Old Gosford Library building.

3 September 2025

 

GOSFORD resident Zina Harije, who has lived in Gosford all her life, addressed the councillors and said "I speak in support of the Review Panel’s recommendation to keep and re- use the existing library building. We need social facilities, meeting places and places of value. I understand that it is easier to demolish and concrete over the past. Our region could almost be the Demolition or Concrete Coast."

 

For years ratepayers contributed a levy for a new Regional Library. The Broadwater Hotel in Mann Street, next to the abandoned council chamber, was the preferred site. Now that site and the council chamber will be sold to private developers. It’s not going to be the promised TAFE! That’s across the street from the long-abandoned Brisbane Water Council building – another private development site.

 

Ms Harije went on to say, "I welcome the new regional library. The tens of thousands of new apartment dwellers who will be calling Gosford home will need as many community facilities as possible.

 

"Younger Gosford residents understand the irony of the tag ‘GOSSY GOOD TIMES’. Where exactly are Gosford residents supposed to create those good times, those memories of place, culture, purpose and community? A brand-new regional library is great, but it is not enough. Why can’t we proudly preserve at least one part of Gosford’s history in the form of the existing, architecturally recognised library building? The NSW Government Architect said we should keep it!

 

"When I think about the future of the old library, the first step should be to give it the heritage status it deserves. Adding it to the heritage inventory in our LEP would significantly reduce the cost of its upkeep. The $4 million cost estimate from council staff is an overblown piece of numerical mischief that no one believes. My hard- working parents would say ‘you need to get a few more quotes before you say yes to that!’

 

"I see a café, intimate performance space, affordable meeting places for grass roots groups, boutique exhibitions – a place where young and old come together in the heart of Gosford in a heritage building that’s as solid and iconic as the Sydney Opera House – our own version of the Opera Bar, a tourist attraction that generates income for council – it could be a hub for my home town where future generations do get to create community, memories - good times!" Ms Harije said.

 

Many voices has save the old Gosford Library building from demolition, which will now continue to be part of Gosford's story.

 

A strong community campaign, including petitions, public calls and community advocacy reflecting the sustained community investment in this significant building, successfully pushed the Central Coast Council to save the library from demolition. Council will now look into ways to repurpose the building, potentially for a new community use, ensuring it remains a landmark within Gosford.

 

The National Trust also engaged with Central Coast Council on several occasions, recommending that the Gosford Library building was suitable for adaptive re-use, noting that this would be the best possible environmental and cultural outcome in response to the evolving landscape of the Gosford CBD.

 

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said: “Thank you to all who have worked tirelessly to help retain this historical building.

 

“Whilst this is positive news, it is now imperative to have the building listed on the State Heritage Register.

 

“I will make representations to the Minister for Heritage, the Hon. Penny Sharpe MLC, supporting any nomination submitted for the Gosford Library building to be listed on the Register.”

 

The old Gosford Library building was designed in 1967 and officially opened in November 1969. It was the fourth library to operate in Gosford and served as an important cultural hub over the past 56 years.

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