For local Aboriginal people, 'koojah' or Coogee, was a rich source of food, abundant with fish, wallaby and kangaroo. In the nineteenth century the area became a popular weekend destination for picnics, cricket, collecting shells along the beach and swimming. It wasn't until the turn of the twentieth century that residential development really began. Although slow to develop, today the area remains popular with locals, tourists and weekend visitors alike, reflecting the historical nature of Coogee itself.