The Victorian Architecture Awards are granted annually by the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects. They began with the Street Architecture Medal, awarded between 1929 and 1942. Apart from a single award in 1954, annual awards did not resume until 1964, backdated by one year.
The most prestigious award has been variously called the Medal, the Bronze Medal, or Merit Award, but since but since 1987 it has been called the Victorian Architecture Medal.
The numbers and categories of awards has expanded and changed over the years. Since the 1990s, some categories have been named after significant architects or firms who have practiced in Victoria.
Source:
After the death in 1971 of influential Victorian architect and writer Robin Boyd, a posthumous award was established by the Victorian Chapter in 1972. The state based award ceased in 1981 when the national Robin Boyd Award for new housing was established as part of a new national awards program.
| Year | Award | Winner | For | Reference | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Named Award | Merchant Builders | Contribution to housing development in Melbourne | ||
| 1972 | Award of Merit | The Melbourne Times | For responsible community reporting | ||
| 1972 | Award of Merit | Ruth and Morrie Crow | For contribution to planning literature and issues in Melbourne | ||
| 1973 | Bronze Medal | Carlton Association | For their Report No.5 Urban Renewal, Carlton — An analysis | ||
| 1973 | Award of Merit | Department of Fisheries and Wildlife | For the management and development of Tower Hill | ||
| 1973 | Award of Merit | Fitzroy Fun Factory | For their use of recycled materials | ||
| 1974 | Bronze Medal | Victorian Public Interest Research Group Ltd | For Dandenong Ranges project | ||
| 1974 | Citation | Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Melbourne and the Western Port Regional Planning Authority | For a study on landscape assessment of the southern Mornington Peninsula | ||
| 1975 | Bronze Medal | Ellis Stones (1895—1975) | Posthumous award for his work as a landscape designer | ||
| 1975 | Citation | Australian Government | For environmental protection and conservation initiatives 1974—1975 | ||
| 1975 | Citation | Interplan Pty Ltd | City of Melbourne Strategic Plan | ||
| 1975 | Citation | Western Port Regional Planning Authority | Western Port Conservation Plan | ||
| 1976 | Bronze Medal | David Yencken (Chairman) | The Interim Committee of the National Estate | ||
| 1976 | Citation | Dr E Graeme Robertson | For his work in recording and documenting ornamental cast iron (posthumous) | ||
| 1976 | Citation | Randell Champion and Paul Thompson | Koonung–Mullum Freeway Action Plan | ||
| 1976 | Citation | Barbara Niven (Director), Interim Committee of the National Estate (Sponsor) | Historic Conservation Areas Project | ||
| 1977 | Bronze Medal | May Moon | For her work as founder and secretary for 27 years of the Save the Dandenongs League | ||
| 1977 | Citation | Residents of Golf Links Estate, Croydon | Implementation of a private street scheme | ||
| 1977 | Citation | Western Port Regional Planning Authority | Phillip Island Capability Study prepared by the Centre for Environmental Studies under Professor George Seddon (Director) | ||
| 1977 | Citation | Victorian Public Interest Research Group Ltd | For their report A Coastal Retreat | ||
| 1978 | Bronze Medal | The Friends of the Organ Pipes Group, Victorian National Parks Association | Rehabilitation and conservation of the Organ Pipes National Park | ||
| 1978 | Bronze Medal | Fitzroy Collingwood Rental Housing Association | A pilot residential house association | ||
| 1978 | Citation | Social Education Materials Project — Urbanism Team | Social Education Material Project Urbanism Kit | ||
| 1979 | Bronze Medal | Town and Country Planning Board, Shire of Maldon, and Jacobs–Lewis & Vines | Maldon Historic Conservation Project | ||
| 1979 | Citation | Conservation of energy working group of Conservation Council of Victoria | Publication Seeds for change: creatively confronting the energy crisis | ||
| 1980 | Bronze Medal | Anne Latreille, Journalist, The Age | Initiative in establishing the Environs columns | ||
| 1981 | Bronze Medal | Dr Tim Ealey | Pioneering concepts in environment by people other than architects | ||
| 1981 | Bronze Medal | Linda Stevenson | Work with North Melbourne Library in extension of the concepts and roles of community library services | ||
Source: Judging Architecture, Victorian Architecture Awards 1929—2003 Goad, Gollings, Pigeon
In 2024 the AIA Victoria Chapter received the largest total entries of all Australian States and Territories chapters with 228 submissions across 15 categories for judging. At the awards held on Friday 7 June 2024 a total of 15 named awards, 24 architecture awards and 22 commendations were presented.
In 2025 the AIA Victoria Chapter received a total of 384 submissions across 15 categories with 126 projects shortlisted for the awards. The awards were held on 27 June 2025 presenting a total of 19 named awards, 21 architecture awards, and 17 commendations.
On 24 April 2026, 120 projects were shortlisted in 15 categories. A total of 64 winners and commendations were announced at the awards night held on 19 June 2026.
To mark the 75th Victorian Architecture Awards in 2003, the Institute published Judging Architecture – Issues, Divisions, Triumphs, which listed all awards from 1929 to 2003.
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