Eleanor Pendleton is selling her charming Terrigal cottage for $1.65 million

• Owners: Eleanor Pendleton, former beauty editor and founder of cosmetic brand Haléau, and husband Mathew Wilson
• The property: Mackinley Cottage, a century-old home restored on a 1511-square-metre block
• Address: 350 Scenic Highway, Terrigal, NSW
• Price guide: $1.65 million
• Auction: 10am, November 1
• Agent: LJ Hooker Terrigal, Matthew Farrugia 0403 661 499

For many Australians, the ultimate dream is a coastal cottage – weatherboards weathered by time, children running barefoot through the garden, and the sea within earshot.

For Eleanor Pendleton – former beauty editor and founder of the cosmetic brand Haléau – her husband Mathew Wilson, and their children Banjo, 5, and Rumi, 2, that dream took the form of Mackinley Cottage, a century-old home perched on the ridgeline between Terrigal and Avoca on the NSW Central Coast.

“At the time, the cottage had been uninhabited for some years and was in desperate need of renovation,” Pendleton says.

“Mat’s older brother lived just a few doors down and knew the previous owners were considering selling, so we reached out directly and were fortunate to purchase the property privately – we felt excited by the opportunity to breathe new life into it.”

Built in 1926 by Mackinley Pickett – a name that endures in nearby Picketts Valley – the home was the first of its kind in the area.

During their restoration, Pendleton and Wilson were approached by the builder’s grandson, who brought with him black-and-white photographs of the original dwelling and the Pickett family gathered proudly out front.

“A local historian later shared postwar aerial photographs that traced the cottage’s place in the landscape across generations,” Pendleton adds.

“To see its story stretch back that far – and to be part of it now – has been deeply meaningful.”

And so the next chapter began.

While Pendleton and Wilson stayed at their Freshwater apartment in Sydney, local builder LJones Built took charge.

Asbestos was removed, the exterior was reclad in James Hardie Linea weatherboards, and colonial-era windows were reinstated to honour the cottage’s character.

Inside, a new kitchen was installed, floors were refreshed, and the laundry and guest bedroom were modernised.

“All of this happened during COVID, so we were juggling lockdowns while raising a toddler,” Pendleton says. “It wasn’t without its challenges, but we’re so proud of what we achieved in the end.”

Pendleton treasures the 100-year-old hardwood floors and the grapevine-covered pergola, which marks the seasons with its shifting canopy.

She also loves the mulberry tree in the back garden, its fruit staining the children’s hands and mouths each summer.

“The cottage backs onto a bush reserve, and the kids love nothing more than racing out the back to eat mulberries straight from the tree,” Pendleton says.

“Mat and Banjo often head through the gate for a bush walk – they’ve even spotted wild deer.”

In fact, much of the family’s time on the property is spent outdoors.

The vegetable garden, laid out by Wilson, has been both a patch of produce and a classroom for the children.

Sundays would often involve a swim or surf at Avoca, followed by a barefoot afternoon in the garden and pizzas cooked outdoors.

“Every year since we moved in, we’ve hosted Easter Sunday here,” Pendleton says.

“The garden, with its fruit trees and open spaces, is the perfect playground for an Easter egg hunt. It’s pure joy watching the kids race around in search of treasures.”

Both Pendleton and Wilson grew up on the Central Coast but spent their 20s and 30s in Sydney’s Northern Beaches and eastern suburbs.

They say returning has felt humbling, bringing them closer to family and allowing their children to enjoy the same beaches and bushland they knew as kids.

“Although we’re in Terrigal, our spot is actually closer to Picketts Valley and Avoca, so we really get the best of both worlds,” Pendleton says.

“We’re out of what locals call ‘the bowl,’ so it’s quieter, yet still less than five minutes from some of the best cafes, beaches and restaurants on the coast.”

The decision to sell comes with mixed emotions.

The couple has loved their 1511-square-metre block so much that it has inspired them to think bigger still – more land, more space for their children to roam.

Auction

350 Scenic Highway, Terrigal NSW 2260

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“We’ve adored this home and all it has given us, but it feels like the right moment for our family to begin the next chapter,” Pendleton says.

“It’s bittersweet to let go, yet a place as special as Mackinley Cottage will always be cherished – passed with care from one family to the next.”