South Coogee 2034

Despite its scenic location, South Coogee was once considered risky due to its gangster associations. The area also hosted the Endeavour Migrant Hostel, opened in 1970. South Coogee's coastal views will soon be more accessible with the extension of the coastal walkway, thanks to the council's acquisition of Waugh's property.

Tilly Devine and John Norton both lived in the same street, Torrington Road Maroubra. Here the lines blur between South Coogee and Maroubra. Both notorious and sensational characters for different reasons, John Norton's residence was called ‘St Elmo’. He was a Napoleon devotee and owner of ‘The Truth’ newspaper. This publication was the tabloid of its time. It fed off the exploits gangsters and others. Ms Devine, also had a coastal retreat in Torrington Road close by to the proprietor so she was an easy target for sensationalist content.

Cuzco Street South Coogee, a few streets to the north, is the former residence of Ellen Waugh OAM. Until 2024 she lived in the Waugh family home, built by her parents, in 1937. When her parents bought the land at South Coogee, they were asked why they were ‘moving to the underworld’. It was thought to be a 'risky' location due to its remoteness and because of the area’s association with some of Sydney’s gangsters. This was despite its obvious scenic and tranquil location. Ellen Waugh has published a case study of the Cuzco Street subdivision. Remote and seemingly ‘out of sight’ South Coogee is still a tranquil location nestled between Coogee Beach and Lurline Bay. Lurline Bay is perhaps most famous for the wave generator experiment of the 1920s. Percy Bates, an opera singer and inventor, made Lurline Bay his base camp trying to prove that electricity could be generated from the ocean. 

The Endeavour Migrant Hostel in South Coogee is also another landmark that was constructed on Commonwealth land to replace the Heffron Park Migrant Hostel. It opened in Moverley Road during March 1970 and at the time was promoted as a 'state of the art' migrant accommodation. By October 1985 it too was facing closure, having also hosted visiting teams of athletes and students from UNSW.
South Coogee coastal views will soon be more accessible along the coastal walkway – extended due to Council’s recent acquisition of Ellen Waugh’s property in Cuzco Street, South Coogee.