Central Element lodges DA for 45 homes on Drummoyne's harbourfront

Central Element has lodged a Development Application for 45 homes at 15A-21 St Georges Crescent, Drummoyne - a north-facing, 1,701sqm site with sweeping views across the harbour to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and CBD. 

It's the kind of site that rarely comes up on the Drummoyne peninsula, where constrained land supply, established character and waterfront geography make meaningful new development genuinely uncommon. Designed by MHN Design Union (MHNDU), the ten-storey development will deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes, with eight affordable housing apartments included. 

The lodgement comes as Sydney faces growing pressure to deliver new housing in established, highly desirable suburbs. With the City of Canada Bay's population forecast to increase by almost 30 per cent over the next two decades, the need for thoughtfully designed housing close to jobs, transport and amenity has never been greater.

Despite this growth, opportunities to create new homes in Drummoyne remain exceptionally limited due to the suburb's peninsula geography, established character and constrained land supply. Central Element's proposal represents a rare opportunity to introduce new housing into one of Sydney's most sought-after harbourside communities.

With Drummoyne village identified as a town centre under the NSW Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, the site was selected for its capacity to support a high-quality architectural outcome within an area undergoing significant planning evolution.

Located within walking distance of Drummoyne Sailing Club, Birkenhead Point, ferry services and the Bay Run, the site combines a rare, elevated position with sweeping north and easterly outlooks across the harbour towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge and CBD skyline. Positioned close to Drummoyne Village and surrounded by some of Sydney's most established waterfront homes, the project is a strategic response to growing demand for premium owner-occupier housing within boutique developments offering direct connections to the harbour and local village amenity.

Resident amenity in the development will include a gym, landscaped communal open space and three levels of basement parking. A curated landscaping approach, including deep soil planting and replacement tree canopy, has been incorporated throughout the design to strengthen the connection between the building, landscape and water.

Defined by clean horizontal forms, soft curves and expansive glazing, the building has been conceived as a sculptural yet composed addition to the bay. Generous balconies extend living spaces outward, blurring the distinction between inside and out, while a carefully considered material palette and integrated landscaping anchor the building within its natural harbourside setting.

The DA follows CE's acquisition of the site earlier this year and continues the company's strategic expansion across Sydney's most desirable locations including the Inner West, East and North Shore. The project sits alongside a growing pipeline of developments including two luxury residential projects in Bondi - Pearl Bondi and one on Lamrock Avenue, a premium residential offering in Barry Street Neutral Bay and a mixed-use seniors living community in Greenwich.

Nathan Chivas, managing director of Central Element, said the site represented one of the most compelling residential development opportunities to emerge in Drummoyne in recent years.

"While we’re seeing a significant shift across Canada Bay as major infrastructure investment, population growth and planning reform drive a new chapter for the region, in suburbs like Drummoyne there remains a genuine shortage of new boutique luxury housing opportunities for owner occupiers," Nathan said.

"Sites of this nature are increasingly difficult to secure, particularly those that combine a north-facing aspect with direct water outlook. Our St Georges Crescent project responds directly to the market demand, offering a level of exclusivity, outlook and lifestyle in the highly sought after suburb.”

The proposal is one of a limited number of new residential projects planned for the Drummoyne peninsula and reflects Central Element's strategy of securing tightly held waterfront and village-fringe locations ahead of broader market transformation. While larger urban renewal projects continue to emerge across the Canada Bay region, the development has been deliberately conceived as a boutique residential offering that responds to the unique character and scale of its waterfront setting.

The DA has been lodged with the City of Canada Bay Council and project is anticipated to launch to market in early 2027.

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