West Head Lookout, on Garigal Country within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in Sydney, has won the 2024 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) NSW Award of Excellence for Tourism.

Designed by the late Bruce Mackenzie, in association with architect Russell Smith in the 1960s, West Head Lookout has been sensitively upgraded by OCULUS in close collaboration with Bruce for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The award citation says this “iconic example of the Sydney Bush School of Landscape Architecture retains the legacy of the original design approach of the lookout being subservient to the existing biodiverse landscape, whilst sensitively and collaboratively upgrading the sites to be safe and accessible. The visitor experience is enhanced with a new safety balustrade design enabling uninterrupted views. New native planting blends the rebuilt structure into the natural landscape. Key materials integral to the original design such as the sandstone walls and paving were refreshed and recycled.”

Announced at a ceremony last month, the OCULUS project team was proud to accept the award with Bruce’s wife, Laraine Mackenzie. Bruce was a pioneer of, and a powerful advocate for, the use of Australian native plants in Australian landscape design, and his profound impact on the landscape architecture profession was celebrated at the event.

West Head Lookout now advances to the 2024 AILA National Awards program.