Coogee is located on the eastern boundary of Randwick City and is bounded by
the South Pacific Ocean to the east, Clovelly to the north, and the suburbs of
Kensington and South Coogee to the west and south. The suburb includes a number
of attractions including Coogee Beach, Gordons Bay, coastal rockpools, parks
and reserves, and the coastal walk (which extends to Bondi Beach). Coogee gets its name from the Aboriginal word
Koojah, which means ‘a bad smell’, most likely caused by the decay of seaweed
washed ashore. However, its name doesn’t seem to have hindered its popularity
as a holiday destination or a place of residence over the years.
The commercial area of Coogee is located along Coogee Bay Road and Arden
Street (which extends along the beachfront) and contains many cafes and
restaurants. The Coogee Bay Hotel is a prominent landmark on the corner of the
commercial area. Bus services operate along Coogee Bay Road, Arden Street
(forming a bus interchange location) and throughout the suburb and are the only
form of public transport available.
Significant housing development occurred over the next century including Art
Deco apartment buildings and 60s-70s walk-up flats. In the early 1990s Randwick
Council and the State Government rebuilt Coogee's beach front and Coogee
boomed. Coogee is now one of Sydney's
most sought-after suburbs. Easy access to the city, a stroll to sand, surf and
shops and coastal walks make Coogee a desirable suburb for families. Few of the Victorian mansions and villas
remain today as many were swept away in the flat-building boom of the 1960s.
There’s a mix of older-style apartments, new townhouses and apartments,
alongside Californian bungalows, quaint freestanding cottages and double-storey
houses with large backyards.
Coogee is a fairly high density suburb with a large proportion of
residential apartment buildings (ranging from Art Deco apartments, 60s and 70s
walk-up to modern apartments). Coogee attracts a large proportion of the
tourists that visit Randwick City, influencing not only the character of the
beach and commercial area but also the housing. A large proportion of the
housing in Coogee is private rental and the population tends to relocate more
often than the Randwick City average.
Coogee Primary School and South Coogee Primary School are the local State schools.
Coogee Boys Preparatory School and St Brigid’s Primary School are also in the
area. Coogee Synagogue Batory
Kindergarten and Coogee South Before & After School Care are available for
young children.