The two townhouses, on the corner of Albert and Edward streets, were designed by Sydney-based architect Tony Beattie.

“I grew up in Pallamallawa and my parents live out there,” Mr Beattie said.

“I bought the site about eight years ago because I wanted to spend more time in the country and with my parents,” he said.

Mr Beattie said the former ‘Yandiah flats’ was an avant-garde building for its time with seven flats upstairs and a pool downstairs.

“Just about everyone has a story about the Yandiah flats. That’s where everybody used to go to party,” Mr Beattie said.

“And that was my idea for this design, to regenerate that with an effective and efficient dwelling,” he said.

“Being a flood zone many people build up to the minimum but that renders the rest of the ground area useless. I’ve done this like a Queenslander so you can drive underneath and you have the whole ground area for other uses.

“I’ve used low maintenance materials. Dealing with the climate is critical.

“And I didn’t want it to look like two houses. Even though they are attached in the middle there are windows on all four sides.

“There is a dryland garden to help keep water usage at a minimum. It is highly insulated. The dark paint works so you don’t get the glare you would off a white house as you drive up to it. The corrugation creates shadows. There are cork floors.

“There are a lot of design features inside. There are a lot of tricks for dealing with smaller spaces.”

Mr Beattie said he wanted to test what role architecture could play in remote communities.

“The main objective was to neatly regenerate a corner site close to the civic centre of town, using architectural language of rural buildings, and to build two houses that look like one,” he said.

“I think architecture has a real role to play in regional areas. I want people to understand that when you are spending money on infrastructure, architecture is important. It’s key that the building has meaning to that place and you get it right.”

Mr Beattie said he would like to be more involved in projects at Moree or other regional areas.

“I was involved with the upgrade of the pools early on with the master plan and I’ve done a few other council projects,” he said.

“I’m now looking at opening an office at the back of Mrs Killock’s shop which I see as important, local heritage.”

The award winners will be announced in September.