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Our Story

Central Element is more than just a company; it's a family, both literally and figuratively. Privately owned, CE is the result of nearly a century of hard work and steady vision, dedicated to creating beautiful developments that tell extraordinary stories.

OUR HISTORY

Central Element thrives under the guidance of three industry experts, who together have built a powerful team and a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of luxury developments across Sydney.

Central Element was founded in 2010 by a group of industry leaders with diverse expertise across construction, real estate, and accounting. United by a shared ambition to deliver quality without compromise, we established a builder-developer model focused on excellence across every stage — from acquisition to delivery.

With over 90 years of collective experience, we began with a boutique collection of 30 residences in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Today, our portfolio exceeds $3 billion in value, with more than 500 apartments delivered across metropolitan Sydney.

Our approach is underpinned by a commitment to considered site selection, world-class design, meticulous craftsmanship, and collaboration with industry-leading partners. Proudly Sydney-based and building to sell, we are dedicated to creating homes of enduring value — where every detail reflects a pursuit of lasting quality.

Family values, an award-winning team culture of integrity, and a focus on collaboration continue to drive Central Element forward. It is these foundations that have earned the trust of our buyers, our partners, and the communities we help to shape.

Construction Leadership Team - Dean Chivas (General Manager), Ben Priestley (Chief Operating Officer), Wayne Chivas (Director), Nathan Chivas (Managing Director), Hayden Callaghan (Head of Construction)

LEADERSHIP

Shane Smollen

Director

With a remarkable career in the property industry over four decades, Shane has established himself as a prominent industry figure through delivering exceptional results and consistent market leadership.
Shane was also a director of McGrath Ltd and a previous owner of a multi office real estate network generating sales of over $3 billion per annum.
His deep involvement and broad national contact network ensures he is extremely wired into the marketplace and is well positioned to identify trends on macro and local levels in real time.

Wayne Chivas

Director

Wayne has amassed over 40 years of extensive experience across diverse business and financial domains, particularly in the property industry. Notably, prior to Central Element, Wayne served as the Managing Director of Linx Projects, a renowned construction company based in Sydney, where he played a pivotal role in overseeing various projects from inception to completion, encompassing mid-tier residential, commercial developments and heritage refurbishments. A standout, the boutique luxury 110 Bower Street in Manly built in 2010/11, consists of four whole level apartments that steep down the site with views over Fairy Bower and Shelly Beach.

Throughout his career, Wayne has demonstrated strong financial acumen – founding Goodwin Chivas and Co Chartered Accountants and served as a director of Solatube International, a striving company in daylighting solutions based in the U.S.

Nathan Chivas

Managing Director

Nathan is pivotal to the company’s success and leads the strategy and vision with the team from acquisition through all stages of development, including finance, design, planning, and construction.
With a lifelong passion for the industry, Nathan has worked on a wide variety of complex projects throughout his career, overseeing everything from multi-story residential buildings to commercial and hotel developments.

Ben Priestley

Chief Operating Officer

With 20 years of experience in property, construction, and funds management, Ben has acquired extensive expertise in financial and commercial management within leading ASX and multi-national companies. His diverse background also encompasses investment and operational involvement in industrial services, oil & gas, and media industries.

His professional experience encompasses various areas, including financial control, strategy development, business planning, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), as well as mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and other corporate finance transactions.

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

When we build we build to stay, to enrich, to own - we’re the opposite of ‘set and forget.

4 level retail and commercial development

5 luxury residences

59 townhouses with lap pool & BBQ area

Shane Smollen & Wayne Chivas become Directors of Central Element

Together with PBD Architects, we created a building with a unique articulated façade

Nathan becomes Managing Director and leads the team day to day

46 residences

64 residences

30 residences

Multi Residential Exterior - Aston, Lane Cove

79 residences

54 residences

20 residences

Excellence in Medium-Density Development - Aura, Pymble

Excellence in NSW Regions Development - Capri, Point Frederick

Excellence in NSW Regions Development - Albany, Point Frederick

10 seniors living residences

Central Element acquires The West Olympia Theatre

14 residences with communal rooftop

The former Hyde Park Inn

To be transformed into a hotel and entertainment spaces

Excellence in Marketing - Pienza, Neutral Bay

Excellence in Marketing - Pienza, Neutral Bay & Mid-size residence - Balmoral Collection

4 whole-floor, never to be repeated residences

Richard Crookes leading the build of the Neutral Bay residences

The heritage building will be transformed into luxury residences

Growthbuilt led the build of these limited edition residences in Chatswood

Sensitively preserved Art Deco building, complemented with a modern addition

Our first debut into the Inner West

Approval granted to reimagine world-class Hyde Park site

The rare waterfront Wolseley Street site has been granted approval from the City of Canada Bay

Approval to reimagine the illustrious Ballamac House Coogee granted

Anden Coogee - Excellence in Medium Density

Anden Coogee - Excellence in Design

CE enter tightly held world-famous location of Bondi

A hidden gem in the Lower North Shore

Anden Coogee awarded Five Stars at prestigious Asia Pacific Property Awards 2024-2025

CE named on The Australian's Best Places to Work 2024 list

Nathan Chivas named a finalist for the Developer of the Year category

Nathan Chivas a finalist for the CEO of the Year - Property Development & Real Estate category

Oceanfront residence sells off-market for record $20m

Second Bondi site acquired on Lamrock Avenue

CE lead the restoration and transformation of Ballamac

CE makes the AFR Boss Best Places to Work 2025 list