Randwick City Council bombarded with local anger over removal of Coogee Pier pylons

A long-demolished relic from the 1920s has been removed from a Sydney beach due to safety concerns for swimmers – and locals are furious.

A long-demolished relic from the 1920s has been removed from a Sydney beach due to safety concerns for swimmers.

The last of the remaining pylons that once held up the historical Coogee Beach pier were removed after recent rough seas and heavy swells dislodged them from their sandy moorings, making them a potential hazard to beachgoers.

Randwick Council said the pylons were transported to its depot to prevent them from being washed back into the ocean.

The concrete pylons are usually hidden under the sands of Coogee beach but are sometimes revealed after big surf. They were last seen after heavy storms in May, 2020.

“The pylons would reappear after big storms like visits from old friends,” Coogee native and author Tony Peacock said.

The old pier foundations on Coogee Beach make a rare appearance, uncovered after the most recent floods. Picture: John Grainger

“They’re monuments to the modern history of Coogee, monuments to the world we have now lost.”

The foundations were the last surviving elements of the Coogee pier, built in 1928 and demolished in 1934. It stretched 100m into the ocean and featured a theatre, ballroom and restaurant.

Coogee Pier in 1928. The ‘English seaside style’ amusement pier at Coogee Beach was demolished in 1934 after it was damaged by rough surf.

After posting news of their removal, the council’s official Facebook page was bombarded with comments questioning the decision.

Darren Green wrote: “They survived in (19) 74 and 2016 and almost 100 years of storms and you expect us to believe this weak little rain event removed them.”

Randwick City Council removed the iconic Coogee Pier pylons over concerns they would present a safety hazard to beachgoers. Picture: Supplied

Another user, Michael Fischer, wrote: “I’m gobsmacked that this vital aspect of Coogee’s history has been removed in such a stealthy manner. They must return to the beachfront area as a display with appropriate signage.”

Randwick Deputy Mayor Kym Chapple acknowledged the pylons’ significance to the community.

“They are a lovely reminder of Coogee’s past,” she said.

“We’ll take good care of them as we investigate how we can best acknowledge their historical significance.”