Hermitage Engadine: Apartments on the fringe of the Royal National Park

It wasn't until the 1950s when Engadine, a small Sutherland Shire suburb 30 kilometres south of Sydney, swung from a primarily rural area to one thousands would call home.

The suburb's name was derived from a word used by the local indigenous people, meaning "a valley or deep hollow between two mountains".

Despite its urbanisation following a housing boom over seven decades ago, Engadine has retained its natural beauty. It's surrounded by national parks and natural reserves, including the Royal National Park and Heathcote National Park.

Architects Smith & Tzannes tapped into these surrounds when they were creating Hermitage Engadine, the boutique apartment development on the fringe of the Royal National Park.

The two-building project, now over 50 per cent sold, began construction in June 2022, with the 64-apartment development slated for completion by the end of this year. 

The boutique building features a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, each featuring either city, national park, or district views. 

Residents will be welcomed by a striking foyer, layered with textures including concrete finished that are paired with a recycled timber feature wall and reclaimed railway sleeper timber seating. 

Greenery is abundant in the foyer, further reflecting Hermitage's connection to nature, while a collection of black and white framed images don the walls in a nod to Engadine's history. 

The open living and dining zones flow onto generously proportioned balconies, creating a connection between the indoors and the out, with fully-ducted air-conditioning throughout. 

Awash with warm wooden tones and enriched by earthy materials, the kitchens feature Smeg appliances, Cloudburst Concrete Caesarstone benchtops and splashbacks, while the bedrooms include textural carpets and sheer drapes. In the bathrooms, residents will find integrated stone and timber vanities, as well as freestanding baths and Parisi fixtures. 

Less than a 40-minute drive from both the Sydney and Wollongong CBD, Hermitage offers the best of both worlds. The development is a perfect urban oasis, a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Highland are marketing the apartments where prices for a one-bedroom apartment start from $580,000. The two-bedders have an asking price of $720,000, while the three-bedders top out just over $1 million.