History
The NSW Chapter of the Institute of Architects introduced its first design award in 1932. The Sulman Medal was named for the English-trained architect John Sulman who had been working in NSW since the 1880s. Sulman was a passionate advocate of town planning and the Medal which commemorates his work was intended to be for a building of exceptional merit that contributed to the streetscape.
For over three decades the type of building given the award cycled between five classes:
1. Public and Monumental – Government Buildings, Town Halls, Art Galleries, Railway Stations & Hospitals &c
2. Educational and Ecclessiastical – Schools, Churches, Convents &c
3. Commercial & Industrial – OfficeBuildings, Warehouses, Factories &c
4. Recreational – Theatres, Sporting Buildings &c
5. Domestic & Residential – Homes, &c.
In addition Australian buildings were eligible for awards given by the Royal British Institute of Architects (RIBA). The Sulman Medal became a vehicle for the introduction of new architectural ideas, and the award to Harry Seidler for the Rose Seidler House in 1951 caused a controversy that was reported across the country.
In 1958-1960 the cycling through building types for the annual Sulman Medal was abandoned, and buildings of all classes could be entered each year.
