Cairns buildings win big at 2025 Far North Queensland Architecture Awards

Several iconic Cairns buildings scored major wins at the 2025 Far North Queensland Architecture Awards, with the Mulgrave Gallery leading the list as Building of the Year. Also among the winners were Floriana Boutique Hotel, which won Regional Project of the Year, the Duffy Residences, awarded House of the Year, and the McLeod St Administration Redevelopment, which was selected for the People’s Choice Award.

Building of the Year

Designed by local practice TPG Architects, the Mulgrave Gallery in Cairns won the Eddie Orbin Award for Building of the Year. The winning project completes the restoration of the Cairns Gallery Precinct, which includes three repurposed heritage-listed buildings: the Cairns Art Gallery, Courthouse Gallery, and now the Mulgrave Gallery, turning the area into a hub for arts and culture.

The Mulgrave Gallery won praise from the judges for strengthening Cairns’ rich built history and enhancing the region's cultural heritage.

The project also received a commendation in the Heritage category and was shortlisted in the Sustainable Architecture category. 

Regional Project of the Year 

Designed by local practice CA Architects, Floriana Boutique Hotel was awarded the Far North Queensland Regional Project of the Year. The 1939 interwar Art Moderne landmark on Cairns’ Northern Esplanade has been “reborn as a vibrant icon”, according to the jury, who also applauded the design as a “masterful blend of historical preservation and contemporary functionality”.

The hotel also received commendations in the Heritage and Interior Architecture categories. 

House of the Year 

Designed by local practice NEArchitecture, the Duffy Residences, which sets a new standard for medium-density housing in Cairns, was awarded Far North Queensland House of the Year. The project consists of two compact and separate homes that appear as a single dwelling from the street. 

The project also received a commendation in the Residential Architecture - Houses (New) category. 

People’s Choice Award

Designed by local practice Clarke and Prince Architects, the McLeod St Administration Redevelopment has won this year’s Far North Queensland People’s Choice Award.

Located in Cairns North, the building houses office spaces, workshops, and training and maintenance facilities for the area’s regional electricity network. 

Commendation – Public Architecture

Designed by local practice JMc Architects, the Cairns Neighbourhood Centre received a commendation in the Public Architecture category and was shortlisted in both the Sustainable Architecture and Colorbond categories. 

Designed as a multipurpose activity space in Manunda, the centre encourages social interaction and provides access to services for everyone in the community. 

All awarded, commended and shortlisted projects from the region are now in the running for the Australian Institute of Architects Queensland Architecture Awards, set to be announced in June 2025.

Category | Project | Architect | Suburb

Eddie Orbin Award for Building of the Year | Mulgrave Gallery | TPG Architects | Cairns

Regional Project of the Year | Floriana Boutique Hotel | CA Architects | Cairns

House of the Year | Duffy Residences | NEArchitecture | Cairns

People’s Choice Award | McLeod St Administration Redevelopment | Clarke and Prince Architects | Cairns North

Commendation – Interior Architecture | Cairns Neighbourhood Centre | JMc Architects | Manunda

Commendation – Heritage | Mulgrave Gallery | TPG Architects | Cairns

Commendation – Heritage | Floriana Boutique Hotel | CA Architects | Cairns

Commendation – Interior Architecture | Floriana Boutique Hotel | CA Architects | Cairns

Commendation – Residential Architecture - Houses (New) | Duffy Residences | NEArchitecture | Cairns

Shortlisted - Sustainable Architecture | Mulgrave Gallery | TPG Architects | Cairns

Shortlisted - Sustainable Architecture | Cairns Neighbourhood Centre | JMc Architects | Manunda

Shortlisted - Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture | Cairns Neighbourhood Centre | JMc Architects | Manunda

Main image: Mulgrave Gallery - Photography: Andrew Watson