Coogee, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coogee Sydney, New South Wales
Coogee Beach
Population	14,634 (2021 census)
• Density	7,700/km2 (20,000/sq mi)
Established	1838
Postcode(s)	2034
Elevation	27 m (89 ft)
Area	1.9 km2 (0.7 sq mi)
Location	8 km (5 mi) south-east of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Randwick
State electorate(s)	Coogee
Federal Division(s)	Kingsford Smith
Suburbs around Coogee: Charing Cross Clovelly Randwick Coogee Tasman Sea Maroubra South Coogee

Coogee Beach in 1900

The Coogee Surf Club

Coogee (pronounced 'kood-jee') is a lively beachside suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located about eight kilometres south-east of the heart of Sydney. The beautiful Tasman Sea and Coogee Bay, with its famous Coogee Beach, are on the eastern side of the suburb.

Discover Coogee's Past

Aboriginal Heritage and Meaning

The name Coogee comes from a local Aboriginal word. It is thought to be koojah, meaning "smelly place." Another idea is koo-chai or koo-jah, which means "the smell of seaweed drying." This refers to the scent of kelp that would wash up on the beach.

Early visitors in the 1820s were not sure what "Coogee" truly meant. Some believe the name originally belonged to the next bay north, now called Gordons Bay. Another old name for the area was "Bobroi."

Many Aboriginal people moved from the area by the mid-1800s. This was due to diseases and conflicts with early settlers. However, Aboriginal people still live in the area today.

European Settlement and Growth

Coogee officially became a village in 1838. The first school opened in 1863. This building later became the Coogee Bay Hotel in 1873. Coogee Public School was then started three years later.

In the late 1880s, the Coogee Palace Aquarium and swimming baths were built. A large attraction called the Coogee Pleasure Pier was built in 1928. It had a theatre, restaurant, and ballroom. Sadly, it was taken down in 1934.

Trams and Seaside Fun

Coogee became connected to the City of Sydney by electric tram in 1902. This made the suburb very popular as a seaside holiday spot. The tram line helped many people visit the beach.

The tram line from Randwick to Coogee opened in 1883. Electric trams started running in 1902. The tram line closed in 1960. Today, the bus route 373 follows the old tram path. Some parts of the old tramways are now community gardens.

Holiday Sketch at Coogee by Tom Roberts, 1888

Famous paintings of Coogee Bay from 1888 were made by Charles Conder and Tom Roberts. These artworks are important examples of early Australian art.

Coogee Surf Life Saving Club

The Coogee Surf Life Saving Club started in 1907. Local people created it to keep swimmers safe in the ocean. The club is proud to have been a pioneer in surf life saving. They were involved in the first mass rescue and developed new rescue techniques.

In 2017, new facilities were finished, including a first-aid room and a kiosk. The club closed temporarily in 2020 due to COVID-19 but is now open again.

Historic Buildings in Coogee

Many interesting old buildings stand in Coogee. Maidstone, a large mansion, was built in the early 1890s. It has a metal dome and beautiful wooden fittings inside. The Catholic Church bought it in 1922.

Another notable building is Ocean View, a two-storey mansion built in 1916. It was built by Philip Wirth, who owned Wirth's Circus. This house is listed for its special heritage. Roslyn, a large Italian-style house, is also heritage-listed.

Coogee Palace Aquarium's History

The Coogee Aquarium and Swimming Baths first opened on December 23, 1887. It covered a whole block of land near the beach. The Palace had an indoor swimming pool and an aquarium. It also featured a large hall for roller skating.

There was even a toboggan slide that went down a hill for over 70 metres. Visitors could ride donkeys, play on swings, and enjoy flower beds. In 1945, a big storm caused the large dome of the building to collapse.

In 1987, the Coogee Palace and Dome were rebuilt. They were turned into restaurants and bars. In 2014, the building reopened as the Coogee Pavilion after a big renovation.

Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor

Eileen O'Connor was a young woman with a severe disability. In 1911, she met Fr Ted McGrath, a Catholic priest in Coogee. Together, they decided to start a group of nurses. These nurses would care for sick people in their homes.

Even with her pain, Eileen was a strong and smart organizer. Her faith inspired many nurses. On April 15, 1913, they started Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor in Coogee. A kind donor bought them a house at 35 Dudley Street. This house still holds the order today.

Eileen passed away at age 28 in 1921. The order continued to help people in need. Eileen is buried at the Dudley Street property. There is a process underway for her to become a Catholic saint.

The Coogee Pier

The Coogee Pier

The Coogee Pier: A Short Life

Construction began in 1924 on an 'English seaside style' amusement pier at Coogee Beach. On July 24, 1928, the pier officially opened. It stretched 180 metres into the sea. It had a theatre with 1400 seats and a ballroom for 600 people.

There was also a restaurant with 400 seats upstairs. Small shops and a machine arcade were also part of the pier. Unfortunately, Coogee's strong waves damaged the pier. It had to be taken down in 1934. Lifeguards have recently found parts of the pier on the ocean floor.

