Coogee Archives - Coogee News

AI Shark Detection In Focus As Coogee Seeks Year-Round Drone Watch

A serious shark bite at Coogee has turned attention to whether AI-assisted drones could help detect dangerous sharks faster and give swimmers earlier warnings.

Coogee Shark Bite Sharpens Safety Calls

Coogee Beach has become the centre of renewed attention on shark surveillance after a serious attack left a swimmer critically injured and brought drone monitoring into sharper public focus.

Leah Stewart, a 35-year-old mother and teacher, was attacked by a great white shark while swimming between the flags at Coogee on Saturday. She has undergone multiple surgeries and had her left arm amputated.

The beach was closed after the incident and later reopened with drone surveillance. The attack has since shifted attention from short-term beach closures to the longer-term question of how sharks can be detected sooner and how swimmers can be warned more quickly.

That discussion now includes year-round drone monitoring, a permanent shark listening station and the possible use of artificial intelligence to strengthen aerial surveillance.

Coogee shark bite — *Photo Credit: NSW SharkSmart/Instagram*

Year-Round Drone Push Builds Around Coogee

Randwick City authorities have passed an urgent motion requesting funding for year-round aerial drone surveillance at suitable beaches in the area, including Coogee.

The motion also called for a permanent shark listening station to detect and monitor tagged sharks. Listening stations are already listed at Bondi and Maroubra, but not at Coogee, which sits between the two beaches.

Ms Carolyn Martin, who brought the motion, said practical measures were needed to improve safety and help swimmers and beachgoers regain confidence in the water.

Existing shark mitigation measures at Coogee include a shark net deployed annually between September and March, and a drumline used to intercept sharks for tagging and release. Martin also raised concern that some locals and visitors may not know when the shark net is operating, and called for electronic signage to show which measures are in use.

AI Drones Could Add Speed To Warnings

The push for stronger surveillance has renewed interest in AI-assisted drone detection.

Macquarie University Professor Culum Brown has said autonomous drones fitted with onboard sensors and artificial intelligence could detect sharks from the air. In a more advanced system, a drone could identify a shark, track its movement and send information back to a base, helping beach safety teams issue warnings sooner.

Emeritus Professor Rob Harcourt, also from Macquarie University, has said autonomous drones and AI shark recognition technology are either available or close to available.

The technology would not replace lifesavers or drone pilots. It would add another layer to existing patrols, giving beach teams more information when sharks are seen close to swimmers.

Any rollout would still depend on accuracy. Beach safety teams are mainly concerned with white, tiger and bull sharks, and too many false alarms could lead to unnecessary evacuations if dolphins, grey nurse sharks or wobbegongs are mistaken for dangerous species.

Flight Permissions Changed After The Attack

Coogee did not have drone use before the attack because of restrictions linked to the area being under a flight path.

Additional permission has since been granted for Surf Life Saving NSW to fly drones over Coogee in the commercial airline path under emergency services arrangements. Drones are now operating at the beach.

The change has drawn attention to uneven drone coverage across Sydney’s coastline, where patrols depend on location, permissions, season and conditions.

Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce has said drones monitor sharks across 80 NSW beaches during warmer months and 13 during winter. He has also said the organisation flies drones according to schedules based on shark data, incident data and beach visitation.

Pearce has confirmed that although additional permissions have been granted, funding for the program has not changed.

Coogee AI drones — *Photo Credit: NSW SharkSmart/Instagram*

Local Confidence Returns Slowly

The attack has also affected businesses and regular beach users around Coogee.

Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said it was too early to know whether the incident would have a lasting effect on tourism, but greater drone coverage could help maintain confidence among visitors and locals.

Craig Wachholz, founder of eastern suburbs surfing business Let’s Go Surfing, said his business lost two days of trade after beach closures. He said people were already returning to the water by Wednesday morning, reflecting the resilience of regular ocean users.

