NSW Property Spotlight
Coogee property and home loan guide
Coogee is a beachside suburb about 8 km south-east of the Sydney CBD in the City of Randwick. It's a unit market. In the 2021 Census 79.9% of homes were flats or apartments and half of all homes (50.7%) had two bedrooms. More than half were rented. Many blocks are older walk-ups close to the beach. Time Home Loans is a Brisbane-based broker that works with Coogee buyers by phone and video. Unit size, strata health and coastal valuations tend to matter most.
Information last updated 3 November 2026
Market snapshot
| Houses | Units | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of homes | 10.6% separate houses, 9.0% terraces and townhouses | 79.9% flats and apartments | ABS Census 2021 (Coogee (NSW)) |
In the 2021 Census, 43.5% of Coogee homes were owned outright or with a mortgage and 54.5% were rented. The median weekly rent across all homes was $650 (ABS). Rents by bedroom aren't shown for this area. Sale prices will be added once licensed figures are available.
Figures are a guide only and change over time. Past movements in values and rents don't predict future results.
Living in Coogee
The name may come from an Aboriginal word, koojah, often translated as "smelly place". Another account links it to a Bidigal word for the smell of seaweed drying on the beach. Coogee was gazetted as a village in 1838. Its first school building of 1863 became the Coogee Bay Hotel in 1873.
A steam tram reached Coogee in 1883 and electric trams ran from 1902 until 1960. The Coogee Aquarium and Swimming Baths opened on 23 December 1887. The building is now the Coogee Pavilion, reopened in August 2014.
Transport
- Coogee has no train station. Buses leave from the interchange on Arden Street, with routes including 313, 370, 373, 374, X73 and X74.
- Light rail stops in nearby Randwick and Kingsford are a short bus ride away.
- In the 2021 Census 4.2% of working residents took the bus to work.
- Plan trips on the Transport for NSW trip planner.
Schools
Coogee Public School (K to 6) dates from 1876 and St Brigid's Catholic Primary School (K to 6) from 1923. High schools are in Randwick and nearby suburbs.
NSW government schools enrol by local intake area, so check any address in the NSW School Finder before you buy.
Shopping and dining
Coogee Bay Road and Arden Street hold the cafés, pubs and day-to-day shops. Randwick's shopping strips are a short trip away for larger supermarkets and services.
Parks and recreation
- Goldstein Reserve on the beachfront hosts Coogee Carols and Coogee Sparkles.
- Grant Reserve is home to the heritage-listed McIver Women's Baths.
- Wylie's Baths and Giles Baths are ocean pools at either end of the beach.
- The coastal walk links Coogee with Clovelly to the north and the baths to the south.
Lifestyle
Coogee suits buyers who want to live by the beach with easy access to Randwick and the city. The median age in 2021 was 35 and family households made up 59.2% of homes. Expect a busy beachfront on weekends and quieter residential streets up the hill.
Coogee
Did you know?
A pier that lasted six years
Coogee's pier opened on 24 July 1928 and was demolished in 1934.
The Shark Arm case
In 1935 a captive shark at the Coogee Aquarium Baths vomited a human arm. The Shark Arm case became one of Sydney's most famous mysteries.
A dome rebuilt
A storm in June 1945 brought down the dome of the Coogee Palace. It was rebuilt in 1987 and the building reopened as the Coogee Pavilion in August 2014.
Wedding Cake Island
Wedding Cake Island is a rocky reef about 800 m off the southern headland. The Island Challenge swim around it began in 2000.
Property types
Coogee's housing is mostly units.
- Units make up 79.9% of homes, many in older walk-up blocks.
- Houses are 10.6%.
- Terraces and townhouses are 9.0%.
- Size: 13.6% of homes have one bedroom and 50.7% have two.
Check zoning and heritage in the NSW Planning Portal spatial viewer. Some coastal streets have flood or overland flow studies listed on the NSW Flood Data Portal.
What lenders look at in Coogee
Coogee is a beachside unit market. Here's what tends to come up with lenders.
