Library is a gem says National Trust director

Gosford’s current Library in Kibble Park is a gem not just for Gosford but for NSW says David Burdon, Director of Conservation at the National Trust of Australia (NSW).

“It’s a very unique building that certainly has many more years of service left in it,” he said.

 “Gosford library is a high-quality building.

“It is by a good architect, a very significant engineer, and is very well built. 

“The interiors feature Tasmanian oak, Douglas fir and western red cedar, and the main structure is high quality concrete construction. 

“It would be extremely expensive – indeed cost prohibitive – to build a building with these sorts of materials today.”

Burdon said the building was in good repair and had been generally well looked after by Gosford Council and then Central Coast Council since it was built. 

“It has had a new roof put in place a few years ago and is more than capable of adaptive reuse for other community purposes,” he said.

Burdon remotely addressed the Council’s review panel into the future of the building once the new regional library being built across the road in Donnison St is completed.

The panel met in the library on February 12 with only six members of the public allowed to attend due to space restrictions.

Eight councillors attended along with 11 staff members.

The building is listed by the National Trust (NSW) and the Australian Institute of Architects on their register of Significant Twentieth Century buildings.

“It is not currently listed by Council, but it is important to note that it does not need formal heritage listing to be retained,” Burdon said.

“It is also important to emphasise that heritage listing is not about locking a building or a place in time.

“It does not mean that change – often quite significant change – is not possible. 

“Buildings that do have heritage listing can still be changed and adapted for new or continuing uses – even the Sydney Opera House has recently undergone major renovations to install lifts and upgrade the concert hall, and Newcastle Art Gallery is currently undergoing renovation.” 

Burdon said Gosford Library could easily accommodate any necessary upgrades because the building had been so well built in the first place.

“Renewal of Gosford Library needn’t be a costly exercise if the right people are engaged,” he said.

“Any innovative contemporary architect would, I am confident, be able to take this existing building and turn it into something of real ongoing use and value to the people of Gosford.

“The Gosford Library is a gem in Gosford and indeed in NSW – it’s a very unique building that certainly has many more years of service left in it.”

The plan to demolish the building was made while Council was under administration and the new councillors, voted in in September 2024, are reviewing that decision.

Central Coast historian Merril Jackson also addressed the panel, outlining some of the history of the library and why the nearby Parkside building was built.

“Less than a decade after the Gosford Library opening in November 1969, the Senior Citizens had outgrown the allocated area available to them within the library,” Jackson said, according to documents seen by Coast Community News.

“A purpose-built Kibble Park Tearooms (“Refreshments”) was constructed in 1979 for use by the Senior Citizens, on the south-eastern corner of Eliza and Donnison Street.”

It was pointed out that councillors were given incorrect information in the Kibble Park Place Plan and Parkhouse Retention/Demolition report that stated the tearooms were built in 2000.

The review panel will meet again in February and that meeting is expected to be held at Wyong Council Chambers and be open to more members of the public.

Merilyn Vale