Delfin (company)
| Company type | Public (until 2001) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Residential property development |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Founder | John Marks |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Fate | Acquired by Lendlease |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Parent | Lendlease (from 2001) |
Delfin, initially known as the Development Finance Company, was an Australian residential property developer that was acquired by Lendlease in 2001.
History
Established in 1953 by John Marks under the name Development Finance Company (DFC), the firm transitioned into a public entity in 1957 and secured a listing on the Australian Securities Exchange by 1959. The company's mission was to foster Australia's industrial expansion by offering long-term financing and stable capital to local enterprises. The brand “DelFin” was associated with a number of its subsidiaries.
In 1969, DFC expanded into real estate development through its subsidiary, Delfin Management Services Pty Ltd, collaborating with the Government of South Australia to create West Lakes, a residential community near Adelaide’s central business district.
The company was acquired by ANZ Bank in 1983. Later, after separating from ANZ, Delfin Property Group was bought by Lendlease in 2001 for $172 million. Following this transaction, Delfin was removed from the stock exchange and rebranded as Delfin Lend Lease.
Urban developments
From the late 1900s into the early 2000s, DFC spearheaded numerous significant urban development projects throughout Australia, including:
- West Lakes (1970)
- Golden Grove (1984)
- Rosewood (1992)
- Mawson Lakes (1998)
- Blakes Crossing (2009)
- Springwood (2010) — development rights were sold in January 2016; project completion overseen by Wel.co.