Coogee's Special Places

Coogee has several places listed for their special heritage. These include:

• 45-51 Beach Street: Cliffbrook
• Grant Reserve: McIver Women's Baths
• 4b Neptune Street: Wylie's Baths
• St Brigid's Catholic Church

Getting Around Coogee

Sydney's steam trams first arrived in Coogee in 1883. They were updated to electric trams in 1902. Over time, buses replaced the trams. The last trams ran to Coogee in 1960.

Today, Coogee has many buses and taxis. There is a bus interchange at the beach with three stands. Here are some of the bus routes:

Main Stand - Arden Street (Eastern Side)

• 313: To Bondi Junction station
• 350: To Sydney Airport via Maroubra
• 370: To Glebe Point via Newtown
• 373: To Museum railway station via Taylor Square
• X73: Express to Museum station

North Stand - Arden Street (Eastern Side)

• 374: To Central station
• X74: Express to Museum station

Oval Stand - Arden Street (Western Side)

• 350: To Bondi Junction station via Clovelly
• 362: To Rose Bay wharf via Bronte (weekends only, October–April)

Coogee's Geography and Landmarks

The Bali bombing memorial at Dolphin Point

Coogee Bay Road leads from Randwick to Coogee Beach. The beach is quite protected because it is in a bay. The coastline around it has many cliffs. Wedding Cake Island, a rocky reef, helps protect the bay from the biggest waves. It is about 800 metres off the southern headland. There is an annual swimming event around the island in November.

The beach itself gets deep quickly near the water's edge. This can create strong waves that break right on the shore. Because of these waves and many visitors, Coogee has more back injuries than other Australian beaches.

When the surf is big, there are often rip currents. These are strong currents that pull water away from the shore. They are usually at the northern and southern ends of the beach. Sometimes, there is also a rip in the middle. Some locals believe the old pier's foundations cause this middle rip.

Coogee Beach

At the northern end of the beach, stairs lead from Dolphin Point to the old Giles baths. This is now an open rock pool. This area is called "Dolphin Point." A doorway and a four-metre tall bronze sculpture stand here. They are a memorial to twenty Australians who died in the 2002 Bali bombing. Many of them lived in Coogee and nearby areas.

A short walk north is Gordons Bay, a great spot for snorkeling. At the southern end of Coogee Beach is the Ross Jones Memorial Pool. This pool is just below the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club. Further south, a coastal walk passes the women's baths and Wylie's Baths.

Coogee is one of Australia's most crowded areas. It has many apartment buildings from different time periods. Some stand-alone houses can still be found.

Coogee's Population

At the 2021 census, 14,634 people lived in Coogee.

Most people in Coogee have English (36.2%), Australian (22.8%), or Irish (19.5%) backgrounds. About 56.4% of residents were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces include England (9.9%), Ireland (4.5%), and New Zealand (2.6%). Most people (79%) speak only English at home.

For religion, 48.1% of people said they had no religion. About 25.4% were Catholic.

Sports and Fun in Coogee

Coogee is home to many sports clubs. The Sydney Roosters rugby league team represents the area in the National Rugby League. Local rugby league teams include the Coogee Dolphins and Coogee Wombats.

The Randwick District Rugby Union Football Club is in Coogee. They play their home games at Coogee Oval. Coogee United Football Club is one of the biggest football clubs in the Eastern Suburbs. Coogee White Tigers Football Club trains young players from age 3 to 15.

The Coogee Surf Life Saving Club has been competing since 1907. They have a strong presence in competitions today. Their surf carnival is held every February. The club also supports other water sports groups. These include the Coogee Minnows (junior lifesavers), Coogee Triathlon Club, and Coogee Boardriders. The nearby Wylie's Baths also supports Coogee's water sports.

The Coogee Penguins Winter Swimming Club competes against other clubs in winter swimming championships. Beach volleyball is also popular. The Coogee Beach Volleyball Association sets up nets at the northern end of the beach.

Schools in Coogee

Coogee has a primary school called Coogee Public School. There is also a Catholic primary school, St Brigid's, on Coogee Bay Road.

Places of Worship

• St Brigid's Catholic Church
• St Nicholas' Anglican Church
• Coogee Synagogue

Festivals and Events

• The Coogee Arts Festival in February features outdoor events. These include theatre shows and a small film festival.
• The Annual Coogee Family Fun Day is held on the first Saturday of December. It has rides and stalls near the beach.
• Coogee Carols are held the weekend before Christmas at Goldstein Reserve. This event has been happening every year since 2002.
• Coogee Sparkles is a New Year's Eve event at 9pm on December 31st. You can watch from Goldstein Reserve or Coogee Beach.
• Putu Mayam Day is held on the first of every month. You can enjoy the famous putu mayam (rice noodles with coconut and brown sugar) near Coogee Beach.
• Coogee Dawn Service is held on Anzac Day at Coogee Beach. The service takes place at dawn.
• The Island Challenge is a 2.4 km swim around Wedding Cake Island. It is held in late November by the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club. Hundreds of people compete in this popular event. There are also shorter swims for different ages.

Famous People from Coogee

Images for kids

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  A temporary shrine at the site of the "visions"