VIC and QLD Apartment Award Finalists Revealed Ahead of July Celebrations
- Samantha Reece
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
The countdown is on for two of the apartment sector’s most anticipated nights of the year, with the Victorian and Queensland Apartment Awards for Excellence set to take place in July.
This year’s finalists showcase an extraordinary mix of companies and projects across both states—highlighting the depth of talent, innovation and diversity shaping apartment living in Australia today.
Winners will be revealed at Ms Collins in Melbourne on 16 July, followed by the Queensland celebration in the David Bowie Room on 24 July—but until then, the spotlight remains firmly on the standout finalists.
Victoria: Established leaders and bold project delivery
Victoria’s finalist lineup reflects a mature and highly competitive market, with a mix of established names and design-led developers delivering across multiple scales and typologies.
Local Residential features prominently, recognised both through its leadership and project work, including the Local Boxhill development—reinforcing the group’s continued influence in shaping thoughtful, design-driven apartment living.
Shelley Roberts Architects stands out with two shortlisted refurbishment projects—Sargood House and Little Collins Street—demonstrating the growing importance of breathing new life into existing buildings while maintaining architectural integrity.
Design innovation is also front and centre through Zen Architects with Victoria St Collective, as well as ARM Architecture in partnership with Pace Group for The Archer.
Major city-shaping projects are represented by FKA, appearing across Republic Tower, M Quarter (in partnership with Lendlease) and Seafarers Penthouse (in partnership with Riverlee).
Also contributing to Victoria’s strong showing are Studio SC and Greystar with The Gladstone, and Milieu Property with Plant St, reinforcing the strength of both institutional and boutique development models.
Queensland: A dynamic market driven by lifestyle and innovation
Queensland’s finalists paint a picture of a fast-evolving apartment market—one that is experimenting with new living models while embracing its unique lifestyle and climate advantages.
Usher Group is a key player among this year’s finalists, involved in Lady Norman (in partnership with Australian Unity), Odyssey Chevron Island (with Odyssey Lifestyle Care Communities) and Esprit Rainbow Way (with S&S Projects). This breadth highlights a strong focus on community, integration and evolving living needs.
Sherpa Group features strongly with Perspective Helm and Perspective Nexus, reflecting a growing presence in delivering lifestyle-oriented apartment projects across key Queensland locations.
Cox Architecture and Frasers Property are represented with Brunswick Co, a project that has attracted attention for its balance of design quality, innovation and liveability.
Luxury remains a defining feature of the Queensland market, with Pikos shortlisted for Skye, demonstrating continued demand for premium apartment living.
Rounding out the finalists, HAL Architects brings forward Como, reinforcing the ongoing appeal of boutique, design-led developments.
A sector evolving across both states
Across Victoria and Queensland, the finalists collectively highlight a sector that continues to evolve in response to changing buyer expectations and housing needs.
Collaboration between architects and developers, a strong focus on lifestyle and amenity, and a commitment to long-term liveability are consistent themes across all projects. From large-scale precincts to boutique offerings, the diversity of finalists reflects a market that is both sophisticated and rapidly advancing.
Anticipation builds
With finalists now announced, attention turns to the celebrations ahead.
The Victorian awards night at Ms Collins on 16 July and the Queensland event at the David Bowie Room on 24 July will bring the industry together to recognise excellence and reveal this year’s winners.
Until then, the finalists themselves offer a compelling preview of the future of apartment living—defined by innovation, quality and a deep understanding of how Australians want to live.
To register for the Victoria Awards
To register for the QLD Awards
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