GOSFORD REGIONAL GALLERY AND EDOGAWA COMMEMORATIVE GARDEN

A Heart for Art and Nature

If you have a heart for art and nature, be sure to check out Gosford Regional Gallery and Edogawa Commemorative Gardens. Gosford Regional Gallery is one of the Central Coast’s leading tourist attractions, idyllically positioned on the shores of Caroline Bay in East Gosford. This one-hectare precinct is the centrepiece of the thriving Gosford art scene, incorporating three exhibition spaces, the Edogawa Commemorative Garden, a gallery shop, and onsite café. The gallery and gardens are open seven days a week from 9:30am to 4pm with free entry.

The main gallery plays host to local, national and international exhibitions in a variety of styles from established and emerging artists. Behind its sleek, modern façade, neutrally coloured interiors provide the perfect backdrop to showcase a range of artistic mediums including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, installation and more. Behind the main gallery, the Edogawa Commemorative Gardens offer a calm and peaceful ambience. The adjacent art centre supports the practice of local artists with art classes, meeting spaces and the Community Gallery.

Take a Tour

The Gosford Regional Gallery and Edogawa Commemorative Gardens are located within the 26-hectare Phyllis Bennet Reserve. This public reserve was named after a well-known local educator and arts enthusiast who heralded from a pioneering family, and bore witness to much of the region’s growth and development during the 1900s. With just a few steps inside the modern interior of the main building you’ll find the welcome desk, where friendly volunteers are available to assist with directions. To the right of the welcome desk is the Top Point Café offering great coffee, a selection of fresh food and a relaxing outlook over the tranquil green hues of the Edogawa Commemorative Gardens. To the left of the welcome desk is the reception desk where a staff member is available to assist you with any enquiries.

Beyond the reception desk is the entrance to the main gallery where the major exhibitions are held. To the left of the main gallery entry is a corridor to the toilet facilities. To the right of the main gallery entry is the foyer gallery where exhibitions by local artists are held. Back to the left of the reception desk is the Gallery Gift Shop where local volunteers are employed and may be able to assist you if you are looking for something in-particular. This stylish gift shop offers a classy collection of high-quality giftware available for purchase, including craft and designer products featuring the work of local and regional artists. Or head straight on to the back of the main building to cocoon yourself in the serenity of the Edogawa Commemorative Japanese gardens.

Free guided tours of the main gallery exhibitions are available each Saturday at 11am, and tours of the Japanese garden are offered on Saturdays at 11:30am, or at other times by appointment. The gallery and garden are wheelchair accessible throughout, and accessible toilets are available in the main building and studio.

Edogawa Commemorative Garden

Find yourself immersed in a far-off time and culture when you enter the calm serenity of the Edogawa Commemorative Gardens. Opened in September 1994, these gardens were a gift from Edogawa, Japan, to celebrate their Sister City relationship with the township of Gosford. The sprawling 4000m2 gardens have been designed in accordance with the original principles of the Japanese Heian period dating back to 700AD. Reflecting a traditional ‘shuyu’ or strolling style garden layout, meandering pathways invite visitors to wander amidst manicured greenery and distinctly Japanese features.

A roofed Japanese-style pavilion overlooks the calm, reflective waters of the koi pond, where the gentle splashes of ducks and fish may be heard. Cascading waterfalls add to the relaxing soundscape of nature, inducing a sense of peace and tranquillity. A decorative bridge leads to a traditional Japanese tea house and meticulously raked dry stone zen garden. The gardens are wheelchair accessible and offer visitors the opportunity to get up close and use all senses to explore the unique features and plants of this lush oasis.

Rediscover your zen and love of all things artsy at the Gosford Regional Gallery and Edogawa Commemorative Gardens.