The Downtown Q 2025 Design Ideas Competition, aimed at revitalizing Queanbeyan, New South Wales’ downtown area, has just selected its first place winner. A collaboration between STEWART ARCHITECTURE, Stewart Hollenstein, and ASPECT Studios, the winning proposal focuses on increasing pedestrian traffic, creating more green spaces, and taking full advantage of the town’s riverfront property.
The core principle of the team’s design is to make the river the heart of the downtown area. Main street will run over Queen’s Bridge, connecting the two halves of the town separated by the river. This street will be capped on each end by two major town parks, drawing pedestrian traffic from either side of town. The bridge itself will be expanded to include large promenades on each side of the traffic lanes, creating a place for events or sight-seeing. The jury has said that the “subtle level changes along these walkways embrace the waterfront, create a myriad of spatial opportunities and generate positive relationships with the Riverside Plaza and foreshore parks.”
