Gosford Leagues Club Park

Central Coast, Australia

Gosford’s waterfront revitalisation

In 2017, we were approached by the Hunter & Central Coast Development Corporation to transform Gosford underused playing fields into an engaging city park featuring a central green, regional scale playgrounds and community node.

Our goal was to bring people from the broader central coast into the city centre, providing a place for community events and allowing kids to have fun, learn, and interact with nature and the adjacent Brisbane Waters. By working closely with HCCDC, Darkinjung Land Council, and our design partners, we successfully crafted a one-of-a-kind public space rich in history and cultural knowledge sharing.

• Create connecting water to land
• Meeting place for all
• Celebration of Darkinjung Culture
• Nature inspired Regional Play space
• Iconic entryway to Gosford
• Revealing original shoreline

A cultural collaboration

Through collaborative efforts and insights gained from a series of stakeholder workshops, the project highlights the importance of 'country' as both a resource and spiritual connection. Through deep engagement with Darkinjung Local Area Land Council and First Nations Artist Uncle 'Gavi' Duncan we learnt the site was once an important bayside camp, a place of trade and cultural exchange, a meeting ground between the Darkinjung clans and with adjoining nations such as the Gadigal, Gomeroi and Wiradjuri.

“I think what Turf has done, I've never seen anything like it produced in Australia, on this scale — especially with it immersed in history and aboriginal story at the same time. We're putting our footprint in history here and I hope it can be replicated all around Australia.”

Uncle Gavi Duncan
First Nations Artist

Bringing the bay to the park

The site, at the upper reach of Brisbane Waters holds importance as a point of ‘first contact’ between Darkinjung people and Europeans. Captain Arthur Phillip's exploration party documented a significant camp with a large marina of canoes in the location of the park.

During the initial stages of our design process, our team uncovered an early Land Title survey map identifying the shoreline from the early 1900s, before land reclamation altered the landscape. The park’s Old Shoreline Walk interprets this original high tide line, whilst serving as a major organising element in the park plan.

However, we wanted to go further, to take away the land reclamation in the central area of the park, to unearth and reveal the bay still buried below, an archaeological dig if you will, revealing old Country, returned to life by tapping into the bay and returning the tide.

A meeting ground

The Tidal Terrace evokes a spiritual connection with land, sea and sky featuring mythical sea creatures ‘swimming’ in the tidal zone, inspired by rock engravings from the surrounding hillsides. These creatures were first drawn by Uncle Gavi, now writ large in sandstone.

Norimbah, the central community node and dance ground features 7 timber Totem Poles from the 7 nation groups, painted by Uncle Gavi, has become a meeting place where the community gather, explore and play.

Wild play

The park offers diverse play opportunities, including a communal rope structure called the 'Fish Trap' and 'Seed Pod' play towers, promoting inclusive play for various abilities and ages within native gardens.

"Leagues Club Park in Gosford redefines regional playgrounds, incorporating innovative design with dynamic ecosystems. It's an inviting space for everyone, featuring native flora, diverse trees, and a 'tidal terrace' that adapts with the bay's tides."

Rob Stokes
Former NSW Minister of Planning

Client
Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation

Date
2018—2021

Project Value
AU$10 million

Location
Darkinjung Country | Gosford, Central Coast NSW
Google map

Team
Turf Design Studio: Landscape Architecture
Darkinjung Land Council: Cultural Advisors
Artist: Kevin ‘Uncle Gavi’ Duncan
Civille: Environmental Engineer
Electrolight: Lighting
GML: Heritage
Roberts Day: Place Making
WordPlay Studio: Wayfinding & Signage
ADW Johnson: Civil

Awards
2021 National Trust Judges Choice
2021 NSW National Trust Heritage Awards for Aboriginal Heritage
2021 NSW National Trust Heritage Awards Judges Choice
2022 AILA NSW Award of Excellence for Playspaces
2022 Good Design Indigenous Design Award