Central Element Cracks Bondi with $150m Ultra-Luxury Win

Central Element has won court approval for a $150-million luxury project on one of Bondi’s most exclusive coastal sites.

The residential development would rise with uninterrupted ocean views on a 2050sq m site at 20-22 Sandridge Street and 21 Wilga Street, after a court-overseen redesign addressed council delays and community concerns.

The project, known as Pearl Bondi, would deliver seven high-end homes on a steep, elevated block just inland from the cliffline, with views stretching across the Tasman Sea and north towards Bondi Beach and Ben Buckler Headland.

It includes two freestanding homes and a four-storey building with five large apartments—two with private pools and three whole-floor homes—topped by a 217sq m penthouse with multiple terraces and a study.

About 500sq m of communal gardens and basement parking would be shared across the site, with access from Sandridge Street and pedestrian links to Wilga Street.

The property sits a stone’s throw from the famous Bondi to Bronte coastal walk.

Pricing was expected to begin around $20 million, with both the apartments and houses anticipated to sell in this ballpark.

Central Element lodged the development application in December 2023 but appealed to the Land and Environment Court after Waverley Council failed to make a decision within the required timeframe.

▲ The Pearl Bondi site spans three lots along Sandridge and Wilga streets, just metres from the coastal cliffline.

During the conciliation process, the developer made a series of changes to address neighbour concerns around height, bulk, view loss and privacy.

Both houses were lowered from 9.9m to 8.6m and their rooflines redesigned to reduce visual impact.

In the apartment building, upper balconies were stepped back, glazed balustrades replaced with solid concrete and fixed angled privacy screens added to key windows and terraces.

Planter boxes were introduced along the building edges, rooftop services were concealed and skylights reworked to reduce their visibility from neighbouring properties.

At street level, the pedestrian entry was revised and additional landscaping added, including an outdoor shower and water feature.

The amended plans were approved by the court in May.

▲ Four of the planned residences will include private pools, including both houses and two ground-floor apartments.

The final scheme was designed by MHNDU with interiors by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects and landscaping by Dangar Barin Smith.

Both houses and the ground-floor apartments would feature private pools.

The penthouse includes more than 200sq m of internal space, two east-facing balconies, two west-facing terraces, and a flexible second living or study area.

Construction is expected to begin in the final quarter of 2025.

Pearl Bondi was Central Element’s first approved development in the suburb, with a second site at Lamrock Avenue now in planning.

A development application was lodged for nine ultra-luxury homes at the 1200sq m site, running parallel to the suburb’s main strip, Hall Street.

▲ Rendering shows panoramic views north across Bondi Beach and Ben Buckler Headland.

The developer is on track to complete five projects across Sydney this year.

These include Pienza at Neutral Bay and Ethos at Chatswood, both mixed-use precincts.

In Paddington, construction is under way on a hotel and entertainment precinct featuring Australia’s first 25hours Hotel.

In the Inner West, Central Element is finalising Bianca Drummoyne, a boutique waterfront apartment development, while in the east, its restoration of Ballamac House in Coogee has topped out.

Other recent acquisitions include a site at Greenwich earmarked for a mixed-use seniors living project.