Nearly a century after Giuseppe Candeloro first set foot in Western Australia, dozens of his descendants came together this month to celebrate the man who left his mark on Canning Vale and beyond.
In 1925, Giuseppe arrived from Italy with little more than determination.
He began chopping and selling firewood to make ends meet, eventually saving enough to buy a block of land near what is now the corner of Bannister Road and Willeri Drive. Back then, the area was a tangle of paperbark trees and sand tracks.
“He lived in a tent for the first few years and built his own home from mud bricks,” granddaughter Rosita Candeloro said.
“There were no roads or electricity, and he had to clear the tracks himself just to get to the farm.”
By 1933, Giuseppe had saved enough to bring his wife Maria and sons Donato and Spadolino to Australia. His daughter Joan was born here in 1936; the first Candeloro born in Australia, and still lives nearby in Parkwood.
Giuseppe started a thriving market garden, supplying fresh vegetables to the community and, during the Second World War, to the army. “He had the contract to feed the troops, so his farm kept the soldiers supplied with produce,” Rosita said.
The farm, known as Candeloro and Sons, became a hub for newly arrived relatives and friends Giuseppe sponsored from Italy.
Many worked alongside him, helping to expand the business. His son Spadolino later became known for lobbying for roads and electricity to be brought to Riverton, working with other early settlers to improve the district.
Life was not without setbacks. In the late 1950s, the family lost the farm when the land was resumed to build Roe Highway.
The site’s history is still remembered in a mural painted under the Willeri Drive pedestrian tunnel, depicting scenes from Giuseppe’s life.
Giuseppe died in 1952, but his legacy lived on through his children and grandchildren. His grandson, also named Giuseppe but known as Joe, went on to build a major agricultural operation in Toodyay, growing wheat, lupins and other crops.
The Candeloro name also returned to local maps after a campaign by the family. A street in Canning Vale now bears their name in recognition of their role in the area’s development.
On August 10, about 80 family members gathered at the Willetton Pavilion on Riverton Oval to mark the centenary of Giuseppe’s arrival.
Children played bocce and soccer on the oval while older relatives reminisced, shared photos and told stories. The family had hoped to take a group photo under the Candeloro Road sign, a plan first suggested five years ago before COVID forced a cancellation, but wet weather meant they posed with a banner instead.
Rosita said the gathering was more than just a tribute to her grandfather.
“It was also a celebration of all the descendants who built their lives here because of his sacrifices. He came with nothing, worked hard, brought his family here and gave them a better future. We wouldn’t be where we are now if it wasn’t for him.”
For the Candeloro family, the values Giuseppe and Spadolino passed down, including hard work, resilience and a strong sense of family, remain at the heart of their connection. “Even though we’re spread all over WA and across Australia, we still have that bond,” Rosita said.
“It’s our heritage, and it’s something we’ll never forget.”
