Engadine is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
Engadine is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Engadine is located 33 kilometres (21 mi) south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Sutherland Shire.
History
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.
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, and Nelson.
Dunlea Centre, Australia's original Boys' Town, in the western part of the suburb was modelled on the American Boys Town institution. The residential school and day programs help children, regardless of their religious background, who have not been able to conform to the rules of society. It was founded in 1939 by Father Thomas Dunlea who was principal from 1939 to 1951.
The post office was opened on 1 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.
Weather
Things to do
Engadine is bounded by The Royal National Park to the east, and Heathcote National Park to the west. 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.