A two storey brick and timber residence built in 1916 in an example of Edwardian and the Federation Free style, designed by Ernest Lindsay Thompson. One of the largest houses in the Randwick Area, when built it boasted six bedrooms, each with its own en suite bathroom. It has a continuous verandah wrapping around the house and a one of the few remaining local historic homes with a center tower. Large gardens surrounded the house, however the site has since been subdivided and does not reflect the original size.
One acre was originally granted to Peter Herdman in 1911, but was sold in 1916 to Phillip Wirth, of Wirth's Circus, who bought extra land fronting Alison Road and Arden Street. Wirth lived with his second wife Alice Maud (nee Willis) and their six children, and housed a private zoo within the grounds. The Wirth family often kept elephants and chimpanzees, and in the 1920s, it was common to see elephants exercising along Beach Street in the early morning.
Phillip Wirth Senior passed away in 1937 at Oceanview. After his death, Alice Wirth and her children carried on the circus with daughter Doris Wirth as managing director. In 1963, the circus was wound up and the entire circus collection was returned to Coogee and stored in the cellar. Following Marizle Wirth's death in 2007, a selection of items form the estate were donated to the Powerhouse Museum, and the remainder of the estate including antique and period furniture was removed from 'Ocean View'. It is still owned by a member of the Wirth family.
