Lurline Bay

Lurline Bay is a small, rocky bay nestled between Coogee and Maroubra beaches. Formerly known as Lilli Pilli Bay. It was possibly named after a tug (similar to Undine Street), or possibly after opera of William Vincent Wallace (1812-1865). 

An interesting feature of Lurline Bay is a channel that’s been cut into the northern corner. This was unbelievably hand carved by a man called Percy Bates in the 1920’s who was trying to prove that you could make electricity by harnessing wave energy. While some thought he was eccentric at the time, he actually succeeded in producing enough electricity to light his work shed and power several radiators (Sydney Morning Herald, 18/02/1984).