From Australia's #1 franchise builder to renovations, fitouts, licensed trades and fishing tackle — all built on the same foundation of professionalism, systems and great people.
Thirty years with Australia’s #1 franchised builder, from accountant to CEO to Chairman.
Founded in Queensland in 1983 by Greg Gardner, GJ Gardner Homes is Australia's #1 franchised building company. Darren joined in 1994 as accountant, became partner in 1996, and was appointed CEO in 2000 with 20 franchisees.
Over 20 years he built the network to 129 franchisees across Australia, New Zealand and the USA, with the company delivering over $1.8 billion in group sales in Darren's final year and achieving a ranking of 98th in the Top 200 Franchise Systems Worldwide. Under his leadership, GJ Gardner won the FCA's coveted Established Franchisor of the Year (2017) and Excellence in International Franchising (2013, 2016, 2017).
In 2020, Darren handed the CEO role to Trent Gardner and moved to Chairman. The company has now built over 30,000 homes across three countries.
Taking the GJ Gardner playbook into renovations, commercial fitouts and the licensed trades.
Co-founded in 2008 by Darren Wallis, Greg Gardner, Corey Passey and Darren's brother Leigh Wallis — born from a frustration with the lack of professionalism in the home renovation industry.
The first office opened in Maroochydore, Queensland in March 2008. The concept was simple: give homeowners a complete, professional renovation experience from concept to completion. Within four years, Smith & Sons had grown to 50+ offices. Today the network has 80+ franchises across Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Named BRW's #1 Fastest Franchise for Outlet Growth (2012) and #2 Fastest Franchise for Revenue Growth (2012). Darren remains a director and shareholder, providing strategic direction.
Launched in 2014, Total Fitouts was co-developed by Darren, the Smith & Sons directors and Jeremy Dyer — applying the same proven "concept to completion" franchise model to the commercial fitout industry.
Total Fitouts serves every type of commercial space: medical suites, professional offices, retail outlets, hospitality venues and more. The franchise model gave the market something new — a complete, simple and professional fitout solution with exceptional client service from first consult to final handover.
The business now has 25+ franchises operating across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New Zealand, with a serious three-year national growth plan underway. This year it is also opening its first two offices in the UK.
Team Trades is a licensed trades network for plumbing and electrical work. Each office is locally owned and run, with fixed upfront quotes and guaranteed workmanship, backed by the systems, training and marketing of a national brand.
Built in 2026 by the same leadership team behind Smith & Sons, it takes 18 years of renovation franchising know-how into the licensed trades. New Zealand came first, with the first franchisee signed in September 2026. In Darren’s words: “Done! It’s official – we are away!”
Australia is next as the network grows.
Putting capital, experience and a network behind founders solving problems Darren knows first-hand.
Hattch is an online marketplace that matches people wanting to buy a franchise or business with the right opportunity. A 31-question profile works out what kind of business owner you are, then matches you to franchises and businesses that fit.
After three decades of recruiting franchisees, Darren knows finding the right person is the hardest part of franchising. He invested in Hattch in 2022, joined its Board of Advisors in 2023, and brought GJ Gardner, Smith & Sons and Total Fitouts on as early partners.
When he took the profile himself, it matched him to nothing. His verdict: he “would be a pain in the arse franchisee”.
Getter lets tradies and builders order building materials online and have them delivered to site within the hour, from a catalogue of more than 50,000 products. The press called it “Uber Eats for construction materials”.
Every builder knows the cost of a tradie leaving site for a hardware run. Darren backed Getter early as an investor and adviser, and brought GJ Gardner, Total Fitouts and Smith & Sons in behind it to help the founders grow across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Where work stops and the fun starts. Mostly.
A free-to-air fishing show on 7mate and 7plus, hosted by Darren with his two brothers. Five seasons of Australia’s best fishing spots, plenty of laughs and stories from the shed, with Season 6 on the way.
A fishing tackle wholesaler based on the Sunshine Coast, supplying Tackle World stores and independent tackle shops across Australia with brands like BIM Tackle, Mikado, Black Bay, Baitsanity and Jaws.
Superior Fishing Supplies now distributes Fox Rage in Australia, pairing a lifelong love of fishing with the same supply and distribution discipline Darren has used across his building businesses.
Good Bean began in 2010 as a single coffee shop. In 2014, founder Shane Hepburn approached Darren for help turning it into a scalable model, and Darren came on board as director, applying the same franchise-building approach that defined his career.
Good Bean grew to about 20 stores across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, supported by its own roastery and coffee distribution company. The business was sold in 2026.
With three decades of hands-on franchise building across multiple industries, Darren consults to businesses looking to grow — especially in franchising.
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