Wachholz said he wanted to see a mitigation plan that included technology and drones.

Coogee Sits Within A Wider Shark Safety Network

Coogee is part of a broader shark safety system that already includes drone patrols, SMART drumlines, tagged shark listening stations, shark nets, the SharkSmart app, education campaigns and community shark bite kits.

For the Randwick area, listed measures include SMART drumlines, one surveillance drone, one tagged shark listening station and shark nets. The tagged shark listening station listed for Randwick is at Maroubra Beach.

Surf Life Saving NSW also runs some autonomous drone operations from its head office in Belrose for remote areas, showing how drone surveillance can be supported both on the beach and away from the shoreline.

For Coogee, the immediate change is visible in the drones now operating above the beach. The longer-term issue is whether year-round surveillance, clearer signage, listening station coverage and AI-assisted detection can work together to give swimmers earlier warnings without overstating what technology can guarantee.

Published 16-June-2026

Coogee Shark Bite Puts Drone Monitoring In Focus As Beaches Reopen

Coogee’s long record as one of Sydney’s popular swimming beaches has been shaken by a rare shark bite, with the reopening now centred on how beachgoers return under visible lifeguard patrols, JetSki sweeps and drone monitoring.

Coogee Beach Reopens Under Patrols After Shark Bite

Coogee Beach has reopened after a serious shark bite left a woman critically injured, shifting attention from the initial emergency response to how swimmers return to the water under heightened monitoring.

The woman, aged in her 30s, was bitten shortly before 11:15 am on Saturday 13 June 2026 while swimming close to shore at Coogee Beach. She was within the flagged area when the incident occurred.

Members of the public pulled her from the water and began first aid before emergency crews arrived. Lifeguards, police and paramedics responded, while an off-duty critical care doctor also helped stabilise her at the beach. The woman suffered serious injuries to her arm and leg and was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in a critical condition.

Coogee Oval was cleared during the response to allow a CareFlight helicopter to land, although later reporting said the woman was transported to hospital by road. The incident prompted beach closures across Coogee and nearby beaches, including Clovelly and Bronte, with wider closures also affecting parts of the eastern suburbs coastline.

Drone Monitoring Begins As Swimmers Return To Coogee

All Randwick City beaches have since reopened, with lifeguards continuing JetSki patrols and Surf Life Saving NSW operating a shark-spotting drone at Coogee Beach.

Swimmers have been advised to stay between the red and yellow flags and follow lifeguard directions. The reopening marks a shift from closure to active monitoring, with visible patrols now forming part of the beach’s return after the rare incident.

The shark involved was believed to be between three and four metres long. Its species has not been confirmed. Drone and helicopter footage taken after the attack showed a large shark in nearby waters, with some observers and experts saying it appeared likely to be a white shark.

The incident was considered unusual because it happened in clear, cooler water. Earlier shark activity over summer had been linked by experts to murkier conditions after heavy rainfall, which can draw smaller fish closer to shore and attract sharks.

Rare Shark Bite Shakes Coogee’s Beach Routine

The Coogee shark bite has drawn attention because fatal shark attacks at the beach have not been recorded for more than 100 years. Two young men were killed in shark attacks at Coogee during the summer of 1922, but no fatal shark incident has been recorded at the beach since then.

That long gap has made the weekend bite a rare and serious event at a beach closely associated with regular swimming, walking and surfside activity. It has also reinforced that low-frequency risks can still emerge, even at a patrolled beach and even when swimmers are close to shore.

Experts have noted that white sharks can move near shore and through surf zones. In this case, the swimmer was reported to have been between the flags and close to the beach when she was bitten.

Coogee Drone Watch Becomes Part Of The Reopening

The incident has also placed renewed focus on shark-spotting drones. Drone surveillance has been expanded across many NSW beaches following recent shark incidents, but routine drone operations at Coogee Beach had been restricted because of flight path rules.

