4 June 2025

 

THE "Open Letter to Save the Gosford Library Building" now boasts 20 diverse community groups as signatories, a significant increase from the 12 groups whose support saw the letter adopted as part of the Central Coast Council Review Committee's report.

 

"The fact that so many community groups have quickly rallied behind this cause demonstrates the deep appreciation for the Gosford Library building's heritage and its potential for future community use," said Joy Cooper a member of the The Better Planning Group.

 

"This isn't just about a building; it's about retaining a vital part of Gosford's character and ensuring a sustainable future for a beloved public asset."

 

The open letter, which will be forwarded to all councillors prior to their vote on the library's future, advocates strongly against demolition and in favour of a plan that allows the building to be repurposed for the benefit of the community.

 

"Every additional signatory strengthens our collective voice and sends a clear message to council that the community wants to see this building saved and given a new life," added Cooper.

 

The overarching Government Architect of NSW (GANSW) directive to repurpose Gosford Library within the Gosford Urban Design Framework (UDF) supports the ongoing CBD revitalisation, population growth, future needs of greenspace, open space and quality standalone community infrastructure for Kibble Park.

 

During public consultation, the Central Coast Council promoted the UDF design principles for Kibble Park as guiding the park’s revitalisation, highlighting ‘especially’ to repurpose Gosford Library.

 

The Council’s now UDF deviation to demolish the modernist, National Trust registered, Gosford Library to create a pavement and steps removes the GANSW’s optimal greenspace for Kibble Park.

 

Historian, Merril Jackson states this deviation is ‘unacceptable, as it undermines the GANSW’s authority, and the Council’s responsibility to protect and preserve local heritage’.

 

Previously commissioned heritage assessment reports affirming Gosford Library’s significance and heritage value have been publicly withheld by the Council.

 

Gosford Library’s history and heritage reveals the prominent Sydney architect, Alan Williams designed a bespoke non-institutionalised literary space, the building’s quality and built-to-last longevity is accredited to internationally renowned structural engineers of Sydney Opera House, Ove Arup.

 

The Gosford Library, as Jackson emphasises, is identified within the UDF as a built heritage asset, and registered significant 20th mid-century architecture by the Australian Institute of Architects.

 

The library’s construction involved Sydney and Canberra based mid-century architectural trailblazers, and groundbreaking usage of technically advanced architectural and construction firsts in NSW, including and not limited to, the CSIRO scientifically developed structural timber laminates.

 

Other mid-century collaborators included mechanical/electrical engineers, D. S. Thomas & Partners, notable building company, A. W. Edwards, timber carpentry craftsmanship Hardys Joinery and Hancock Bros (Canberra), and pioneering mid-century concrete artisan, Rinaldo Umberto Fabbro.

 

Special associations to Gosford Library include iconic Australian structures, such as, The National Carillon, Australia Square, Sydney Law Courts Building Queen's Square, Sydney MLC Building Podium & The Commercial Travellers' Association Club (Mushroom), Academy of Science, National Library of Australia, and the Australian War Memorial.

 

Reinstating the GANSW endorsed design principle, ‘Re-purpose library’ ensures the qualified urban planned UDF delivers the prime city ‘green room’ for Kibble Park and is inclusive of the quality greenspace urban landscape infrastructure as authorised by the GANSW.

 

Championed under the Liberal Government and supported by Central Coast Regional Development, the UDF provides a strategic urban planned vision to increase greenspace, provide community infrastructure to support population growth into the future.

 

Jackson urges people to breakthrough the myth-making claims, as they bear no substance to the truth, stating, ‘The GANSW carefully selected the architecturally significant building to repurpose in Kibble Park, not the Parkhouse. Building inspections from 2022 and 2024 confirm the good condition of the Gosford Library building.

 

The GANSW duly considered the current and longtime future needs of greenspace, open space, and the population growth of Gosford City, and emphasised it important to retain Gosford Library’.

 

Council’s online ‘Future of the current Gosford Library building’ survey is open until June 11, 2025 and can be found here.

 

Call to Action: Join the Movement and Participate in Council Survey

 

The Better Planning Group is actively inviting all interested community organisations who have not yet signed the open letter to come forward.

 

Additionally, the group is strongly encouraging all community members to participate in the Central Coast Council's online feedback survey. It is crucial that survey participants explicitly vote to retain the Gosford Library building through adaptive reuse and clearly oppose any plans for its demolition.

 

The survey can be accessed here.

 

"Your participation in the survey is just as vital as our open letter," said Cooper. "Please share the survey link widely within your networks and encourage everyone to voice their support for saving the Gosford Library building."

 

About The Better Planning Group

 

The Better Planning Group is a local advocacy organisation dedicated to promoting thoughtful and sustainable urban planning within the Central Coast region.

Name (First & Last):

Email:

Submitting Form...

The server encountered an error.

Subscription received.

SUBSCRIBE