Gosford: The Central Coast suburb transforming itself into a vibrant hotspot

From Terrigal to Killcare and Avoca Beach, the Central Coast’s charming waterfront villages have long drawn admiring glances from Sydneysiders searching for a sea-change or holiday home.

Gosford sits in a valley overlooking Brisbane Water and halfway between Sydney and Newcastle, in the heart of the Central Coast.

It was traditionally regarded as more of an administrative centre – convenient, sure, but less sparkling than some of its neighbours – but that attitude is changing, says Lilian Dukovski, a director at Professionals Gosford.

“Gosford is becoming a far more vibrant city,” she says.

“A lot more businesses are concentrating their focus here and new residential developments released in the last couple of years have led that growth as well.”

Sleek new apartment projects have brought a dose of inner-city style to the neighbourhood, giving buyers a wider range of choices near the city centre.

Some of the most high-end apartment projects are being built at Point Frederick, a peninsula jutting into Brisbane Water about two kilometres south-east of the Gosford CBD.

“The uni students will change the look and feel of the city and make it cooler.”

Pre-pandemic, the population would swell during the holidays as tourists came to enjoy fishing, boating, bushwalking, easy access to nearby beaches and a burgeoning cafe, bar and craft brewery scene.

In Gosford, like many regional towns and cities, lockdowns have upended normal patterns and helped drive a surge in interest from big-city dwellers looking to relocate permanently.

Richard Faulkner, an agent at Gittoes in East Gosford, says this shift has driven up prices for both houses and apartments.

“There are a lot of buyers wanting to get out of Sydney because of COVID,” Faulkner says.

“Many people have an opportunity now to work from home and maybe commute to the office one day a week. The commute from Gosford isn’t that far.”

High demand combined with a shortage of stock has sent prices into a frenzy.

Agents report that the latest property boom has pushed many locals further north, where prices are more affordable.

Jessica Martin and her American-born partner opened Fahrenheit Cafe in East Gosford seven years ago.

The buzzy cafe dishes up American-style comfort food, from corn and red-pepper fritters to cheesesteak paninis.

The most popular item on the menu is The Canadian: French toast or waffles with bacon, strawberries, whipped cream and maple syrup.

Martin, who grew up in Gosford, says that, despite all the new development, the city has managed to retain its friendly atmosphere.

“It’s a really good community,” she says.

“I love that it’s so close to the beaches, everything’s nearby and there are so many great small businesses around here.”

Originally published by Domain