A temporary exemption was later granted to allow drone use around Coogee after the attack. With beaches now reopened, the drone operating at Coogee has become part of the visible safety response, alongside lifeguard patrols and JetSki sweeps.

The renewed drone presence does not change the rarity of the incident, but it has become a clear part of the beach’s recovery. For many beachgoers, the immediate question is not only whether the water is open, but how closely it is being watched.

The latest reopening has therefore become about confidence as much as access. Coogee Beach is again open to swimmers, but the return is taking place under clear directions, visible patrols and continued shark-spotting efforts.

For swimmers, the standing safety advice remains to stay close to shore, swim in patrolled areas, avoid dawn and dusk, avoid murky water, and stay away from river mouths, estuaries and fishing areas.

As beachgoers return to Coogee, lifeguards and Surf Life Saving NSW are continuing patrol and drone operations, keeping the focus on monitored swimming while the woman remains in a critical condition after the weekend attack.

Published 15-June-2026

Charli Robinson Lists Coogee Investment Apartment With Beachfront Views

Photo Credit: Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty

Former Hi-5 performer and television presenter Charli Robinson is selling her long-held Coogee investment apartment, a top-floor beachfront unit overlooking Coogee Beach, Wedding Cake Island and the Pacific Ocean.

Long-Held Coogee Apartment Heads To Auction

The one-bedroom apartment at 27/58–60 Carr Street is located in Coogee Waters, a landmark beachfront building on the Sydney coast. Robinson has owned the property since 2012 and lived there briefly while filming Dancing With The Stars and hosting a national night radio program on 2DayFM.

Her time living in the apartment was short, with a breakfast radio opportunity on the Gold Coast later taking her north. The Coogee property has since operated as an investment, with Robinson managing it as a holiday rental for the past decade.

The apartment is being offered as a beachside home or investment, with its top-floor position and water views forming the centre of the campaign.

Sydney property — *Photo Credit: Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty*

Coogee Views From A Top-Floor Position

The residence sits in the north-east wing of Coogee Waters and looks across the sand, water and nearby coastline. The building, originally from the 1960s, has undergone an award-winning transformation by McGregor Westlake Architecture.

The 64sqm apartment has one bedroom, one bathroom and one parking space. It includes secure lift access, undercover parking and storage, along with a wraparound terrace facing the beach.

Inside, the apartment has a king-sized bedroom with built-in robes, a spa bathroom, a living area with custom joinery and a dining space positioned towards the outlook. The kitchen has stone benchtops, European appliances and an induction cooktop.

Other features include reverse-cycle airconditioning, glass-framed interiors, shared laundry facilities on the floor with provision for own appliances, and nearby access to Coogee’s beach, cafes and coastal walks.

Charli Robinson Coogee apartment — *Photo Credit: Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty*

Investment Sale Linked To NSW Family Ties

Robinson has described the apartment as a place she will miss, particularly because of its ocean outlook and beachside setting. She has also noted its appeal as a holiday rental, saying it has had strong demand across the year.

The sale is linked to her plan to buy another investment property closer to family in NSW. Although work still brings her to Sydney, Robinson has indicated she is often staying in hotels and has not been able to use the apartment as much as she would like.

Robinson and her partner, racing car driver Liam Talbot, have also been involved in other property moves, including the sale of a Bulimba investment property in Brisbane for $3.36 million last year.

*Photo Credit: Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty*

Carr Street Auction Set For June

The Coogee apartment is scheduled to go to auction on site on Saturday, 6 June 2026 at 9:30 am.

Inspections are listed for 21 May, 23 May, 28 May, 30 May, 4 June and 6 June, each from 9am to 9:30 am.

The property is being presented by Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty — New South Head Road, Double Bay, through Naomi Ng and James Ball, with Stephanie Farah of NG Farah listed as co-agent.

For Robinson, the listing closes a long chapter with a beachside apartment she has held for more than a decade, while opening the way for another investment closer to her NSW family connections.

