The former Department of Lands building on Sydney's Bridge Street has won a National Trust heritage award after a meticulous restoration. The sandstone building, designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet and constructed between 1876 and 1892, was once the centre of the colony's land administration and a site for high-stakes livestock ballots. Over time, its Victorian grandeur was obscured by office partitions, suspended ceilings, and utilitarian clutter.
The redevelopment, led by Hassell as lead design architect with Purcell Architecture for heritage conservation, stripped away a century of additions to reveal grand internal voids, original staircases, and circular corridors. The judging panel praised the project for respectfully preserving the building's sandstone façade and heritage interiors while introducing contemporary elements that speak to its past.
Now known as The Lands by Capella, the building partially opened earlier this year and has served as a satellite host for Australian fashion week. When completed later this year, it will offer 10,000 square metres of luxury retail, dining, and event spaces for weddings, galas, and conferences. The project is the final phase of the broader Sandstone Precinct redevelopment, which also includes the neighbouring Department of Education building converted into a boutique hotel.
Other award winners included Urbis and the City of Sydney for restoring Town Hall House, a Brutalist landmark; Hector Abrahams Architects for restoring a ruined 1920s Castlecrag home; and White Bay Power Station's entertainment hall winning the interiors category. The people's choice award went to the refurbished grand dining room at Katoomba's Carrington hotel, while the president's prize was awarded to GPG Architecture for the Coolamon hotel redevelopment.
