Noosa Junction Station stands as the proud result of a design team joining forces with its client to achieve the best for the Noosa community with this unique development for this exclusive beachside town. To ensure such an outcome, Translink and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council employed Guymer Bailey Landscape, with Bark Design and Sinclair Knight Merz, to design a public facility that is functional and innovative. Most important was designing it to underscore a strong sense of sense of place for the site that reinforces Noosa’s distinct subtropical and coastal character. The $12 million project is now the transport hub of the area, served by buses, coaches and other tourist vehicles.

The urban design language draws on the indigenous meaning of Noosa — ‘Place of Shade’ and uses shade structures and vegetation to filter pattern light into a series of outdoor spaces. These spaces are connected by an arbour structure which forms a physical axis through the development. The design incorporates sustainable construction materials. The arbour, as well as public seating, is made from recycled hardwood timber. The design also features extensive landscaping and planting, retaining much of the site’s existing vegetation and relocating significant tree species where appropriate. The Noosa Junction Station is an example of an integrated and sustainable design solution: It is a place for people and celebrates Noosa’s sense of place; it promotes active transport by creating a safe and comfortable environment for bicycle users and pedestrians; and it enhances green amenity, using native vegetation to provide shade, and soften the built form.