Early visitors to the area, from the 1820s onwards, were never able to confirm exactly what "Coogee" meant, or if it in fact related to Coogee Beach. Another version is koo-chai or koo-jah, both of which mean "the smell of the seaweed drying" in the Bidigal language, or "stinking seaweed", a reference to the smell of decaying kelp washed up on the beach. The name Coogee is said to be taken from a local Aboriginal word koojah which means "smelly place". The boundaries of Coogee are formed mainly by Clovelly Road, Carrington Road and Rainbow Street, with arbitrary lines drawn to join these thoroughfares to the coast in the north-east and south-east corners. The Tasman Sea and Coogee Bay along with Coogee Beach lie towards the eastern side of the suburb. Coogee is located 8 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. All that remains is the original portico entry and sections of the wall.Coogee ( / ˈ k ʊ dʒ i/) is a beachside suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the City of Randwick. After 1998 the building was left in disrepair and in the interest of public safety the building was demolished in 2000. They redeveloped the building and added squash courts but retained the name Giles Baths. In 1975 Messer's O'Neill, Motta and Stevens leased the premises until 1998. In an era where fitness was not a high priority, Giles provided a unique service where an unusual mix of males could mix and bond. In honour of his service a memorial sun dial was erected. Sam Inglis was a well-known patron who regularly taught young boys to swim and box. Sportsmen, racing identities, criminals, the constabulary and well known politicians all mixed amiably at Giles baths. Giles proved remarkably successful with his weight-reducing massage course. Separate facilities were provided for both genders but the ocean pool and nude bathing was for men only and remained so for many years. The boxes were heated by light bulbs on the inside and only had enough room for someone's head to stick out, the heat generated would aid in weight loss. One of the more bizarre treatments available was the sweat boxes. Services that were offered included electricity treatments, hydrotherapy and hot sea baths as medical treatments. Built in 1928 and under the management of Mr Oscar Giles, the health centre and hot baths became the progressive fitness venue of the time. The Giles Gym and baths was a prominent feature of Coogee Beach for most of the past century. The baths can be rough during strong surf conditions and Lifeguards are often kept busy with first aid for bumps, cuts and bruises. The entry portico from the original "Giles Gym and Baths" still remains. You can access it from the Coastal Walkway in Dunningham Reserve, near where the Bali Memorial stands, or walk along the rocky foreshore north of Coogee Beach. It's a popular swimming hole with young people and is a fun place to explore from Coogee Beach. It's a natural rock pool, known as the "Bogey hole" and was used by male bathers in the nineteenth century and continues to be used today. Giles Baths is located at the foot of the northern headland of Coogee Beach.
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