Published 6-May-2026

Coogee Bay Road Lights Up With New Festoon Lighting

There’s a warm, golden glow stretching along Coogee Bay Road these days, and locals have already started to take notice. New festoon lighting has been strung between Arden and Brook streets, adding a new ambience to one of Coogee’s busiest streets.

Read: Coogee Beach Amenities And Café Pavilion Approved At Arden Street

Installed by Randwick’s local officials ahead of the 4 March launch, the decorative string lights arrived just in time for the debut of Coogee Nights, a new series of open street events, which kicked off on Wednesday 4 March 2026. The next one was on 18 March followed by another event on 1 April.

Photo credit: Facebook/Randwick City Council

The festoon lights are intended to draw people out and support local businesses during quieter parts of the week. The installation followed a community consultation process. Randwick sought feedback late last year, with residents noting the lighting would help enhance the night-time experience and improve safety. Both were among the considerations that informed the final installation.

One detail worth noting is the use of directional fittings. The fittings are designed to direct light onto the road, reducing glare for nearby residents. It’s the kind of considered detail that doesn’t make headlines but matters a great deal to the people who live closest to it.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said the project was about more than just aesthetics.

“Festoon lighting creates a welcoming atmosphere, and helps to encourage night-time activity and boost local business, particularly on quieter weeknights,” Mayor Parker said.

Read: Coogee Reception Centre Closes as Support Shifts to Bondi Pavilion Hub

The lighting has been installed on a six-month trial basis, after which Randwick will seek feedback from community members to review the lighting. The staged approach gives both residents and businesses the opportunity to weigh in before any permanent decisions are made.

Published 12-April-2026

Victorian-Era Coogee Boarding House Sells for $5 Million at Auction as Vendor Adjusts Reserve

Sydney Sotheby's International Realty

A 12-bedroom Victorian-era boarding house just a couple of hundred metres from Coogee Beach has sold for $5 million at auction, after the vendors lowered their reserve on the day to meet a market that is increasingly demanding vendors come to terms with buyer sentiment.

The freestanding property at 302 Arden Street, known as Bayview Coogee Beach, attracted four registered bidders, all of them boarding house operators who own similar properties. Three made offers. Bidding opened at $4.75 million, climbed in $100,000 increments and eventually settled into $10,000 bids in its final moments before selling under the hammer for $5 million. The reserve had been set at $5.3 million but was adjusted downward on the day.

The property last traded for $1.45 million in 2005.

A Rare and Historic Arden Street Find

Built circa 1870, 302 Arden Street is one of Coogee’s oldest surviving homes. Originally one of the area’s first family residences, it was later converted into a registered boarding house and has operated as one ever since. The three-level, L-shaped home across a corner block retains considerable Victorian-era grandeur, with 12 bedrooms, five bathrooms and a communal kitchen. The current configuration includes ten rooms with shared facilities and two rooms with their own kitchenettes and ensuites.

Victorian-Era Coogee Boarding House Sells for $5 Million at Auction as Vendor Adjusts Reserve — *Photo Credit: Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty*

The property sits on an elevated north-east corner position on one of Coogee’s most recognisable streets, with dual street frontage and walking distance to Coogee Beach, the coastal walk, ocean baths and Coogee Bay Road’s cafes and bars. Selling agent Clint Ballard from Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty noted that genuine corner block properties this close to the water rarely come to market. “The location is within a couple hundred metres from Coogee Beach, you know it’s pretty rare,” he said.

The vendors, who are from Coogee, were met across the table by buyers from the eastern suburbs. The exclusive buyer pool of boarding house operators reflects the property’s zoning and registered use, which limits the buyer field but also creates a concentrated, competitive market among those who know what they are looking at.

