Architect Craig Earley has witnessed great change in Newcastle.
“When I studied here in the mid-90s, pollution from the BHP steelworks would settle like a fine blanket on anything exposed to it, including washing on the clothes lines,” he says.
“Since then I’ve seen the city move away from a reliance on heavy industry and reinvent itself as an innovative hub with a strong focus on education and research.”
Originally from Taree (a two-hour drive from Newcastle) and a “country boy at heart”, Earley and his family settled in Newcastle eight years ago. Coupled with his strong relationships with the School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE), he’s perfectly placed to spearhead the Architectus Newcastle studio, which opens this week.
“There are huge regional opportunities across a number of sectors including education, defence, residential, infrastructure and transport sectors,” he says.
“The John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct is also here – it’s the largest health precinct in the state, and is receiving significant investment from the state government. We’re excited to connect our health expertise with the local market and share our insights on optimising healthcare facilities to support innovation, efficiency, and patient outcomes.”
After his studies, Earley left Newcastle for London where he specialised in hospitality with ReardonSmith Architects, before moving to Sydney in 2006 to join Architectus. In 2016 Earley relocated his family to Newcastle to be more connected with his regional roots.
As an Associate Principal at Architectus with extensive experience across a broad range of sectors, including education, residential, commercial, aviation, retail and interior architecture, Earley has been commuting to and from the Sydney studio for the past eight years . He’s keen to connect the firm’s national expertise with the region.
“This isn’t just about Newcastle,” Earley says. “Having a presence here strengthens our regional offer and connects us to important regional areas such as Tamworth, Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Grafton and Ballina.”
