Gosford

Gosford

• Country: Australia
• State: New South Wales
• Location: 33°22′S 151°20′E
• Gosford Council Area: 940.2 km²
• Population (2001): 154,654
• Postcodes: 2250, 2251, 2256, 2257, 2260

Gosford is a city in the Australian state of New South Wales, located between Sydney and Newcastle and approximately 70 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 serves as the administrative centre for Gosford City Council. .

History

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

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.

General Gosford info

Gosford proper is located in a valley with President's Hill on the city's western border and Rumballara Reserve on its eastern border, and Brisbane water to the city's south. The city's main street runs north-south and is called Mann Street and there are a number of small shops and cafes on this street. Mann Street also forms part of the old Pacific Highway which winds its way up the coast from Sydney to Brisbane, Queensland.

The Imperial centre, the city's main shopping complex, also has a major frontage on Mann Street. Most of the central coast's busses to eastern suburbs (run by 2 private companies), like Erina and Terrigal travel via Mann Street. Also on Mann Street is William Street Mall which runs east-west (which is bound by Mann Street and Mortimer Lane), which was upgraded in 2004.

The city centre focuses around Kibble Park (a small park which is bound by Henry Parry Drive, William Street, Donnison Street and Eliza Street). and the Gosford city library (located on Donnison Street). There are many small events and minor festivals that get held in Kibble Park such as the 'Crazy Day Sales' (run by Gosford chamber of Commerce).

Gosford is also home to Gosford Hospital - the largest hospital on the central coast, the Central Coast Conservatorium (home the original Gosford Court. The Gosford court is now on the south eastern corner of Henry Parry Drive and Donnison Streets) and the newly built Central Coast Stadium (completed in 2001). The city also hosted 3 games of the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup. Adjacent to Gosford city itself, is the Gosford Racecourse and the Gosford showgrounds. Directly east of the city is Rumballara reserve which encompasses the ridgeline which serves as the city's eastern border.

While Gosford is somewhat run down at the moment - with businesses moving to near by Erina and, in particular, Erina Fair - new highrise apartments are being built in and around the CBD to accomodate people wanting to live near the railway station. The NSW State Government also relocated Workcover head quarters to Gosford in 2002 to a distinctive modern building on Donnison Street, near to the Central Coast Leagues Club.

See also

• List of cities in Australia

External links

• Gosford city council website
• Central Coast tourism
• Central Coast regional development organisation website
• NSW Department of Local Government: Suburbs and Towns in Gosford Council (includes map)
• Gooogle Maps view of Gosford showing (from West to East) Narara Creek, President's Hill, the Gosford CBD, Rumbalara Reserve and Erina Creek, with Brisbane Water to the South.