What the Sale Says About Coogee Right Now

Sydney recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 64 per cent across 1,164 results this week. With 369 properties withdrawn from the block, it’s a clear sign that the market is softening and vendors are having to sharpen their pencils to get a result. PRD chief economist Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo described that figure as “probably one of the lowest ones that we’ve seen,” attributing the softness to a combination of financial insecurity and broader economic uncertainty, compounded by concerns around interest rate movements.

Coogee’s house market has felt some of that pressure, with the suburb’s median house price currently sitting around $4.3 million, down around eight per cent over the past year. Still, the suburb’s land scarcity, lifestyle credentials and proximity to the beach continue to support values at the premium end when the product and the price align.

*Photo Credit: Sotheby’s International Realty*

Ballard’s post-auction assessment captured the current dynamic plainly: “Properties are selling if the owners are prepared to meet the market.”

The Boarding House Niche in a Tightly Held Market

The boarding house sector occupies a particular corner of the eastern suburbs property market. Properties like 302 Arden Street rarely change hands and attract a niche but well-informed buyer pool. That the bidding attracted three active parties from a field of four registered buyers, all operating similar assets, reflects genuine depth in that space even in softer conditions.

The Coogee property’s repriced result, coming in $300,000 below its original reserve, aligns with a broader pattern of vendors recalibrating their expectations. With more than half of Sydney’s properties rented, and two-bedroom unit rents in Coogee having surged more than 20 per cent in the past year, the income-generating potential of a well-located boarding house on a corner block steps from the beach remains a compelling proposition for the right buyer.

Finding Out More

302 Arden Street, Coogee, was sold through Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty. Enquiries can be directed to the agency at sydneysothebysrealty.com or by phone on 02 9363 0388.

Published 04-April-2026

Shark Bite Kits Now Available After Hours at Coogee Beach

RCC

Two new after-hours shark bite kits have been installed at Coogee and Maroubra beaches through a partnership between Randwick City and Surfing NSW, placing life-saving trauma equipment within reach of swimmers, snorkellers and ocean users outside lifeguard patrol hours.

At Coogee, the rescue tube and trauma kit are located on the south wall next to the Coogee Beach Rainbow Walkway, a landmark that most regular beach users know well. The installation means that anyone at the beach after hours now has immediate access to emergency equipment without needing to search for it in a moment of crisis. For a beach as popular and as well-loved as Coogee, that accessibility carries real weight.

What the Kits Contain and Where to Find Them

Each shark bite kit contains a tourniquet, dressings and bandages, a thermal blanket and a simple instruction card. The kits focus on controlling life-threatening blood loss in the crucial minutes between a shark attack and the arrival of professional medical help, and the simple instruction card empowers any bystander to provide immediate assistance, even without prior first aid training.

Alongside the kit sits a rescue tube, a buoyant foam device that keeps a person afloat in the water during a rescue. The combination of the two pieces of equipment addresses both the in-water and on-shore phases of an emergency, providing bystanders with the tools to act from the moment an incident occurs until ambulance crews arrive on scene.

The kits are supplied by Community Shark Bite Kits, a not-for-profit initiative that has now installed kits at more than 120 beaches across Australia. The Coogee installation brings this national program to one of Sydney’s most visited beaches for the first time.

After-Hours Safety at an Unpatrolled Beach

The kits are specifically designed to fill the gap outside lifeguard patrol hours, a period when beaches remain in constant use but professional emergency response is not immediately on hand. Lifeguard patrols at Coogee operate from 7am to 7pm during daylight saving and from 7am to 5pm during winter and non-daylight saving periods. Outside those windows, ocean users at Coogee have no on-site professional response available, and the shark bite kit and rescue tube on the south wall next to the Rainbow Walkway become the primary emergency resources on hand.

Coogee draws early morning swimmers, open water athletes and evening walkers throughout the year, many of whom enter the water before or after patrol hours. Having trauma equipment permanently installed and accessible at the south wall addresses that reality in a way that patrol hours alone cannot.

