Coogee's flats between the wars
Coogee boomed as a seaside destination in the early twentieth century, and much of the suburb's apartment stock dates from the 1920s and 1930s. Walk-ups in red and liver-coloured brick, some with art deco curves, step up the hillsides from the beach. Federation and interwar semis fill the streets behind them, with later blocks closer to the water.
These flats were well built. Their bathrooms were also designed for a different era of living — a bath, a basin and a toilet in a space that often measures under four square metres.
What's inside a Coogee flat bathroom
- A thick mortar bed over the concrete floor, with pipes set in it
- Glazed wall tiles to about 1.5 metres, sometimes the originals, often a later replacement
- A bath with a shower added over it, frequently with a flexible hose or a later wall mixer
- A small window, sometimes into a light well shared with neighbouring flats
- Little or no waterproofing by modern standards
Occasionally we find original features worth keeping — a terrazzo threshold, a patterned tile border, a built-in recess. Where they can be retained or echoed, we plan around them.
The Coogee brief: compact and characterful
Most Coogee flat owners want a room that feels bigger, works better, and still belongs to the building. That usually means:
- A walk-in shower replacing the bath, with a level floor and fixed glass
- Full-height tile in a softer palette — warm white, sage, sea-glass blue — or a handmade glazed tile
- A floating vanity with a curved or rounded edge, a quiet nod to deco
- A recessed mirror cabinet built into a furred wall
- A ducted exhaust so the light-well window can stay closed on cold days
The small bathroom page covers the layout detail, and the tiling page covers handmade tile set-out.
Getting in and out
Coogee access shapes the job more than in most suburbs.
Steep streets. Skip bins and delivery trucks cannot always park outside. We plan waste removal in smaller loads where needed and confirm any permits.
Stairs, not lifts. Most interwar walk-ups have no lift. Large-format tiles, shower glass and vanity units all need to fit up the stairwell and around the landings — measured before selection, not after.
Neighbours on every side. Demolition noise travels through concrete and brick. Buildings usually restrict hours; we program the noisiest stages and let the strata manager know dates in advance.
Coogee semis
The semis behind the flats present a different job, closer to what we see in Randwick: a rear bathroom, sometimes on timber joists, sometimes in a mid-century addition lined with fibre cement sheeting. An asbestos test precedes demolition. Joists near the old shower are checked once exposed.
These houses often gain an ensuite or powder room alongside the main bathroom renovation. See ensuites and powder rooms.
Salt, humidity and light wells
Coogee sits in a bowl facing the ocean. Humidity lingers, and bathrooms that open onto a shared light well rarely dry out naturally. Expect us to recommend:
- An exhaust fan ducted to outside, with a run-on timer
- Tapware and accessories in finishes suited to coastal air
- Epoxy or high-performance grout in the shower
- Moisture-resistant joinery with sealed edges
Investment and short-stay units
A number of Coogee flats are rented or used for short stays. For those owners, durability and program certainty often outrank bespoke finishes. We can specify a hard-wearing, easily maintained palette and schedule around bookings or vacancy.
What it costs in Coogee
As a 2026 guide: compact flat bathrooms $28,000–$42,000, house bathrooms $32,000–$52,000, powder rooms $14,000–$22,000. Walk-up access and mortar-bed demolition are the main reasons Coogee flats land higher than similar-sized rooms elsewhere. Full detail on the cost page.
Nearby
We also renovate bathrooms in Randwick, Maroubra, Bondi and Bondi Junction, Clovelly and South Coogee.
Renovation work is carried out in partnership with Coastal Renovation Group, a licensed NSW builder — licence and insurance details are provided on request.
Call 02 5121 7922 or tell us about the flat.