Gosford, New South Wales

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for other places called Gosford see Gosford (disambiguation)

Gosford New South Wales
Population: • Density:	301,551 (2006) 165/km²
Elevation:	10 m
Area:	1,028 km²
Time zone:  • Summer (DST)	AEST (UTC+10) AEST (UTC+11)
Location:	76 km from Sydney
LGA:	Gosford City Council

Gosford is the main city of the Central Coast of New South Wales, located approximately 50 km north of the Sydney Central Business District (CBD) in a straight line, but somewhat further by road due to the shape of the coastline. The city is situated at the northern extremity of Brisbane Water, an extensive northern branch of the Hawkesbury River estuary and Broken Bay. The town is the administrative centre of Gosford City Council, which along with Wyong Shire forms the Central Coast. Gosford is often recognised as being part of the Sydney Metropolitan Area.

[edit] History

Prior to European settlement, the area around Gosford was occupied by two groups of Australian Aborigines, the Guringai and Darkinjung peoples, with the Guringai being principally coastal-dwellers and the Darkingung occupying land to the west.

Along with the other land around the Hawkesbury River estuary, the Brisbane Water district was explored during the early stages of the settlement of Sydney. In the early 1800s some pioneering European settlers began occupying the land, for timber-cutting (mainly ironbark and Australian red cedar), lime production and grazing.

Gosford itself was founded as a government township in the 1830s, originally to be named Point Frederick, but named Gosford at the direction of the Governor of NSW. The name Point Frederick is now used for a suburb and the spit of land it occupies, stretching southwards from Gosford. Since shipping was the principal form of transport, the position at the northernmost end of Brisbane water provided access to the timber and other developing primary industries in the valleys of Narara Creek to the north and Erina Creek to the east. By the late 1800s the agriculture in the region was diversifying, with market gardens and citrus orchards occupying the rich soil left after the timber harvest. In 1887 the rail link to Sydney was completed, requiring a bridge over the Hawkesbury River and a tunnel through the sandstone ridge west of Woy Woy. The introduction of this transport link, and then the Pacific Highway in 1930 accelerated the development of the region.

Prior to 1947, the town of Gosford was part of the Erina Shire. In January of 1980, Gosford was declared a city.

[edit] Gosford today

Gosford proper is located in a valley with President's Hill on the city's western border and Rumbalara Reserve on its eastern border, and Brisbane water to the city's south. Mann Street, Gosford's main street and part of the Pacific Highway, runs north-south contains the frontage for much of its commercial district. The Central Coast Highway runs past Gosford's waterfront area, while its predecessor the Pacific Highway takes on several names through the CBD itself. Mann Street contains the main public transport links for Gosford, with Gosford railway station (CityRail and CountryLink) and the termini for several bus routes.

In the centre of Gosford is a shopping and community precinct, including Kibble Park, William Street Mall, Gosford City Library, the Imperial Shopping Centre, the Gosford Town Shopping Centre and a full range of shops, cafes, banks and services, especially along William Street Mall. Over the period 2000-2005, Gosford has been dramatically transformed through the building of many high-rise blocks of flats, principally occupying hill-side locations in and around Gosford, with many more high-rise developments due for completion in the near future.

Gosford is also home to

• Gosford Hospital - the largest hospital on the Central Coast
• Gosford High School - the only selective high school on the Central Coast
• The Central Coast Conservatorium (in the original Gosford Courthouse)
• The Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium in Grahame Park, adjacent to the Central Coast Leagues Club. Originally built for the short-lived Northern Eagles team in the NRL rugby league competition, since 2005 it is now the home of the Central Coast Mariners A-League football (soccer) team and the Central Coast Rays rugby union Australian Rugby Championship team
• Gosford Racecourse
• Gosford showground
• The headquarters of the NSW State Government's workers compensation fund, WorkCover.

The north part of Gosford's CBD, looking down Mann Street toward the large yellow building which is the Imperial Shopping Centre. Further in the distance the Council building can be seen.

[edit] Notes

• Gosford is recognised as a part of Sydney in the Australian cities population ranking article.

[edit] See also

• List of cities in Australia
• Electoral district of Gosford, a seat in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly

Coordinates: 33°25′36″S, 151°20′30″E

	Cities of New South Wales
Capital:	Sydney
Cities:	Albury | Armidale | Bathurst | Broken Hill | Cessnock | Coffs Harbour | Dubbo | Gosford | Goulburn | Grafton | Griffith | Lismore | Lithgow | Maitland | Newcastle | Nowra | Orange | Queanbeyan | Tamworth | Wagga Wagga | Wollongong