Why This Matters to Coogee

Coogee’s relationship with ocean safety stretches back more than a century, and the beach’s community has always taken coastal preparedness seriously. The shark bite kit and rescue tube now join an existing suite of safety infrastructure at Randwick City beaches that includes CCTV, emergency response beacons and a publicly accessible defibrillator at Coogee, reinforcing a comprehensive approach to keeping the coastline safe for all users at all hours.

All beach users are encouraged to note the location of the kit and rescue tube on the south wall next to the Coogee Beach Rainbow Walkway before entering the water. In any emergency, the first call should always be to 000.

Published 23-March-2026.

Coogee Sands Hotel Closure Signals End Of Long-Running Beach Stay

Photo Credit: Coogee Sands/Instagram

A long-standing accommodation site in Coogee will close after the Coogee Sands Hotel & Apartments was sold, with redevelopment planned for the beachfront property.

Final Checkout Approaches In Coogee

Coogee Sands Hotel & Apartments has confirmed it will cease operations, with final guests expected to depart on 24 April. The site has been sold, and new owners are set to carry out substantial renovations and redevelopment of the building.

Bookings scheduled after 16 April have been cancelled, with the hotel advising that affected guests will be contacted directly with further information.

Sydney accommodation — *Photo Credit: Coogee Sands/Instagram*

Decades Of Beachside Stays

Operating for more than five decades, the property has been part of the Coogee Beach accommodation landscape since it was first built in 1973 and later renovated in 1999.

Located close to the shoreline, the hotel provided a consistent option for visitors seeking practical stays near Coogee Beach. Over time, it became associated with holidays, family gatherings and repeat visits from returning guests.

Coogee hotel closure — *Photo Credit: Coogee Sands/Instagram*

Travel Plans Disrupted As Bookings Cancelled

The closure has affected guests with upcoming reservations, including those who had planned stays later in the year. Some travellers are now seeking alternative accommodation options following the cancellation of bookings beyond mid-April.

Available options in the area include hotels at higher price points as well as short-term rental properties, limiting choice for those seeking lower-cost stays.

Community Reaction Highlights Affordability Concerns

Discussion among locals has reflected concern about affordability and reduced accommodation options in Coogee. Some noted that the hotel had been used for visiting family members, particularly as other nearby stays had become more expensive.

Others raised concerns about the short notice provided for cancelled bookings, while expressing disappointment at the closure of a long-running accommodation option.

Coogee Sands closure — *Photo Credit: Coogee Sands/Instagram*

Redevelopment Plans Remain Unclear

While redevelopment of the site is planned, details about the future design and use of the property have not been publicly outlined.

The closure marks the end of a long-established accommodation site in Coogee, with uncertainty remaining about what will replace it once redevelopment is complete.

Published 25-Mar-2026

Meghan Markle To Headline Women’s Retreat In Coogee

Photo Credit: Her Best Life

Meghan Markle has been announced as the headline speaker for a three-day women’s retreat in Coogee, where a limited group of attendees will gather for a program centred on wellness sessions, discussion events and social activities.

Retreat Scheduled For Coogee Beach Hotel

The Her Best Life Retreat is scheduled to run from 17 April to 19 April at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach.

The event has been organised by Besties, an events company founded by Jackie O Henderson and Gemma O’Neill.

Organisers have confirmed that Meghan Markle will appear as the retreat’s headline guest and take part in an in-person conversation during the weekend’s gala dinner event.

The retreat has been designed as a limited-capacity gathering with attendance capped at 300 participants.

Coogee women’s retreat — *Photo Credit: Meghan Markle/Instagram*

Ticket Packages And Event Inclusions

Ticket packages were released in two tiers. Early Bird tickets were priced at $2,699 per person, while the VIP Experience was priced at $3,199 per person.

Both packages include two nights of twin-share accommodation, meals, drinks and access to all scheduled speaker sessions and wellness activities.

