Gosford

Gosford New South Wales
Elevation	20 m (66 ft)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEST (UTC+11)
Location	76 km (47 mi) from Sydney
LGA(s)	City of Gosford
State electorate(s)	Gosford
Federal Division(s)	Robertson
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 23.3 °C 74 °F 11.4 °C 53 °F 1,333.0 mm 52.5 in
Localities around Gosford: North Gosford Narara Wyoming West Gosford Gosford East Gosford Point Clare Point Clare Tascott

Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of the Sydney central business district. The city is situated at the northern extremity of Brisbane Water, an extensive northern branch of the Hawkesbury River estuary and Broken Bay.

The city is the administrative centre of the Central Coast region,^[1] which is the third largest urban area in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle. Gosford has been designated as an important growth centre under the NSW Metropolitan Strategy.^[2] The city's population was 155,271 in the 2006 census.^[3]

Gosford is considered an exurb of the Sydney metropolitan area,^{[citation needed]} with a significant proportion of the population commuting for work or study.^{[citation needed]} This can be attributed to a lower cost of living, lack of employment and educational opportunities in the area, lifestyle factors and the development of strong transport links.^{[citation needed]} These factors have caused the population of both Gosford and the wider Central Coast to grow rapidly in recent years.^[4]

History

Until European settlement, the area around Gosford was occupied by the Guringai peoples, who were principally coastal-dwellers.^[5] 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 19th century some pioneering European settlers began occupying the land, for timber-cutting (mainly ironbark and Australian red cedar), lime production and grazing. ^{[citation needed]}

Gosford itself was explored by Governor Phillip between 1788 and 1789. The area was difficult to access and settlement did not start before 1823. By the late 19th century the agriculture in the region was diversifying, with market gardens and citrus orchards occupying the rich soil left after the timber harvest. The road between Hawkesbury (near Pittwater) and Brisbane Water was a cart wheel track even in 1850.^[6]

Convicts once lived and worked in the Gosford area. In 1825, Gosford's population reached 100, of which 50% were convicts.

East Gosford was the first centre of settlement. Gosford was named in 1839 after Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford – a friend of the then Governor George Gipps. ^{[citation needed]}

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.

Gosford became a town in 1885 and was declared a municipality in 1886.^[7]

Radio

• 2GGO - part of Southern Cross Austereo
• Sea FM

Climate

Gosford has a humid subtropical climate, with warm summers and mild winters. In summer, temperatures average about 27-28 °C in the day with high humidity and about 17-18 °C at night. Winters are mild with cool overnight temperatures and mild to occasionally warm daytime temperatures with lower humidity. Average rainfall is 1333mm, much of which falls in the late summer and autumn. Records range from a maximum of 44.8 °C (113 °F) on 18 January 2013, to a low of −4.2 °C (24 °F) on 16 July 1970.

City centre

The north part of Gosford's CBD, looking down Mann Street towards the large yellow building which is the Imperial Shopping Centre.

Gosford proper is located in a valley with President's Hill on the city's western border, 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 and contains the frontage for much of the 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, including Gosford railway station 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.

The Gosford CBD suffered a decline in the 1990s as commercial activity relocated to nearby Erina, particularly Erina Fair.^{[citation needed]} To address this, the city has more recently redeveloped its park in the city centre, including a stream, a restaurant and outdoor performance facilities. This will be the beginning of the redevelopment of the CBD. A small number of high rise developments have also been built in the area to encourage a concentration of residents in a bid to stimulate the economy of local business. More high rise developments are planned.

Facilities

Gosford is home to:

• Gosford Hospital – the largest hospital on the Central Coast
• Laycock Street Community Theatre - the only professional, proscenium arch theatre venue 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 Central Coast Bears team in the NRL rugby league competition (to this day, the seats are arranged to say 'Go Bears'), since 2005 it is the home of the Central Coast Mariners A-League association football team and was the home venue of the Central Coast Rays rugby union Australian Rugby Championship team
• Gosford Racecourse
• Gosford showground
• Gosford High School- the only academically selective high school on the Central Coast
• Central Coast Grammar School
• The headquarters of the NSW State Government's workers compensation fund, WorkCover
• Gavenlock Oval – Home ground of the Gosford City Dragons
• St Edward's College, East Gosford- The only all boys private school on the Central Coast.
• Hunter Institute of TAFE.

Notable people

• Anthony Biddle – Paralympian tandem cyclist and athlete^[9]
• Alan Davidson – Former Australian cricketer
• David Fairleigh – Former Rugby League forward, 1994 Rothman's Medal winner, NSW & Australian representative player, North Sydney Bears "Team Of The Century" second-rower, current coach of the Central Coast Bears
• Des Hasler – Former Rugby league player, NSW & Australian representative player, 1987 & 1996 Manly Sea Eagles premiership player, 2008 & 2011 Manly Sea Eagles premiership coach
• Matt Orford – Former NRL halfback, 2008 Dally M medal winner, 2008 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles premiership captain
• Brad Porter – Midfielder for the Central Coast Mariners in the Hyundai A-League
• Andrew Redmayne – Goalkeeper for the Brisbane Roar in the Hyundai A-League
• Mark Skaife – 5-time Bathurst 1000 winner
• Ron Peno – Famous Australian Punk & 1980's Rock musician; Lead Singer of Died Pretty
• Matthew Zions, European PGA professional golfer (2003–present), 2011 Saint-Omer Open winner

Notable residents

• Charlotte Best, Australian actress, known for her role as Annie Campbell on Home and Away
• Martin Lynes, Accomplished actor known for roles on All Saints and Packed to the Rafters.
• Chris Payne, footballer playing for the North Queensland Fury in the A-League
• Peter Sterling, former rugby league player, 4-time premiership player (1981–83 and 1986)

Sister cities and twin towns

• Edogawa, Tokyo
• Nitra

See also

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

References

External links

• Gosford City Council
• Central Coast Tourism
• Gosford Chamber of Commerce

Coordinates: 33°25′36″S 151°20′30″E / 33.42667°S 151.34167°E / -33.42667; 151.34167