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Sir John Sulman Medal

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Not to be confused with Sir John Sulman Prize.

Sir John Sulman Medal
1959 Sulman Medal
Australian Academy of Science
Awarded forPublic Architecture in New South Wales
CountryAustralia
Presented byAustralian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter)
First award1934; 91 years ago (1934)
Currently held byBVN Architecture, 2025
WebsiteNSW Awards for Public Architecture

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.

Background

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Sir John Sulman

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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. Late in his life, Sulman personally established a fund to be administered by the Institute of Architects, to support the annual awarding of the Sulman Medal for the design of a building demonstrating exceptional architectural merit.[2] The first award was presented in June 1934 shortly before Sulman's death.

Medal design

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The medal design was completed in 1934 by Rayner Hoff (1894—1937), sculptor and teacher, well known for his architectural scaled sculptures in Sydney's Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park.[3] The circular bronze plaque has the text 'Sulman Award for Architectural Merit' on its perimeter, the year awarded, and a female figure holding a smaller winged female figure. The central figure is a stylised classical female in draped garments wearing a radiated headdress, reminiscent of classical depictions of deities or personifications such as Justice, Athena, or Liberty, symbolising cultural enlightenment, reason, and civic virtue. Her left arm cradles a sculptural figure, and her right hand gestures toward it, indicating reverence or presentation. The object she holds is a trophy or miniature statue, depicting a smaller winged or robed figure standing with arms raised. This smaller figure resembles traditional representations of Victory (Nike) or a muse, which often symbolise achievement, excellence, and inspiration.

Sulman Medal 1975, at the Art Gallery of NSW, Captain Cook Wing

History of the Award

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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".[4] 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.

1941 Award

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In April 1941 the Council of the New South Wales Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects invited nominations of buildings for the 1940 Sir John Sulman Medal. The appointed jury was M.E. Herman, ARAIA (Architect), G.H.B. McDonnell, ARAIA (Architect and 1940 winner), John D. Moore, ARAIA (Architect and 1937 winner), Henry Pynor, ARAIA (Architect), Frank Medworth, RBA (Painter), R. Haughton James (Art Critic) and Will Ashton (Director, National Art Gallery). Nominated buildings needed to have been completed during the five years ending 31 December 1940. Categories for consideration included: 1. Public and Monumental — Government Buildings, Town Halls, Art Galleries, Railway Stations, Hospitals, etc. 2. Educational and Ecclesiastical — Schools, Churches, Convents, etc. 3. Commercial and Indtistrial — Office Buildings, Warehouses, Factories, etc. 4. Recreational— Theatres, Sporting Buildings, etc. 5. Domestic and Residential — Homes, Flat Buildings, etc.[5]

1950 Award

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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."[6]

List of Sulman Medal Winners

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Year Architect Project Image Location Other awards and notes
1932 Peddle Thorp & Walker Science House[7] 157–169 Gloucester Street and Essex Street, The Rocks (Awarded June 1934)[8]
1933 Budden & Mackey Primary Producers' Bank 105 Pitt Street, Sydney (demolished 1964)
1934 Professor Leslie Wilkinson Wiston Gardens 4–6 Wiston Gardens, Double Bay [9]
1935 Fowell & McConnel St. Anne's Shrine[10] 60 Blair Street, Bondi [11] (Awarded June 1936)
1936 Budden & Mackey Transport House
also known as Railway House		 19—31 York Street, Sydney
1937 John D. Moore & V.L. Dowling West Wing, Frensham School[14] Mittagong (Awarded May 1939)
1938 F.A. Scorer (Chief Architect, Greater Newcastle City Council) City Incinerator[15][16] Parry Street and Ravenshaw Street, Newcastle (Awarded November 1939, demolished 1989)
1939 Eric W. Andrew Surf Pavilion South Steyne, Manly (demolished 1980)[17]
1940 Gerard Henry Bussell McDonell[18][19] House (architect's own) 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 (Yaralla Military Hospital) Hospital Road, Concord
1947 Stafford, Moor & Farrington 208 Young Street, Waterloo[20] (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 Jack House[21] 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
1960 Ancher Mortlock Murray & Woolley Badham House[22] 95 Dolans Road South, Burraneer
1961 Bunning & Madden Liner House 13–15 Bridge Street, Sydney [23]
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[24] Leppington (closed 1980s, demolished 2015)
1964 NSW Government Architect
(Ted Farmer and Peter Hall)		 Goldstein Hall[25] 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 [26]
1966 Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo & Partners Warringah Shire Library
(now Dee Why Library)[27]		 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
(Ted Farmer), Design Architect Andrew Andersons		 Extension to the Art Gallery of New South Wales,(Captain Cook Wing) 1972 Art Gallery Road, Sydney
1976 No Award
1977
1978 NSW Government Architect
(Ian Thomson)		 Kuring-gai College of Advanced Education Eaton Road, Lindfield
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
Glenn Murcutt Zachary's Restaurant[28] 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
1999 Glenn Murcutt, Wendy Lewin, Reg Lark Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre 170 Riversdale Road, Illaroo NSW
2000 MGT Architects The Scientia University of New South Wales
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 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
2011 Bligh Voller Nield Brain and Mind Research Institute, Youth Mental Health Building 94 Mallett Street, Camperdown
2012 BVN Architecture Mabel Fidler Building, Ravenswood School for Girls[29] Gordon
2013 Collins and Turner Architects Waterloo Youth, Family and Community Centre (now Weave Youth & Community Services) 1B Elizabeth Street, Waterloo
2014 Neeson Murcutt Architects
in association with City of Sydney		 Prince Alfred Park + Pool Upgrade Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills
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[32][33] 151 Byng Street, Orange
  • NSW Premier's Prize, 2017[34]
2018 Candalepas Associates Punchbowl Mosque[35][36] 25–27 Matthews Street, Punchbowl
2019 CHROFI Maitland Riverlink Maitland
2020 Johnson Pilton Walker with NSW Government Architect Anzac Memorial Centenary Extension[38][39] Hyde Park, Sydney
2021 Hassell Studio Sydney Theatre Company[40] Pier 4/5, Walsh Bay located at 15 Hickson Road, Dawes Point, Sydney
2022 Kerstin Thompson Architects Bundanon Art Museum and Bridge[41][42] Bundanon, 533 Bundanon Road, Illaroo, NSW
2023 SANAA
with Architectus (Executive Architects)		 North Building (formerly Sydney Modern now Naala Nura), Art Gallery of New South Wales[43] Art Gallery Road, Sydney
2024 Grimshaw and Andrew Burges Architects with McGregor Coxall Parramatta Aquatic Centre[44] 7A Park Parade, Parramatta
2025 BVN Architecture Yarrila Place[45] 27 Gordon Street, Coffs Harbour

