Hi. It’s Adrian Bo here and today I’m at our local institution the Coogee Beach Surf Club right behind me here, which has a fantastic history and has recently undergone a major renovation which has been somewhat controversial. Now let’s get that part out of the way. This renovation has certainly polarised the community and divided opinion. It has turned the iconic pastel yellow building with small windows upstairs, into a wide windowed function room above the portico which still remains. Apparently many locals and members love the new design including myself, but Dominic Perrottet, is not a fan at all and went on record in the Sydney Morning Herald saying, this wasn’t what he had in mind when he set aside $3 million for the upgrade. Now Club Pres Todd Mison, is a big fan of the design. And I would expect the commercial health of the club has been underwritten by this terrific upgrade. The function rooms surely will be booked out as it will be a world-class hospitality facility, right here in the heart of Coogee, which can only be good for our general community, in the Coogee municipality.

The clock has been moved slightly, as you can see, as it is now on an angle. It will be much easier to see from the beach itself, especially from the northern part of the beach, which I think is important. The building design, certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Some locals have labelled it as a massive microwave, which I think is a bit of hyperbole. Again, it’s a really divided opinion. Now, the very first Coogee Surf Club was built in 1910, after the original club was founded by a group of locals back in 1907 and based in a wooden shack at the time. There had been many drownings between 1895 and 1907. In the first two years of the club, there were 145 rescues performed and six resuscitations. By 1914, there were 96 members of which 84, went away to serve in the first world war. And sadly 15 of them were lost. During that period however, Club Surf patrols still managed to stop any deaths occurring. 3 shark attacks led to Coogee beach being netted in 1929 when the Pier and Promenade were built. Would you believe that the Pier at the time included a ballroom, theatre room and restaurant, but was all damaged by a huge storm which led to it being demolished in 1934. World war two came along, and saw 176 out of the membership of about 200 leave, to serve their duty abroad on behalf of Australia. During the war anti aircraft guns were established on the Promenade at the time. Beach nippers is now a national phenomenon, and would you believe in 1963, the very first Nippers club in Australia was established right here in Coogee, known as the “Coogee Minnows.” Today there are around 1000 nippers with over 600 Surf lifesavers, helping keep local swimmers safe.

I’ve been fortunate enough to be selling real estate in Coogee and the surrounding eastern suburbs for over 30 years, including many properties around the southern end of the beach where I am today, overlooking the Surf club. I sold Unit 16 in the iconic Tara complex known as 178 Beach street, I sold unit 2 in Gabriel Court, at 160 Beach street, and 1 road back, I sold Unit 6 at 321 Arden street and also unit 7 at Beach Court. Look! The Coogee Beach Surf Club is an absolute institution. It’s always been the hub of the local community during my three decades selling in the area. I’m a big believer in maintaining our local history and preserving the wide range of architecture that it has evolved over the last hundred plus years. That said, the renovation has been completed now, and the club is gonna be stronger for it. Enabling thousands more nippers to build their confidence in swimming in the ocean. I understand some locals wanting to retain the iconic original facade, but we need to move on now and support the club that has saved so many lives and has provided a fantastic place for people to grow. And finally, it’s been a very decent watering hole for a cold beer on a hot summer’s day, and that’s never gonna stop. Please enjoy this phenomenal beach known as Coogee and this amazing Surf Club, and always remember, your home is worth more with Adrian Bo.