coogeebeach

Austrailia before the hotels

Hey hydrofoils62 Not really before the hotels. The Coogee Palace (now the Beach Palace Hotel; located at the north end of Coogee Beach - the shot here is to the south) opened in 1887. www.beachpalacehotel.com.au/articles/History/3 Though it's not clear if the Palace served alcohol back then.

Cool photo, I think I may have just found my new assignment topic.

@ Michael Sutton (was Sutto 007) - How did your assignment go? Anything to share?! The electric tram (1902+), the height of the Norfolk pines, Edwardian dress, the organised bathing, and the jaunty typeface style indicate c.1905.

The bandstand in the middle of the tram loop (seen here right of the pine tree) was evidently erected/completed in ca. 1909... trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15033090 - SMH, 3rd February, 1909...see notice towards bottom of first column... 'TENDERS are hereby invited up to 4 p.m. on MONDAY the 8th FEBRUARY for the completion of the BAND STAND at Coogee Bay. Plans and Specifications at Town Clerk s office. The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. Tenders to be under cover, and endorsed "Tender for Band Stand" E. H STRACHAN Town Clerk Town Hall, Randwick, January 29th, 1909 ' ---------------------------------------------------------- If you zoom in on the original pic at the PHM (click on the PURL) you can see the 'Figure Eight' roller coaster ride to the left of the main Aquarium building...the 'Figure Eight' opened in October 1907...it evidently continued operating until 1912... trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/238264130 - the Daily Telegraph, 14th October, 1907...item on the opening of the 'Figure Eight' the previous Saturday... trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/114808962 - the Evening News, 2nd May, 1912...brief item on the demolition of the 'Figure Eight'...

goodness! what a crowd! I wonder what the occasion was.

Renira1 We thought perhaps it was another scorching hot day that brought all these people out!