Architecture.com.au. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
3. Year book of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. Australia: RAIA. 1950. p. 1098.
4. "Science House (including original interiors)". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01578. Retrieved 14 October 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
5. "Houses". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00209. Retrieved 1 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
6. "St. Anne's Church". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01706. Retrieved 2 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
7. "Transport House". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01271. Retrieved 13 October 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
8. "Former Railway House (Part of Transport House) Including Interiors". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
9. "Manly Life Saving Pavilion, Manly Sydney Australia" (PDF). International working party for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
10. "Liner House". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00589. Retrieved 13 October 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
11. "St Andrews Presbyterian Agricultural College Boys Home: Award-winning architecture now lost". Camden History Notes. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
12. "Goldstein College" (PDF). DOCOMOMO Australia. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
13. Bleby, Michael (20 August 2016). "Architect Philip Cox delivers upfront on architecture's deficiencies". Financial Review. Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
14. "Warringah Shire Library, Dee Why, photograph". Northern Beaches Recollect. 1966. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
15. "OBJECT: The Royal Australian Institute of Architects' Sir John Sulman Medal awarded to Glenn Murcutt". Powerhouse Collection. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
16. "2014 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
17. "2014 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
18. "2017 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
19. "Orange Regional Museum". Crone Architects. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
20. "2017 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
21. "2018 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
22. Raggatt, Mark (24 July 2019). "A 'modern architectural masterpiece': Punchbowl Mosque". ArchitectureAU.com. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
23. "Winners revealed: 2018 National Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
24. "ANZAC Memorial Centenary Extension, NSW Architecture Awards 2020 Showcase". Architecture.coma.au. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
25. "2020 National Architecture Awards: The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture". ArchitectureAU.com. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
26. "2021 NSW Architecture Awards winners". Architecture.com.au. 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
27. "2022 NSW Architecture Awards winners". Architecture.com.au. 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
28. "Bundanon is awarded its second Sulman medal for public architecture". Bundanon. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
29. "2023 National Architecture Awards Program—Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Modern Building, Lead Consultant SANAA; Executive Architect: Architectus". Archtiecture.com.au. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
30. "2024 NSW Architecture Awards". Architecture AU. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.

Further reading

• Serle, Percival (1949). "Sulman, John". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson.
• Metcalf, Andrew (1977). Architecture in Transition: The Sulman Award 1932-1997. Sydney: Historic Houses Trust of NSW.