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Discover the vibrant tapestry of Coogee. We delve into its rich history, celebrate its people, showcase captivating art, explore its politics, and more. Beyond Coogee, we connect cultural trends and global influences, revealing how this coastal gem resonates with the wider world. Coogee: where every corner has a story, every window frames a kaleidoscopte of tales, and the music is the sound of the surf. Join us on this journey - click, read, and connect!

More History &
Stories from
Coogee Beach & Beyond!


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In 1888 famous Australian impressionist artists, Charles Condor and Tom Roberts met to paint their iconic images of Coogee Beach. They were followed in 1890 by Arthur Streeton. READ MORE

Tom Roberts painting

The Bali Memorial, was dedicated in 2003 to commemorate those who lost their lives in the October 2002 Bali terrorist bombing. 89 Australians died including many from Coogee and nearby areas. READ MORE

Bali Memorial at Coogee beach

Smithfield Grange in Brook Street was built in 1883 for soft drink maker John Starkey. 136 years later this imposing grand Victorian mansion was sold. READ MORE about its fascinating history.

Did You Know ? Some interesting facts, historical events and mysteries about Coogee: READ MORE

Ross Jones Pool was built in 1947 at the south-end of Coogee Beach next to Coogee Surf Club. It has distinctive regularly placed concrete blocks, castle-like, and is popular with swimmers, families and children. Waves spill over its walls during high tides and rough seas. READ MORE

Footpath Mystery: A steel plate embedded in the footpath at 39 Bream Street, Coogee bears the words "Latimers Ltd. 280 Castlereagh Street" . It is unusual in Sydney to find footpath plates with private company names. So where did it come from? READ MORE

McIver's Women's Baths is a unique institution. These beautiful baths are the sole women's only institution in Australia. How did they come to be located at Coogee? READ MORE

Party of the Decade: Christmas 2016 Thousands of young people from around the world descended on Coogee Beach and its parks at Christmas 2016 to party as hard as they could: READ MORE

Glenwood Avenue was created in 1937 and is an almost intact group of inter-war art deco style apartment buildings. READ MORE about its fascinating history and the people who lived here.

The mansion Ocean View on the corner of Arden Street and Alison Road overlooks Coogee from its northern highpoint. READ MORE about its fascinating history and links with Wirths Circus and its elephants.

Grant Reserve at the southern end of Coogee Beach is a beautiful green oasis and passive recreation area enjoyed by locals and visitors alike READ MORE about the park and its history.

Rotunda in Grant Reserve, Coogee
The Southern Cross NEXT Cable provides internet and telecommunications services across the Pacific. The cable has just landed at Coogee, nearly completing the project. READ MORE

Cable laying ship sitting off Coogee Beach

Giles Baths on the northern end of the beach, in one of Coogee's beautiful ocean rock pools. READ MORE about the pool and its history.

Giles Baths, Coogee
The Inglis Memorial Sundial is on the northern headland of Coogee, once part of what locals called a "nuditorium". READ MORE about its fascinating history.

Inglis Memorial Sundial, Coogee


Coogee Bay NSW
Coogee Bay: Looking North Towards Clovelly
Coogee Beach's golden crescent of sand is only 20 minutes from Sydney City
With its beach, surfing, protected marine reserve, cafes, bars and restarunts, Coogee has the classic Australian beach lifestyle. It has historic ocean baths and rock pools and plenty of green parks for barbecues and picnics, ideal for families with safe swimming. Coogee is one of Sydney's oldest suburbs with many historic buildings. Surrounding cliff tops offer coastal bush walks and spectacular panoramic views.

  • Coogee Beach is one of Sydney's great beaches in the city's eastern suburbs - surf, sun and golden sand and patrolled swimming all year.
  • The Eastern Beaches Coastal Walkway from Coogee to Bondi Beach, six kilometres takes about two hours along the marked path. Along the way you'll see stunning ocean and beach views.
  • The Bronte Coogee Aquatic Reserve, which includes Gordons Bay, starts from the southern end of Bronte Beach to the northern tip of Coogee Beach. You can go snorkelling or scuba diving with the resident population of inquisitive giant blue gropers.

Coogee Beach NSW
Coogee Beach

  • The beautiful bronze Bali Memorial dedicated to the victims of the 2002 Bali bombings stands in Dunningham Reserve on the north side. You can also see the Inglis Memorial Sundial, and the only remaining part of the old Giles Gym building, its portico entrance is now also dedicated to the Bali bombing victims.
  • Near the memorial, stairs lead down to the old Giles Baths, a beautiful open rock pool pounded by surf.
  • 800 metres offshore from Coogee Beach is Wedding Cake Island, featured by Australian rock band Midnight Oil in the 1980s. The annual Island Challenge, is a marathon swim out to and around the island, a fixture on the Sydney ocean swimming calendar.
  • On New Year's Eve each year, Coogee hosts one of the world's most dramatic public firework displays that welcomes in the new year with a spectacular display of colour and sound over the sand and ocean.

Coogee Beach Boats NSW
Coogee Beach: Fishing Club Boats at Northend

  • Around Coogee Beach are many restored historic buildings, excellent restaurants and cafes, and fashionable boutiques
  • After enjoying the water, visit the bars, cafes and restaurants clustered around cosmopolitan Dolphin and Arden Streets and Coogee Bay Road. Later in the afternoons and in the evenings, live music is featured at many venues.
  • At the southern end is the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club, founded in 1907, and one of Australia's oldest. See Australia's volunteer lifesavers in action at the annual surf carnival. On summer weekends you can catch the Coogee Minnows, future lifesavers in training
  • As the beach curves south, a park leads to Grant Reserve, where there is a great picnic area with spectacular ocean views and a children's playground. These linked areas of open space are part of the Eastern Beaches Coastal Walk.

Coogee Headland NSW

Coogee North Headland

  • At the southern end, the coastal walk leads to McIvers Baths, a popular women-only pool
  • Further south, Wylie's Baths was established in 1907 by champion Australian long distance swimmer Henry Alexander Wylie. After a refreshing swim, enjoy a massage beside the ocean or an early-morning yoga class
  • Past Wylie's, follow the southern extension of the Eastern Beaches Coastal Walkway eventually to Maroubra for more breathtaking coastal views. Tucked away in a corner of Trenerry Reserve (a favourite of dog owners exercising their pets) is an area fenced off to protect the delicate ecology system of a coastal hanging swamp. Listen closely and you can hear sounds of birds, frogs and other animals.
Contribute to the Coogee Media site?
We welcome contributions mater for publication on this site. However, as this is a hobby site, it only as a creative outlet and cannot make any payment. Contributions can include historical articles, short stories, fiction, poetry, photographs or art, especially if it is about Coogee or nearby areas. There are a few sensible conditions we ask you to follow in submitting any material for publication on our site which are listed on the ABOUT page.

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