Unit size
One LMI provider's public guidelines need units to have at least 30 m2 of living area, excluding balconies and car space. Some older Coogee studios and one-bedders are close to that line, so check the strata plan.
Older strata blocks
Many walk-ups date from the mid 20th century. Salt air is hard on concrete and balconies. Lenders and valuers notice defects and special levies, so read the strata report.
Company title
Some older eastern suburbs blocks are company title. One LMI provider's public guidelines only accept company title within 10 km of a capital city CBD. Coogee is inside that distance, but fewer lenders take it, so check early.
Coastal valuations
Ocean views and beach access vary from unit to unit, so valuations take care. A valuation that comes in under the price means a bigger deposit.
Postcode 2034
Coogee shares postcode 2034 with South Coogee. It isn't on one LMI provider's lists of excluded or single-industry postcodes.
Lender and LMI policies differ between lenders and change often. This is a general guide based on public lender and LMI information checked 3 November 2026. We can check current policy for the property you're looking at before you apply.
Buying in Coogee
In Coogee the unit and its building shape most purchases. Floor area, building age, strata records and title type all matter to lenders. Getting those checked before you make an offer saves time.
First home buyers
Coogee's one-bedroom and two-bedroom units are a common first step into the eastern suburbs. Check the floor area early and read the strata records. A family guarantee may help some buyers.
Getting pre-approval before you look tells you your range. For government schemes, price caps and NSW first home buyer concessions, see our first home buyer page for current details.
Upgraders
Many Coogee owners move from a one-bedder to a two-bedder or a terrace nearby. If you're buying before you sell, ask about bridging finance early. Older blocks often need work, so check sinking funds and planned levies.
Deposit and costs
On top of your deposit, allow for:
- stamp duty (transfer duty) under New South Wales rules, with concessions for some first home buyers (see Revenue NSW)
- conveyancing and legal fees
- building and pest inspections
- strata or body corporate searches for units and townhouses
- lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) if you borrow more than 80% of the property's value
Our calculators give you a starting figure. Stamp duty rules differ between states, so check the New South Wales rules for your purchase.
Investing in Coogee
In 2021, 54.5% of Coogee homes were rented and the median weekly rent was $650. Units near the beach and close to the university and hospitals in Randwick attract tenants. Read more on investing in property.
Lender considerations
Coogee purchases often involve older strata blocks, coastal exposure and small units. Lenders look at your income, the floor area and the building. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with Coogee buyers by phone and video. Lender policy is national, but stamp duty and grants follow NSW rules.
Thinking about buying in Coogee?
Talk it through with a Brisbane broker before you sign a contract. We can check the property you're looking at against lender policy.
Frequently asked questions
Is Coogee mostly units?
Yes. In the 2021 Census 79.9% of homes were flats or apartments and 50.7% had two bedrooms.
Is there a train to Coogee?
No. Buses run from the Arden Street interchange and light rail stops are in nearby Randwick and Kingsford.
Are there schools in Coogee?
Yes. Coogee Public School and St Brigid's Catholic Primary School are both K to 6. Check the NSW School Finder for any address.
Can a Brisbane mortgage broker help me buy in Coogee?
Yes. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with clients across Australia by phone and video. Lender policy is national, but stamp duty and first home buyer grants follow NSW rules. We don't have an office in Coogee.
Can I buy in Coogee with a small deposit?
Possibly, depending on your income, the price and the lender. Some buyers use a family guarantee. Lenders mortgage insurance usually applies if you borrow more than 80% of the value.
What costs should I budget for besides the deposit?
NSW transfer duty, conveyancing, a strata report and lenders mortgage insurance if you borrow more than 80% of the value. The calculators on our site give you a starting figure.
General information only. This page provides general information and doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether it's appropriate for you and seek advice before making a decision. Market figures are a guide only and change over time. Past movements in values and rents don't predict future results.
Time Home Loans Pty Ltd ACN 161 695 012, Credit Representative 529395 is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 384324.