The Siganto's
John Siganto
Date of Birth : 26th February 1852
Trieste, Italy
John Siganto left home at the age of 11 and started working as a cabin boy aboard small vessels in the Mediterranean. He continue to work on various ships an eventually jumped ship in Brisbane in March 1872. He travelled to the Upper Coomera aboard a trading cutter.
He worked as a bullock driver and timber-getter for John Mathewson for 10 shillings a week. In December 1872 together with John Tuesley he rowed in a small boat from Upper Coomera to Nerang where Tuesley had a farm. For the next 4 years John Siganto ran a cutter service in partnership with John Tuesley taking farm produce from Upper Coomera and provide transportation of supplies on the return voyage. He built himself a home on the banks of the river at Upper Coomera in 1876.
Date of Birth : 26th February 1852
Trieste, Italy
John Siganto left home at the age of 11 and started working as a cabin boy aboard small vessels in the Mediterranean. He continue to work on various ships an eventually jumped ship in Brisbane in March 1872. He travelled to the Upper Coomera aboard a trading cutter.
He worked as a bullock driver and timber-getter for John Mathewson for 10 shillings a week. In December 1872 together with John Tuesley he rowed in a small boat from Upper Coomera to Nerang where Tuesley had a farm. For the next 4 years John Siganto ran a cutter service in partnership with John Tuesley taking farm produce from Upper Coomera and provide transportation of supplies on the return voyage. He built himself a home on the banks of the river at Upper Coomera in 1876.
In the same year he married Elizabeth Fanny Lane from Wongawallen. 1878 the Siganto's took up a selection of forest land at Coomera and built another house. Then followed business as a general store keeper, butcher, baker and cutter operator. When flood and then fire destroyed their shop they continue to rebuild. Mrs Siganto operated the business of the general store while her husband was away with the cutter business. (This building is still operating on Oxenford Tamborine Rd) .
Whilst still operating the general store and the cutter trade Mr Siganto took up oyster bed leases at Coombabah. He successfully carried on the oyster trade for over 30 years before selling out to Mr Veivers of Southport.
Mr Siganto eventually gave up the cutter trade and rented numerous dairy properties at Coombabah and Tamborine Mountain , leasing them to share farmers.
It was suggested to John Siganto by the Governor of Queensland to build a sanitorium (medical facility) at the southern end of Mount Tambourine. He went ahead with construction but the building operated as the St Bernards hotel for 9 years before it was sold to a group of doctors who then ran the business as a sanitorium has first suggested.
From 1875 - 1884 Masses, baptisms, funerals and weddings were held at the Siganto home in Upper Coomera. Fr Scortechni visted the Coomera River settlement on a 3 monthly rotation. John Siganto was a member of the Southport Council for 25 years from 1905 to 1930 and was a member of the Coomera Shire Council for 35 years.
John Siganto was an astute business man filled with grit and determination. Mr Siganto worked hard at various occupations from a very early age. He overcame language barriers to become a self-made man whose energy, business acumen and wonderful vision mixed with common sense, created a small business empire in the South East corner of Queensland. This not only benefited himself and his family but also giving a great community and public service to all.
Mr Siganto eventually gave up the cutter trade and rented numerous dairy properties at Coombabah and Tamborine Mountain , leasing them to share farmers.
It was suggested to John Siganto by the Governor of Queensland to build a sanitorium (medical facility) at the southern end of Mount Tambourine. He went ahead with construction but the building operated as the St Bernards hotel for 9 years before it was sold to a group of doctors who then ran the business as a sanitorium has first suggested.
From 1875 - 1884 Masses, baptisms, funerals and weddings were held at the Siganto home in Upper Coomera. Fr Scortechni visted the Coomera River settlement on a 3 monthly rotation. John Siganto was a member of the Southport Council for 25 years from 1905 to 1930 and was a member of the Coomera Shire Council for 35 years.
John Siganto was an astute business man filled with grit and determination. Mr Siganto worked hard at various occupations from a very early age. He overcame language barriers to become a self-made man whose energy, business acumen and wonderful vision mixed with common sense, created a small business empire in the South East corner of Queensland. This not only benefited himself and his family but also giving a great community and public service to all.
Between 1877 to 1891 John and Elizabeth Siganto had 10 children. (click on this link to see all of the children's names).
A park near the Upper Coomera School of Arts has been named the John Siganto Reserve and a street in Oxenford/Helensvale is named after the Siganto family.