FELIX REITANO’S BUSINESS – OVER 85 YEARS OF HISTORY

The staff of Felix Reitano Furniture and Real Estate are ready to help you!
The family firm is most probably the oldest family business operating in Ingham and is celebrating its 85th year of business in 2008.

Having traded in the Herbert River District since 1923, the family and their staff are ready to assist you with anything that you need.

The family dynasty was commenced by Felix Reitano 1st who had originally come to Australia from Italy, and worked for a time delivering fruit to the Governor’s House in Sydney. It was while he was in Sydney that he was taught English. He eventually moved to the local district and the business was originally commenced in Halifax at a room at the Commercial Hotel. Because he was able to speak both English and Italian he acted as an interpreter between both cultures.

Felix raised his family of four sons and two daughters on a farmhouse between Halifax and Taylors Beach – now called Reitano’s Road.

During the 2nd World War, despite his four sons being involved with the Australian Services, Felix was interned because as an interpreter he was seen as being powerful among the Italians, as he had been naturalized and was a Justice of the Peace.

He eventually moved the business to Ingham and commenced trading in the present Salvation Army Building. Older locals still recall the Auctions that used to be held around this site at the Central Sale Yards. The business had a number of sites around this Herbert Street area.

One of Felix’s sons, Felix 2nd worked in the business, specialising in furniture for many years. In 1972 the family moved its business to the current site at 109 Cartwright Street, Ingham.

In the 1980’s Felix and his brother Bert, along with Felix’s son (also Felix) commenced doing furniture display trips into Queensland’s Gulf Country and up to Cape York and Thursday Island. The family also built an Indoor Cricket Centre at the rear of their premises, and this ran for a number of years. The building is today used for the new and second-hand furniture display and storage areas.

In 1997 the family was awoken one morning to the shocking news that their store was on fire. The building was totally gutted, so the family set about rebuilding and now operate from a fully airconditioned office and showroom on the same site at 109 Cartwright Street.

Today, the original Felix’s grandson, Felix 3rd is one of the Directors of the business and is the person to see about most of your Real Estate needs, whether it is residential, commercial or rural. He has been a General Auctioneer since 1982.

Felix (the 4th - known as “Peter”) is ready to assist clients with their Real Estate needs in the town, beach and out-of-town homes. He has been a General Auctioneer since 1995.


Judy Reitano is the company's Head Property Manager. She spends many hours to ensure that property owners have their properties rented and tenants find the right property.

Margaret Reitano is the other Director of the business and the Head of the Furniture Division of the business. After Felix Reitano Real Estate sells you your house, Margaret is ready to assist the clients in furnishing their houses. A discount on furniture is offered to clients who buy properties through their business.

Beside the family a number of staff are also on hand to assist the clients.

The busy times in Real Estate that the business has recently experienced, has meant they have had to employ Leanne Succio and Megan Lawlor (Sales and Property Management) who have become well respected for her professionalism by owners and landlords alike.

Nigel Newman and Graham Besgrove are on hand to assist with Second-hand Sales and conduct the removals and delivery of furniture.

Geraldine Scuderi is the company’s Receptionist and Furniture Assistant.

The Real Estate business is a member of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland and they have their own website – www.reitano.com.au.
They also subscribe to a number of other websites to assist their clients ie. www.realestate.com.au

So, as you can see the Reitano family and their staff are ready to assist
you with any of your needs. Call in to see them at their showrooms at
109 Cartwright Street, Ingham or phone them on 47765007 or after hours on
47762571. As their motto says they "Sell the Earth & What's On It !".

For almost 85 years the Reitano Family have made their clients’ needs their Number One priority !