VIP packages also include front-row seating for the gala dinner with Meghan Markle, a group table photo with the speaker, a premium ocean-view hotel room and a VIP gift bag.

The retreat program includes a gala dinner conversation with Markle, a women’s coaching session with therapist Dr Justine Corry, yoga sessions, sound healing experiences and communal meals.

Organisers have also listed social activities, including a dinner and dance event, alongside scheduled wellness and discussion sessions.

The event listing now states that ticket allocation has been exhausted, with a standby list available for any further availability.

Coogee retreat event — *Photo Credit: Her Best Life*

Visit Marks Return To Australia

The Coogee appearance is expected to coincide with a visit to Australia by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The trip would mark their first visit to the country since 2018.

Prince Harry is also expected to appear in Melbourne at the InterEdge Summit, where he is listed to speak about mental health in the workplace.

InterContinental Coogee Beach — *Photo Credit: Her Best Life*

Outlook

The Coogee retreat is set to bring together a limited group of attendees for a three-day program combining discussion sessions, wellness activities and social gatherings. With ticket allocations already exhausted, the April event will centre on a headline conversation with Meghan Markle at the Coogee beachfront hotel venue.

Published 17-Mar-2026

Coogee Randwick Wombats Reach Vegas 9s Grand Final in Stunning Tournament Debut

Coogee Randwick Wombats/Facebook

The Coogee Randwick Wombats, a grassroots rugby league club representing Coogee and Maroubra, reached the grand final of the Vegas 9s tournament in Las Vegas on Saturday 28 February 2026, falling 30-14 to the Titans of Coal in the decider.

The result capped a massive shift for the Maroubra boys, who fought through six matches in 48 hours, toppling five different opponents to earn their spot in the big dance.

What Is the Vegas 9s

The Vegas 9s is an open-registration nines rugby league tournament held in Las Vegas prior to the United States national team games and the main event at Allegiant Stadium. Teams from across the world compete across two days at New Silver Bowl Park, with the tournament designed to grow rugby league’s footprint in North America while giving community clubs access to an international stage.

The Coogee Randwick Wombats entered the 2026 tournament as part of their annual end-of-season trip, travelling from Sydney with 21 players after a vote in the squad’s group chat produced a unanimous preference for Las Vegas. Manager Geoff Tunks said the club had made previous trips to America, Canada and Thailand, and that preparation at training had been strong in the lead-up, with more than 30 players attending Wednesday night sessions.

Day One: Solid Foundation

The Wombats entered the tournament placed in a pool alongside the Brooklyn Kings, Atlanta Copperheads and Riverton Seagulls. Their opening game against the Brooklyn Kings produced a narrow 12-8 defeat, with Luke Hennessy and Lycolan Bakri crossing for tries. The squad responded immediately in game two, running over the Atlanta Copperheads 30-18, with Hennessy and Bakri again scoring alongside Jake Roberts, Jake Tobin and Tyrell Mayfield. A 30-6 win over the Riverton Seagulls to close out the pool stage gave the Wombats a favourable seeding heading into the finals.

Day Two: All the Way to the Final

Day two began with a 30-10 dismissal of the Toronto Saints, before the Wombats advanced to the final four with a tense 24-22 victory over the Rabbitahz. That semifinal win set up a rematch with the Brooklyn Kings, who had beaten them on day one. The result was reversed, with the Wombats winning 18-8 to book their place in the grand final.

Their opponents in the decider were the Titans of Coal, who had dominated the pool stage with wins of 50-0, 48-0 and 32-4. While the Titans of Coal ultimately took the chocolates with a 30-14 victory, the Wombats’ clinical run to the final exceeded all expectations. For a club making its maiden voyage to the Vegas stage, coming home with the silver medal is a massive result for the Souths Juniors nursery.

