Cow Bay Primary Health Care Centre
Nestled in the rainforest between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation, the Cow Bay Primary Heath Care Centre represents a significant investment by Queensland Health in improving accessibility to health services for remote communities within the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service district.
The Centre comprises a 570sq.m. Clinic, which includes treatment space for first response, consult rooms for visiting clinicians, meeting and staff training facilities, also administration and clinical support spaces. The Clinic is securely linked to a residence for staff and student accommodation. There is also a helipad on site for emergency access to the Cairns Hospital and beyond.
The building form responds to the site topography and outlook, with the residence articulated to be separate from the primary Clinic interface. The roofs are configured to facilitate maximum exposure for the PV system and provide outdoor shaded areas for waiting and meeting. The finishes and textures reflect the dominant natural setting.
The Centre is completely off grid, with power generation from a rooftop PV array and battery storage facility with generator back-up. Water is sourced from a bore and rainwater storage, managed through an on-site treatment system. House drainage is also managed by an on-site treatment system. The Centre is an infrastructure exemplar for other remote facilities under consideration by Queensland Health.
Details
Address Cow Bay, Cape Tribulation
Client Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service
Completed 2025
Builder Hutchinson Builders
Photography Andrew Watson
Consultant Team
Structural Rodgers Consulting Engineers
Civil Rodgers Consulting Engineers
Electrical Sequal Consulting Group
Mechanical Sequal Consulting Group
Hydraulic Gilboy Hydraulic Solutions
Landscape Landplan Landscape Architects
Town Planning Gilvear Planning
Building Certification Baker Building Certification
Cost Planning RLB
Awards
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2026 Australian Institute of Architects Queensland – Award for Public Architecture
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2026 Australian Institute of Architects Queensland – Commendation for Sustainable Architecture
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2026 Australian Institute of Architects Queensland – Social Impact Prize
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2026 Australian Institute of Architects FNQ – Regional Project of the Year
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2026 Australian Institute of Architects FNQ – Commendation for Public Architecture
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2026 Australian Institute of Architects FNQ – Shortlist for Sustainability