First People
Early Europeans colonists said that they were told by Aborigines that Coogee meant the 'smell of seaweed drying', referring to the drying out of kelp or seaweed,
which sometimes still washes up on Coogee Beach and leaves a distinctive smell. This origin is accepted by the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. It
has also been claimed it means 'hilly place', or that it refers to the name of a food utensil created from the fork of a bottlebrush tree which was abundant in the area.
What is certain is that Coogee is a local Aboriginal word ('koojay', 'koojah' or 'koo-chai' or 'koo-jah') from the Dharug language, which was spoken by the people
of the Eora nation, who inhabited the Sydney metropolitan area.
Some evidence suggests that the word "Coogee" may in fact be the original Aboriginal place name for the next bay to the north, now known as Gordons Bay.
Another name, "Bobroi", was also recalled as the indigenous name for the locality.
Within the Eora nation, there were many different clan groups. The Bidjigal and Gadigal people lived in and around the Coogee area; coastal dwelling people
who relied on the harbour and ocean for food. Their main source of food was fish, with men using spears and women using hooks and lines to catch it. Both fished
from canoes made of bark and the women gathered shellfish and plant food such as native figs or fern roots.
Colonisers
At the time of European settlement, many Aboriginal people lived in Coogee, although numbers are not easy to calculate. Contact between the European invaders and the
Aborigines was devastating for indigenous people. Diseases such as smallpox killed many, as did massacres and social disruption, as British government
policies pushed settlement out from Sydney Cove.
During the 1820s, adventurous day-trippers and hikers made their way to Coogee via South Head. Hunters and timber-getters foraged through the forested gullies
leading down to the beach. The area was sparsely populated until the advent of beach side tourism in the later 1880s
On 28 May 1838 Coogee was gazetted by the NSW Executive Council as a village. The map of the time shows Coogee Bay Road as Whale Street, Alfreda Street as Bondi Street,
Bream Street as Fish Street, and Belmore Road as Coogee Road. Land south of Coogee is designated swampy. The foreshore is specially marked as 'Reserved for Public Recreation'.
As the 19th century progressed surf bathing attracted more people for recreation and the reputed therapeutic benefits of the sport. New homes were built, at first
seaside villas for the wealthy, but as time went on, suburban residences for the less well-to-do.
1838 - (12 October), village of Coogee officially gazetted
1848 - Charles Catley establishes a market garden. Read more about Charles Catley : Coogee's Forgotten Pioneer
1859 - Randwick Council proclaimed. Completes first major work: construction of Coogee Bay Road between Carrington Road and Coogee Beach.
c1863 - Charles Moore builds Ballamac (now 39 Arcadia Street), later the Baden Baden Hotel READ MORE
1863 - George Edson, the first Randwick Town Clerk runs first school in Coogee, now the site of the Coogee Bay Hotel (212 Arden Street)
1866 - Charles Catley's Georgian style house, Cauliflower Hall built (near what is now Ormond Gardens and Brook Street)
1873 - A Hotel, later known as the "Coogee Bay Hotel" begins operation
1876 - Coogee Public School established - appoints first teach in September 1876
7th February 1882, Randwick Council fixed the hours for bathing: Ladies up to 9am and after 5pm; gentlemen up to 8am and after 5pm
1883 - Smithfield Grange at 88 Brook Street built for soft drink manufacturer John Starkey READ MORE
1883 - Steam Tram service reaches Coogee bringing a steady stream of weekend visitors
1887 - Roslyn at (29 Arcadia Street, but faces Beach Street) a large two storey 'Boom Style' Victorian mansion built for Charles Thomas Saxon
1886 - Women's baths built with changing rooms for women READ MORE
1886 - Originally called Ocean Spray grand Victorian sandstone home renamed Byron Lodge built
1887 - Coogee Palace Aquarium opens for business (Dolphin Street)
1888 - Noted Australian impressionists artists Charles Condor and Tom Roberts meet paint their iconic images of Coogee Beach READ MORE
1902 - Electric tram services begin
1907 - Wylies' Baths open
1907 - Coogee Surf Life Saving Club founded
1909 - Grand Pacific Hotel, on corner of Beach and Carr Streets then known as the Beach House built
1910 - Wooden Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club house built
1916 - Ocean View, at 370 Alison Road completed by Philip Wirth of Wirth's Circus READ MORE
1921 - New Cliffbrook built at 45-51 Beach Street
1922 - Iconic Stones milkbar, cafe and live entertainment venue in Dolphin Street opens. READ MORE
February & March 1922 - shark attacks at Coogee resulting two fatalities. READ MORE
27th March, 1925 - Shark attack at Coogee. Surfer John Dagworthy looses his leg. READ MORE
1927 - Oceanic Hotel opens on corner of Carr and Arden Streets. READ MORE about the hotel's history
1928 - Local Coogee parliamentarian Hyman Goldstein plunges to his death on Coogee's north head in mysterious circumstances. READ MORE
Coogee Beach with Coogee Pier, late 1920s
The Coogee Pier (1928-1934)
In 1924 construction started on an 'English seaside style' amusement pier at Coogee Beach. On 10th November 1928, the pier was officially opened. It was much reduced in scope from
its original plans, reaching only 180 metres out into the sea, instead of the planned 250 metres. It also lacked the promised 1400-seat theatre, a 600 capacity ballroom, a 400-seat restaurant upstairs,
shops and a penny (machine) arcade. The venture was a financial failure and fell into disrepair. Council took control of the structure and in September 1933 ordered its demolition.
16th November, 1929 - Shark proof swimming enclosure, with net running from the south of the Coogee Pier officially opened.
1935 - Shark Arm Murder Case: a shark in Coogee Baths regurgitates a tattooed human arm. READ MORE of the case and the people involved.
1936 - The Coogee sewage outfall is diverted to Malabar.
1948 - John V. Dick Reserve dedicated - features lawn bowling greens and tennis courts. READ MORE
1960 - Last tram left Coogee on Sunday 23 October
1967 - Stones milkbar and cafe closes
1987 - Oceanic Hotel demolished to be replaced by the current Crowne Plaza Hotel
2003 - Bali Memorial dedicated to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Bali terrorist bombing of October 2002. READ MORE
Bryon Walden oil painting of Coogee Beach, 1986
This area looks very different now. The observation tower
and toilet block were demolished as part of the beachfront
redevelopment project from 1987.
References
'Coogee and the Bidjigal and Gadigal People', Randwick City Council, (https://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/about-council/news/news-items/2019/may/coogee-and-the-bidjigal-and-gadigal-people accessed 30 June 2019)
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