The Quirky Landmarks of the Central Coast

The Quirky Landmarks of the Central Coast 

The Central Coast boasts many famous and not so famous sites serving as handy mile markers, photo ops or delightful destinations.

Ploddy the Dinosaur

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Everyone knows about the Big Banana and the Big Pineapple, but let’s talk about ‘Ploddy’ who overlooks the busy Pacific Highway in Wyoming. The Australian Reptile Park’s founder, Eric Worrell commissioned the construction of a replica Diplodocus, the largest dinosaur to ever live. Cheekily called Ploddy, he is a staggering 26-metre, 100-tonne concrete icon and took over 1,100-man hours to complete.

The Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge

Nothing says you’re passing through the gateway to the Coast like the Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge. Built in 1889, it was a major engineering feat at that time and intended as the last link in a railway network linking Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The current bridge replaced the original bridge in 1946 and is undergoing maintenance to improve safety and to protect the steel structure from weathering. Expect to see tarps and scaffolding through the projected 2034 completion date.

Long Jetty’s Long Jetty

The longest and most iconic jetty in NSW is 351-metres long and extends into the Tuggerah Lake shallows. Built in 1915, severe storms washed the original jetty away in 1927. Later that year they started to rebuild it and include a change shed for swimmers and a shelter shed for ferry travellers. The ferries have long since stopped running, but the jetty remains one of the most photogenic features of the area.

The Gossy Good Times Graffiti Sign

The abandoned Brisbane Water County Council has been dubbed the Gossy Good Times building thanks to the graffiti sign as seen from Baker Street in Gosford.
It’s more of a cheerful ethos than a specific destination. The future of the derelict building has been the subject of much debate – everything from a proposed cinema to a performance space.

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The Ferris Wheel at the Entrance

Take a nostalgic whirl on the Memorial Park Ferris wheel. Perched at the mouth of The Entrance it provides 29-metres of aerial viewing and is arguably the highest trailer Ferris wheel in Australia. Some of the 14 cabins have glass floors to allow a full view from the side and below and it takes 4,000 LED lights to illuminate this beauty.

Central Coast Landmarks

Bar Botanica’s Fragrant Garden Archway/Sign

Pause under the Fragrant Garden archway/sign for an Insta-worthy snap on your way to the Distillery Botanica or Bar Botanica. Long before the two businesses established their culinary and beverage destinations, the three-acre Erina property was home to the Fragrant Garden for nearly 50 years, thus the sign. Both businesses take inspiration – and botanical and herbal ingredients – from the picturesque herbal gardens.

The Umina Trig Station

Trig Stations are fixed survey points placed at the highest peak of a mountain or hill. Locals have no doubt noticed the Umina Trig Station has an unusual bubble shape as it sits atop the water tower, providing water pressure for local residents.

Norah Head Nautical scene

Artist Ange Elder brightened up the distinctly 70s Norah Head Boating and Recovery Club in three stages, starting with the High wall in 2020, the low wall in 2021 and the tank in 2022.
“I painted everything out there including the pathway,” said Elder. “I actually want to continue and do the winch houses, and the amenities block down at the Rock Pool.” The halos around the fisherman indicate the generations of local fishing families, particularly the Rossettis, the Bay’s resident Bull ray and iconic Norfolk Pines are featured too. “If you stand in the right spot on the driveway, you can match the horizons in the mural and real life and it looks like a complete view of the Bay,” added the Central Coast born and bred artist.

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