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b 80th anniversary of the Sulman Medal
  2. ^ "Sir John Sulman, Notable Citizen's Death". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 August 1934. p. 8. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  3. ^ "SULMAN MEDAL, Architectural Award". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 June 1934. p. 20. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  4. ^ "NSW Awards History". Architecture.com.au. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Sir John Sulman Medal, 1940". Architecture: an Australasian review of architecture and the allied arts and sciences. 30 (4): 69. 1 April 1941 – via Trove.
  6. ^ Year book of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. Australia: RAIA. 1950. p. 1098.
  7. ^ "SULMAN MEDAL, Architectural Award". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 June 1934. p. 20. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Sulman Medal. 1935 Award Presented. Ecclesiastical Architecture". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 June 1936. p. 12. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "Former Railway House (Part of Transport House) Including Interiors". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  14. ^ "The Sir John Sulman Medal". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 May 1939. p. 9. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Newcaslte Incinerator wins architectural prize". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 16 November 1939. p. 9. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  16. ^ "The Newcastle Incinerator Building". Building: the magazine for the architect, builder, property owner and merchant. 65 (389): 29, 30. 24 January 1940 – via Trove.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "Won Architectural Prize". The Daily Telegraph. 18 June 1940. p. 8. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  19. ^ Teerman, Penny. "Gerard H B McDonell – Award Winning Architect". MidCoast Stories. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  20. ^ Master Builders' Federation of Australia; Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia (N.S.W.) (24 November 1948). "Sir John Sulman Award for 1947". Building and engineering. 11: 18–19 – via Trove.
  21. ^ "Jack House 1956". Architects AJC. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  22. ^ "Badham House, Burraneer NSW,1960". DoCoMoMo Australia. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  23. ^ "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.
  24. ^ "St Andrews Presbyterian Agricultural College Boys Home: Award-winning architecture now lost". Camden History Notes. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Goldstein College" (PDF). DOCOMOMO Australia. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  26. ^ Bleby, Michael (20 August 2016). "Architect Philip Cox delivers upfront on architecture's deficiencies". Financial Review. Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  27. ^ "Warringah Shire Library, Dee Why, photograph". Northern Beaches Recollect. 1966. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  28. ^ "OBJECT: The Royal Australian Institute of Architects' Sir John Sulman Medal awarded to Glenn Murcutt". Powerhouse Collection. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Ravenswood School for Girls". BVN.com.au. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  30. ^ "2014 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  31. ^ "2014 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  32. ^ "2017 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  33. ^ "Orange Regional Museum". Crone Architects. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  34. ^ "2017 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  35. ^ "2018 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  36. ^ Raggatt, Mark (24 July 2019). "A 'modern architectural masterpiece': Punchbowl Mosque". ArchitectureAU.com. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  37. ^ "Winners revealed: 2018 National Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  38. ^ "ANZAC Memorial Centenary Extension, NSW Architecture Awards 2020 Showcase". Architecture.coma.au. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  39. ^ "2020 National Architecture Awards: The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture". ArchitectureAU.com. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  40. ^ "2021 NSW Architecture Awards winners". Architecture.com.au. 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  41. ^ "2022 NSW Architecture Awards winners". Architecture.com.au. 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  42. ^ "Bundanon is awarded its second Sulman medal for public architecture". Bundanon. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  43. ^ "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.
  44. ^ "2024 NSW Architecture Awards". Architecture AU. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  45. ^ "2025 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

Further reading

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