PRESS RELEASE: Dunsteel and Hornsby Shire Council submit The Southern Lookout for 2026 Australian Steel Excellence Awards
A 42-metre weathering steel platform brings visitors into the canopy and reveals Hornsby’s former quarry through a carefully engineered public experience.
HORNSBY, NSW | 21 Aug 2026 – Dunsteel Engineering and Hornsby Shire Council have submitted The Southern Lookout for the 2026 Australian Steel Excellence Awards, recognising the collaborative design, fabrication and delivery of one of the first major public structures within the new Hornsby Park.
Set within almost 60 hectares of bushland around the former Hornsby Quarry, the fully accessible lookout extends 42 metres through the forest canopy. Its weathering steel structure is anchored into the embankment and balanced on four angled columns supported by a single central footing, creating an 18-metre span and a six-metre cantilever towards the quarry.
The structure turns the approach to the quarry into a sequence of discovery. Views are initially contained as visitors move beneath and through the canopy. At the platform’s end, the quarry void, volcanic diatreme and water body are revealed. The industrial character of the weathering steel also reflects the site’s history as a working quarry.
Dunsteel fabricated the lookout in five large modules in its workshop, prioritising bolted connections and off-site assembly to reduce site welding, installation time and disturbance within the sensitive park environment. BIM and digital fabrication workflows supported coordinated detailing, automated processing, erection sequencing, crane planning, quality assurance and traceability.
“The Southern Lookout demanded close coordination between design intent, fabrication detail and erection methodology. Our team’s focus was to turn a complex, elevated structure into a safe and efficient modular build while preserving the clarity of the architectural outcome.”
Thomas Sallabank, Project Manager, Dunsteel
The material and structural strategy also supports the project’s long-term performance. Weathering steel eliminates the need for an applied coating system and associated repainting, while the single-footing design reduces ground disturbance. The project submission states that the materials are recyclable, require minimal maintenance and are intended to support a service life exceeding 60 years.
The Southern Lookout opened to the public in March 2026 as part of the Crusher Plant Precinct, the first completed stage of Hornsby Park Redevelopment. The precinct also includes lawns, picnic shelters and barbecue facilities, with upgraded Heritage Steps connecting towards the Blue Gum Walk and Great North Walk.
Awards and event details
The Australian Steel Institute’s Steel Excellence Awards recognise quality and innovation across Australia’s steel supply chain. Entries for the 2026 program closed on 2 June 2026. State winners will progress to the National Australian Steel Excellence Awards, with the national awards presented at a gala dinner in Sydney in November 2026.
Project team
Client: Hornsby Shire Council | Steel fabricator, detailer and erection: Dunsteel Engineering | Architect: AJC Architects | Design engineer: Arup | Engineer: Dunnings Consulting Engineers | Landscape architect: Clouston Associates
