Open to both national and international design and architectural professionals, the competition is hoping to gain innovative and elegant design ideas on how the town’s main street and surrounding city blocks could be transformed.

Business Chamber president Jamie Cregan said he hoped the prize money- including a $30,000 main prize and three secondary prizes of $10,000- would attract some high quality designs.

“I’m hoping we get a wide variety of entries so we can really get a broad cross-section of ideas on what’s possible…and what people want to see for the future of Queanbeyan.

“There’s $64,000 in prize money being put forward by the QBC, and this will be something that is of substantial benefit to the community of Queanbeyan, and the businesses of Queanbeyan. And it’s essential that we work together to get the best result possible,” he said.

The competition will be run by architect and former head of the National Capital Authority, Annabelle Pegrum of Canberra firm Pegrum Judd, and be judged by a panel of seven architectural and business professionals, with renowned Australian architect John Wardle as chair.

Entrants must provide a design for the specified Downtown Q area, including the two key gateways to the CBD and the interface to the Queanbeyan River, with $30,000 in prize money awarded to the winning entry. Entrants can also submit more detailed deigns for three distinct quarters within the Downtown Q zone, with each quadrant carrying a further $10,000 in prize money. There will also be a pool of $2,000 for ‘People’s Choice’ awards, to be determined via a web exhibition in November.

- Registration for Downtown Q 2025 closes on September 30, with entries due by November 11 and winners announced later that month. Further information on Downtown Q 2025 can be found at www.downtownqcompetition.com.au.