The Stony Creek masterplan has been released, marking a milestone for the Dennis Family Corporation’s first development in Gippsland.
About Stony Creek
Stony Creek is a masterplanned residential community by Dennis Family Corporation, located on the western side of Drouin in Victoria’s Baw Baw Shire.
The development comprises more than 380 residential lots and includes planned community, education and open space infrastructure.
Project Director Paul Melideo is looking forward to creating a community shaped by the existing waterway, rolling landscape and character of West Gippsland, rather than applying a design that could belong almost anywhere.
“What we hope to bring in Stony Creek will really enhance the natural environment that everyone is so connected through, both in Drouin and then the broader Gippsland area.”
Masterplan
Image: The Stony Creek Masterplan, Drouin – stonycreekdrouin.com.au
The Stony Creek masterplan includes:
- Proposed future school
- Proposed community space
- Future commercial space
- Medium density residences
- Stony Creek park and playground with pump track
- Multi-use sports court
- Stony Creek boardwalk
A new type of market for DFC
Senior project manager Bonnie Levinge says it’s exciting because it drives a different product type – larger lots are more attainable because they’re more affordable
“The average lot size will be larger than your average lot size in Melbourne (~500 m2), so that provides a lot of freedom for a mix of housing typology for families who want to make Drouin and Stony Creek their home.
“Amenity, like the waterway, is expected to go ahead in parallel with Stage 1,” Bonnie said.
“I’m really excited about Gippsland because we can deliver larger lots at a price point that will be achievable for families, with product diversity catering to singles, couples and families, first and second or subsequent home buyers,” Bonnie added.
Image: Looking north east over Stony Creek, Drouin – stonycreekdrouin.com.au
Stony Creek expands Dennis Family Corporation’s residential portfolio of residential projects ranging from first home buyer affordability in Victoria’s growth areas to a high-end luxury on the Sunshine Coast, Beachside in Yaroomba.
Victoria residential developments currently underway include Manor Lakes, Peppercorn Hill, Donnybrae, Modeina, Ashbury and Westbrook.
Landscape architecture and urban design practice Spiire has worked with the Dennis Family Corporation project team to interpret the site’s existing features and bring them into the future neighbourhood.
Spiire Practice Manager Nadia Combe grew up nearby and said the design team wanted the landscape to feel recognisably Gippsland.
“There’s a different connection that you feel when you’re from this area and it’s really special,” Nadia said.
“Bringing that to the project was something that I was pushing the design team to reflect on so that we weren’t just creating something that we could put anywhere else.”
Spiire landscape architects sketch out what the development could look like when complete.
Learn more about Stony Creek
Learn more about the Dennis family history
From modest beginnings in 1960, Bert Dennis and his family have built a business which has become one of Australia’s leading privately owned residential land development companies.
About Drouin
- Population approximately 18,000 residents (id.community forecast)
- Median age being 39 years old (2021 Census)
- The Gippsland railway line reached Drouin in 1878.
- Mount Baw Baw and the Strzelecki Ranges are visible from the town.
- The Drouin Precinct Structure Plan gazetted in 2014 covers 843 hectares to accommodate 7,400 new dwellings, including new shopping centres, new schools, new community centres, expanded business and industrial areas.
- The Drouin Hawks play in the Gippsland League Football League.
- Gary Ablett Sr., Luke Ablett, Dale Thomas and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti all played for the Drouin Hawks prior to making their VFL/AFL debut.
- Drouin’s sister city is Barrhead in Alberta, Canada
- Drouin Township Plan 2020-2036 – Baw Baw Shire Council
Drouin real estate and demographic profiles
Stony Creek FAQs
Where is Stony Creek located?
Stony Creek is located in Drouin, Victoria, within the Baw Baw Shire, approximately 97 kilometres south-east of the Melbourne CBD. Drouin sits between Warragul and Bunyip.
What amenities are available in Drouin?
Drouin includes a full-service regional town centre with Coles and Woolworths supermarkets, specialty retail, cafes and restaurants, and medical centres.
The West Gippsland hospital is located in Warragul, 10 minutes drive from Drouin.
There are several early learning centres, three primary schools and Drouin Secondary College within the town.
The area also offers parks, walking trails, sporting facilities, golf course, seasonal swimming pool, nearby wineries and local produce market.
How well connected is Drouin to Melbourne and surrounding areas?
- Road access: The Princes Highway (M1/Monash Freeway) runs through Drouin.
- Rail services: Drouin train station carries V/Line services to Southern Cross Station in under 90 minutes.
- Bus services: Local bus services connect Drouin with surrounding towns.
- Nearby: The town is approximately a 10-minute drive from Warragul, around 30 minutes from Pakenham.
How affordable is Drouin compared to Melbourne?
As at January 2026, the median house price in Drouin was $651,000 (realestate.com.au) compared with $980,000 in Melbourne (ABC News), positioning the town as a more affordable housing market while retaining access to infrastructure, services and transport.
What major infrastructure investment is planned for the Drouin region?
In Warragul, planned and committed infrastructure includes the $675 million West Gippsland Hospital, delivering a new emergency department, 223 operating beds and a 60-bed public residential aged care facility due to be completed in 2028.
