Tidal Encounters: Gosford Leagues Club Park

Leagues Club Park, located on Darkinjung Country in Gosford, NSW, transforms a degraded former sports field and urban landfill into a resilient, culturally grounded public landscape. Designed by Turf Design Studio in close collaboration with the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council and delivered by the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation, the project sets a new benchmark for reconciliation, ecological integration, and community renewal.

The 2.4-hectare site was once physically isolated from natural tidal systems by urban infrastructure, including the Central Coast Highway. Today, it reconnects Gosford's urban core to Brisbane Water through a uniquely engineered tidal terrace that expresses Country and reveals the old bay's bed as part of the landscape narrative. The Norimbah Tidal Terrace functions as a living system, filling and draining twice daily via an underground tidal exchange that brings estuarine water into the park. Sculpted sandstone animal forms, developed by Uncle Gavi and inspired by the nearby Bulgandry rock engravings, emerge and submerge with the tides—revisiting Salt Water Country. This feature operates as a dynamic wild play environment, a water-sensitive urban design element, and a culturally embedded expression of Country.

The design is rooted in a deep understanding of site and context. Landforms were sculpted into gentle mounds that echo surrounding ridgelines, minimizing excavation while reconnecting the park topographically to its landscape setting. Vegetation palettes were carefully selected for ecological relevance and biodiversity support. Guided by the NSW State Government's “Everyone Can Play” framework, accessibility and inclusivity are paramount, ensuring engagement for all ages and abilities.

Spatially, the park is organized into layered, interconnected zones. The tidal terrace forms the ecological and social heart, fostering exploration, play, and learning. Adjacent are flexible lawns for festivals and events, naturalistic playgrounds encouraging creative risk-taking, shaded picnic areas, fitness precincts, and shared pedestrian pathways. Movement through the park is intuitive, with framed views toward the estuary and city skyline.

Indigenous engagement began early and was central to the project's success. Close collaboration with Traditional Owners, led by the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council and cultural educator Kevin “Uncle Gavi” Duncan, ensured that cultural narratives and knowledge were authentically embedded. Co-designed elements—including totem poles, landforms, and interpretive features—create a living cultural landscape that supports ceremony, education, play, and social connection.
Edges of the park serve as social thresholds, places for observation and gathering that blur boundaries between activity and pause. Integrated lighting and seating support informal community use throughout the day and evening.

Since opening in 2021, Leagues Club Park has become a vibrant community hub, hosting cultural ceremonies, festivals, school excursions, and daily informal gatherings. Its success is reflected in national recognition, including the National Trust Aboriginal Heritage Award and the UDIA Social Infrastructure Award. Additional funding has been secured to expand inclusive infrastructure, highlighting the project's capacity for adaptive management and ongoing evolution.

Leagues Club Park exemplifies a new model for Australian landscape architecture—engaging with country, ecologically literate, socially inclusive, and culturally accountable. In an era of environmental uncertainty and social fragmentation, it demonstrates how landscape-led urbanism can restore vital connections between land, water, culture, and community.