Tour tickets available: 9am, 4 September

Sanctuary Church is a landmark community project on a 55,650m² site in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, reimagining what a contemporary place of worship can be as a destination for spiritual connection, community gathering and lifelong learning.

At its heart is a 790-seat auditorium for worship and large-scale events, supported by an administration wing and a children’s ministry wing, designed to foster inclusivity and community spirit. The building responds to the subtropical climate through passive design, including cross-ventilation, deep verandas and orientation to prevailing breezes, for long-term comfort and a strong connection to place.

A steeply sloped site became a guiding design opportunity rather than a constraint. The building is recessed into the landscape for an intimate, grounded presence, with accessible entry, generous parking and electric buggy shelters for peak times. Inside, a café opens to a custom-designed children’s play area. The scale is monumental yet warm, with soaring ceilings and flexible multipurpose zones. The project is the result of close collaboration with church leadership and Arc Assembly, who brought richness and warmth to the interiors.

Pastor Ashley Good says every decision, from the timber and sandstone to the placement of an olive tree symbolising resilience and community, was made with deep respect for the site, adding: “I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”