Place of Koala, the world's first purpose-built wild koala breeding and visitor centre, has been recognised with the Australian Good Design Award Winner accolade in the Built Environment category at the 2025 Australian Good Design Awards.
Presented by Good Design Australia, the Awards are among the world's longest-running and most respected international design programs, celebrating projects that exemplify design excellence, innovation and impact.
This year's theme, "Design for Better," highlights how design can shape a more balanced, inclusive and sustainable world, a vision embodied by Guulabaa through its commitment to cultural collaboration, conservation, and regeneration.
Developed by the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales and designed by global architecture and design firm Gensler, Guulabaa was conceived in the aftermath of the 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires as a model for ecological restoration and resilient design.
Located within Cowarra State Forest on Birpai Country, the project was co-created with First Nations partners and local communities to support the long-term recovery of koala populations while fostering a deeper connection between people, wildlife and Country.
"Guulabaa is a shared vision for regeneration and respect," Gensler Australia Managing Director Lisa Munao said.
"Our approach was grounded in Designing with Country, guided by the voices of Traditional Owners and community partners who shaped the project's purpose and form.
"This recognition from Good Design Australia affirms that meaningful collaboration and environmental stewardship can lead to world-class outcomes."
The Good Design Awards Jury commended Guulabaa as a "novel typology that explores the space between visitor centre, community platform and interpretation space."
The Jury praised the project for its deep and genuine partnerships with Indigenous leaders, government, and community, and for flipping the script on how people can view wildlife.
The Jury added, "Particularly compelling is the project's impact in strengthening regional identity and increasing eco-tourism. A powerful example of world-class design."
"Guulabaa is about design for the betterment of people, wildlife and Country," Forestry Corporation of NSW's Senior Manager Country and Community Kathy Lyons said.
"We're proud to see this project recognised on the national stage as a symbol of what's possible when we combine Indigenous knowledge, design innovation, and a shared responsibility to care for the environment."
As one of Australia's most celebrated new cultural and environmental destinations, Guulabaa continues to inspire similar conservation and visitor infrastructure projects across New South Wales.
The Good Design Award further cements its status as a pioneering model of how architecture can create lasting ecological and social impact.
