Engadine, New South Wales

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Engadine is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 28km south of the Sydney central business district in the Sutherland Shire. The postcode is 2233.

1 Location
2 History
3 Commercial Area
4 Transport
5 Education
6 Amenities
7 External links

Engadine is bounded by The Royal National Park to the east, and Heathcote National Park to the west. It incorporates the locality of North Engadine. Mostly residential with some light industrial pockets, Engadine is considered to be a sought-after area to live (this has seen property values more than double between 1995 and 2005).

Visitors to the suburb can view across the Sydney Basin from its southern edge across to the Sydney CBD. The area also features rolling sandstone slopes and cliffs in places, with an abundance of native trees throughout. Natural landmarks include 'the Needles' and 'the Blue Lagoon' along the Woronora River, and the Engadine Wetlands to the east of the railway station.

The area was reserved for a national park in 1879, but in 1890 Charles McAlister was able to purchase land here which became known as McAlister’s Estate. After an overseas trip, the family renamed their estate ‘Engadine’ after the Engadin Valley in Switzerland. The wildflowers in the valley here and surrounding national parks were reminiscent of the valley and hills in Engadin.

Charles McAlister subdivided his land sometime after 1900. He continued to live in Engadine but later moved to Cronulla, where he died in 1915. Every year in November the Lions Club of Engadine runs the McAllister Day Annual Fete at Cooper Street Reserve to honour the family that originally settled in the area.

Originally settled for grazing land, Engadine soon became a destination for camping and day-trips from the inner-Sydney suburbs. It remained isolated until 1920 when the railway station was built (with some funds donated by the local population). Many ex-soldiers settled here after World War I and several streets here recall this war and others as well, such as Anzac, Tobruk, Amiens, Bullecourt, Villers Brett, Nelson.

Boys Town, in the western part of the suburb was modelled on an American Boys Town institution. The institution helps boys who have not been able to conform to the rules of society, irrespective of their religious beliefs. It was founded in 1939 by Father T.V. Dunlea who was principal from 1939 to 1951.

The post office was opened on the 1st January 1927 and the school opened in September 1932. In the 1960s, the district became more established as a residential area and Crown Land was released for private purchase. The remaining land-parcels were developed in the 1990s, in North Engadine and Woronora Heights.

The Engadine shopping centre is considered to be the hub of the southern half of the Sutherland Shire, although the suburb of Menai could argue a case for this claim. There are plans to increase the shopping centre size to include a modern cinema complex and major retailers.

Engadine railway station is on the Illawarra line of the CityRail network. It is located close to the Princes Highway. Bus Routes are served by Veolia NSW.

There are many schools in Engadine. They are

Engadine High School
Engadine Public School
Engadine West Public School
Marton Public School
St John Bosco Primary School
St John Bosco College

Public facilities include the Engadine Leisure Centre (a heated outdoor aquatic centre), Anzac Oval (Engadine Dragons (rugby league), Cricket and Soccer field), Engadine Lawn Bowls Club, Engadine Returned Services Club, numerous churches, public parks, a skate park and gardens.

Engadine2233.com - newly-launched Web portal for Engadine residents. Has rail and Connex NSW bus information. See also: Engadine railway station, Sydney for some railway information.

Coordinates: -34.06726° 151.01028°