Built in 1922, number 5 Baden Street, Coogee is a beachside apartment building and the setting for the Australian Channel 10 television drama series Wonderland. The three-storey building is directly opposite Dunningham Reserve overlooking Coogee Beach. Wonderland is the fictional name of the building in the series.

Cast of Wonderland at 5 Baden Street

Distinctive
The building is part of a row of early 20th century apartment buildings which create an attractive street frontage overlooking Coogee Beach. It is given a dramatic flair by being flanked by two magnificent Norfolk Island Pines on its footpath, and a portico supported by two monumental sandstone pillars. Its blue and white painted bay-window lower panels make the building a distinctive local landmark which can be seen by anyone sun-baking or swimming at Coogee Beach. Some people have said the exterior decoration of the building gives it a nautical flair.

Wonderland apartment building at 5 Baden Street

History: McLeod Apartments , Dunvegan & Wonderland

When the building first appeared in the Sydney Sand's Directory, it was simply known as the McLeod apartments, but during the 1920s had acquired the name of Dunvegan Flats and flat number 4 was occupied by William McLeod. Since Dunvegan Castle is located 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north of Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, off the west coast of Scotland and is the seat of the MacLeod of MacLeod, chief of the Clan MacLeod, it could be assumed that its name was because of this association. The McLeod Motor Garage operated from the old Palace Aquarium building (with its distinctive dome) with its entrance from nearby Beach Street. The Aquarium's dome was painted with the words McLeod's Garage and for many decades up until 1988, could be seen from most parts of the Coogee basin.

The Whiteman family acquired the flats in the building in 1941 from William McLeod. Then the five flats were then purchased by investors, the Newton family, of the nearby suburb of Double Bay. They secured the block in two acquistions. The four apartments of 95 square metres each were bought for a total of $149,000 in 1980 topped off by the 195 square metre penthouse purchase in 1989 for $400,000. Each unit would be worth much more in today's market.

During the filming of Wonderland series, number 5 Baden Street, acquired a name plate and bold lettering above the front door with its temporary fictional name.

Wonderland

Filming on Coogee Beach

Now and then, you will see passerbys and visitors, taking a "selfie" with Wonderland as a backdrop. It has become something of a tourist attraction.

The last of 44 episodes was screened in May 2015 in Australia. Towards the end it was affected by diminishing audience ratings and it was announced on 26 October 2015 that the show had been cancelled. The series also aired in Europe, United States and Canada and can still be found on streaming services.

The Sydney sound house Smith and Western released the show's theme song (Come On) Come Inside shortly before the first episode aired. The song was written and recorded by Ant Smith, Nick West, Dan Higson and Amanda Brown. It features singer and songwriter Mike Paxton on vocals. Smith & Western were also responsible for the musical underscore to the series. You can link to a video of the song performed by Paxton featuring scenes from the show and Coogee locations below:

William McLeod & the Palace Aquarium

There was drama aplenty with the McLeod's Garage in its early years, so perhaps it was appropriate that the television drama should be made in Baden Street. The Sydney Sun of Sat 31 Dec 1927, Page 7 reported that:

TASTE FOR ART ROBBERY AT COOGEE PAINTINGS WORTH £170
A thief with an artistic taste has made a haul at Coogee. He entered McLeod's garage in Beach Street through an open door and stole three unframed oil paintings, entitled "Sydney Heads by Moonlight," "Sydney Heads, Early Morning," and "Brlghton-le-Sands, South Australia," and also three unframed watercolors, one of the Murray in flood and the others of Mllford Sound, New Zealand. The paintings, which were valued at £170 were the property of Thomas Allmond of Falls Creek, near Nowra. They had been stored In the garage.

McLeod's Garage Ad from 1920s & Aacqquarium Dome with McLeod's Sign, 1975

The Sun of Friday 6 Mar 1931, Page 7 reported another dramatic even a couple of years later:

CRASH INTO GARAGE
A runaway motor lorry In Beach Street, Coogee, this afternoon crashed into a petrol pump. Injured two women and a baby, and smashed its way into McLeod's garage. All other traffic dodged the lorry as It raced down hill. In front of McLeod's garage It swerved, smashed the petrol pump, and knocked down two women and a baby, who were taken by the Eastern Suburbs Ambulance to St. Vincent's Hospital. The lorry crashed through a window, into the garage office, and damaged a motor car on show.

By the 1980s, the old Palace Aquarium had fallen into disrepair and was demolished around 1987 after severe storm damage. The site was redeveloped with a building of site shape and appearance, including replicating the old distinctive dome. It is now known as the Coogee Pavilion and hosts bars, restaurants and nightclubs operated by the Merivale entertainment group and has become one of Sydney's most popular nighttime entertainment venues.

Interior of McLeods Garage partially collapsed after storm, early 1980s &
Beach Street entrance to McLeod's Garage taken from 5 Baden Street, c1980

In 1983, the then disused Aquarium building, the interior of the building where McLeod's Garage was sited, and the area around 5 Baden Street were used for some of the locations for the Australian feature film Molly, continuing a tradition for Coogee to be a setting for film and television production.

Plan to Demolish Wonderland & Redevelop

It would be a shame to lose such an enchanting part of Coogee's history and streetscape.

Artist Impression of Redeveloped 5 Baden Street, Coogee

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