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The Squad That Made It Happen

The Wombats travelled with an 18-man playing squad plus two injured players. Captain Harrison Marsh led the side, with coach Anthony Marsh directing from the bench. The squad included Harrison Marsh, Luke Hennessy, Pat Rabbitt, Colan Bakri, Jack Hassanein, Joshua Chan, Cash Adams, Jono Bong, Eden Potter, Mikey Mitsias, Robbie Hunt, Jake Roberts, Costa Sanidas, Corey Stevens, Jake Tobin, Zach Kambos, Tahi Sue, Nathan Vigilante, Tyrell Mayfield and Tyler Melville. Officials were coach Anthony Marsh, managers Geoff Tunks and Nicole Tobin, and trainers Scott Bramham and Matt O’Shea. Lachlan Rabbitt played for Boston across the tournament weekend.

Eden Potter, aged 20 and returning from more than 12 months on the sideline following a knee injury, was one of the squad’s standout stories. Tunks said Potter had come back fitter than before and had been eager to prove himself throughout the campaign.

The club was not the only local connection at the Vegas weekend. Former Wombats junior and current New South Wales State of Origin and international player Jess Sergis appeared for the LA Roosters, while Ethan O’Neill featured for Leeds in the Super League clash at Allegiant Stadium.

Why This Achievement Matters for Maroubra

The Coogee Randwick Wombats carry Coogee’s name on the world stage and draw their identity from the suburb’s tight-knit coastal community. The club trains and plays its home games at Marcellin Fields, Maroubra, and is sustained by volunteers, families and local sponsors including Julian Fadini Property 360, Command 51 Cleaning and Grounds, Mellick Wealth Management, NG Farah Real Estate and The Bay Hotel and Diner.

For a community club of this size and resource base to field a competitive squad at an international tournament and reach the grand final demonstrates the depth of talent and commitment that exists within the Coogee and Randwick rugby league community. The achievement gives local junior players a visible example of the pathway available through the Wombats and demonstrates what the club’s culture of commitment and community can produce at the highest level it has yet attempted.

The club has already signalled its intention to return for the 2027 Vegas 9s, giving this year’s campaign a lasting legacy beyond the result itself.

Published 9-March-2026.

Art Deco Coogee Beach Apartment Block Fetches $15M at Packed Auction

Photo Credit: PPD Real Estate

A weathered Art Deco apartment block steps from Coogee Beach has sold for $15 million at a lively auction that drew a crowd of approximately 100 people on Saturday.

The 1920s-era property at 9 and 11 Baden Street comprises two separate titled blocks, each containing three flats, for a total of six apartments. The building’s prime beachfront position, directly across the road from the sand, proved irresistible to potential buyers.

Ten parties registered to bid on the investment opportunity, with interest coming from developers, landbankers, and families looking to establish their children in the tightly held beachside suburb. Six of those registered bidders made offers during the auction.

Bidding commenced at $9 million and climbed steadily in increments of $100,000 and $50,000, eventually sailing past the $11 million reserve before the hammer fell at $15 million.

The property had been guided at $9.5 million prior to the auction.

Selling agent Alexander Phillips from PPD Real Estate described the auction as remarkable. “It’s two blocks of units on separate titles sold in one line,” he said.

Phillips emphasised the property’s enviable location as the key drawcard. “It’s right on the beach in Coogee like, it’s literally across the road, you’re on the beach. That’s why it was so popular,” he noted, describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The successful bidder is a developer who plans to demolish the existing structures and construct luxury units on the site. Property records indicate that both 9 and 11 Baden Street previously sold for $1.2 million each in 2009, representing substantial capital growth over the 17-year holding period.

The sale was among 1,489 auctions scheduled across Sydney last week. By Saturday evening, Domain Group had recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 65 per cent from 939 reported results, with 231 auctions withdrawn. Under standard industry practice, withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating clearance rates.

The result reflects ongoing demand for scarce beachfront holdings in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, particularly in established residential areas close to amenities and transport.

Published 2-March-2026