Barwon Heads Golf Club Secures Dual National Design Honours

POSTED ON April 30, 2026 @ 7:32 am

BARWON HEADS, VIC – The historic Barwon Heads Golf Club has solidified its status as a design landmark, securing prestigious recognition in two of Australia’s most prominent architecture and interior design programs for 2026.

The club has been named a finalist in the 40th annual Dulux Colour Awards and has earned a spot on the shortlist for the 2026 Australian Interior Design Awards (AIDA). The dual honours celebrate the club’s recently completed $20 million overhaul, a six-year project aimed at preserving its 100-year-old heritage while modernising its facilities.

A Masterclass in Colour

The club is one of 94 finalists selected for the Dulux Colour Awards, a program dedicated to innovative and ambitious applications of colour. This year’s milestone 40th anniversary saw a record-breaking field of over 540 entries from across Australia and New Zealand.

Dulux colour and design manager Lauren Treloar noted that the landmark year highlights the increasing sophistication of the industry.

“It is fitting that in this landmark year we are celebrating such remarkable numbers, but it is the talent and expertise of the region’s design and architecture professionals that we are truly applauding,” Treloar said. “They constantly astound us with their accomplished mastery of colour and it is our privilege to recognise them in our program.”

Benchmarking Excellence

In the Australian Interior Design Awards, now in its 23rd year, Barwon Heads Golf Club was shortlisted in the Hospitality Design category. It joins other high-profile projects like Sydney’s Club Rose Bay on a list winnowed down from 226 entries.

Co-presented by the Design Institute of Australia and Architecture Media’s InteriorsAu, the peer-judged awards are considered a primary benchmark for interior excellence both nationally and abroad.

Collaborative Vision

The recognised interiors were a collaborative effort between Nexus Designs and Demaine Partnership. The design strategy focused on:

Ground Floor: Celebrating original 1924 fabric with a dark, muted palette and sophisticated textures.
Lower Ground: A lighter, “sandier” aesthetic that evolves into a rich, secluded identity for the billiard room.
Connectivity: Restructuring fragmented zones into a cohesive flow that opens vistas into social spaces.

Key Dates for Winners

The design community will look to Sydney for the final results:

Dulux Colour Awards: Winners will be announced at a gala event at Bennelong, Sydney Opera House, on 27 May 2026.
Australian Interior Design Awards: Winners and commendations will be revealed at the Sofitel Wentworth on Friday, 12 June 2026.