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Coogee Pavilion

DESCRIPTION

Alternative namesCoogee Palace Aquarium and Swimming BathThe PavArchitectSmedley, John, 1841-1903Description

The Coogee Palace Aquarium and Swimming Baths were opened on 23rd December 1887 by the Minister for Education, Mr. Inglis, and by the 1890s had become an entertainment centre rivalled only by Bondi and Manly. It was designed by John Smedley (b.1841 - d.1903), who worked predominantly in China and Japan, but became known around Sydney by designing many buildings, such as the Coogee Palace Aquarium and the Sydney Trades Hall.

The Coogee Palace Aquarium provides an example of imported fashionable entertainment concepts during the late Victorian period. It is a testament to a period in which Australians defined themselves in the image of England, adopting their architecture as well as their symbols of status and success.

The original Coogee Palace covered the whole block bounded by Dolphin, Beach, Bream and Arden Streets. Children were well catered for with swings, whirligigs, rocking horses, toy boats, donkey rides and a giant toboggan rink. The aquarium reffered to the large glass display tanks of exotic fish inside the building. Other outdoor entertainments included aviaries, flower beds, a bandstand and an open-air bar.

The Great Hall and the swimming pool proved to be the most popular. The Hall had a floor that could be converted into a roller skating rink and additional dance space was provided in late 1889 with the construction of a balcony or promenade which accommodated 3000.

After 1908, entertainments declined at the Palace, despite the rise in popularity of Coogee as a surfing beach and the extension of paid holidays to many workers. From the 1920s parts of the Aquarium building were let out to shopkeepers and residents.

In 1935, the Coogee Palace Aquarium became the centre of the famous shark arm murder case. A three metre tiger shark, caught off Coogee Beach by fisherman Albert Hobson (whose brother was the proprietor of the Aquarium) was placed on display at the Aquarium. While spectators looked on, the shark coughed up a human arm, which was later identified to be that of James Smith, a former boxer and S.P. bookmaker with underworld connections. Patrick Brady was eventually charged with Smith's murder but the case was dismissed before it went to a jury. Brady continued his criminal career of forgery until his death in 1965.

The Coogee Palace Aquarium structure suffered from neglect for many years and when a Conservation Order was placed on it by the Heritage Council in May 1982, its condition had deteriorated considerably. In June 1984 strong winds and torrential rain combined to 'decapitate' the structure and the huge dome collapsed.

In 1986 Randwick Council approved renovation of the Coogee Palace Aquarium and the restoration of the dome, adopting a similar Victorian-era design despite retaining very little original materials. By the end of 1987 a new Coogee Palace had been developed on the site, opening as the Beach Palace Hotel. The new development contains a mixture of restaurants and specialty shops. In 2014 the building was purchased by the Merivale group and reopened as the Coogee Pavilion, a restaurant and bar complex.

Images

Panorama of Coogee Beach, looking north

Looking west towards the Coogee Pavillion

Coogee Beach and Promenade

Panorama of Coogee Beach from Goldstein Reserve

Panorama of Coogee from the Promenade

Panorama of Coogee Beach from the Grand Pacific Hotel

Looking north on Goldstein Reserve

Looking north from Goldstein Reserve

Looking north along Coogee Promenade

Postcard of Coogee Beach looking north

North end of Coogee Beach

View of the Coogee Palace Aquarium's damaged roof

View of the Coogee Palace Aquarium's damaged dome.

Coogee Palace Aquarium after Dome Collapsed

Collapsed Dome of the Coogee Palace Aquarium

Back of the Coogee Palace Aquarium

View of Coogee Palace Aquarium before storm damage looking north

Collapsed Dome of the Coogee Palace Aquarium

Looking south on Beach Street

Dunningham Reserve, looking west

Looking west from Dunningham Reserve

Council Documents

Beach Street, Coogee : 819-1920

Beach Street, Coogee : 593-1920

169, Dolphin Street, Coogee : 2645-1913

INFORMATION

Address169, Dolphin Street, Coogee, 2034LocationsCoogee (N.S.W.)StreetsDolphin Street (Coogee, N.S.W.)Beaches & ParksCoogee Beach (N.S.W.)Organisations (Brief entries)Coogee Palace Aquarium (Coogee, N.S.W.)CategoryPlaces | Houses & Buildings

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Coogee Pavilion