Frank Cefai, ‘the King of Greystanes’ dies aged 99

A Maltese migrant who became an ‘icon’ in his western Sydney suburb where he built multiple houses with his signature style has died. Family and friends share his extraordinary legacy.

Hardworking migrant Frank Cefai in 1953 when he started a construction company.

He was born in Malta but Frank Cefai will be remembered as the “King of Greystanes”, as well as a gentleman and talented tradesman who led an extraordinary life, which ended on July 2 aged 99.

He was born Fortunato Cefai (meaning lucky in Italian) on the tiny island of Gozo on June 6, 1924.

One of Mr Cefai’s 22 grandchildren, Greg Cefai, said his grandfather’s challenging childhood was instrumental in his success borne out of a strong work ethic.

His father died when he was five and soon after his mother could not afford to care for him or his three siblings who were sent to an orphanage where he lived until he was 16.

He was forced to fend for himself as a teenager during World War II, when Malta became the most bombed country in the world.

Frank Cefai (front, second from right) laying the the stone at St Simon Stock High School (before it was known as Newman High School and St Paul’s Catholic College) at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in 1974.

He had a brief stint digging air shelters and avoided conscription when he landed employment with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers so he could work with the British Army.

It’s there that he demonstrated a canny ability for construction and learned to build roofs for

hangars housing war planes.

Multi-talented, he learned to play the trumpet and performed in some of Malta’s jazz bars.

“He was a man who believed in very, very hard work … because he had nothing in early life,’’ Mr Cefai said.

“He was absolutely one of a kind. When we called him he would say ‘I’m a ball of muscles’. His secret to life was being positive. He never spoke badly about anyone.’’

He said his grandfather took just one day to secure his building licence in Sydney.

“He was incredible. His mind was his sharpest tool,’’ he said.

On the first day of his job as a carpenter, Mr Cefai met his wife Rita and they married in 1946.

The passport photo of Frank Cefai, who migrated to Australia in 1950.

Frank Cefai had to grow up early.

With three children, they migrated to Australia and sailed into Sydney Harbour on May 1, 1950, and first settled in Smithfield where he raised his family of seven children for 17 years before moving to Greystanes in 1964.

CF Cefai builders on the job in the business’ heyday.

Frank Cefai with his wife Rita, who died in 2004.

It was at Greystanes, then known as Pendle Hill, where he developed his trademark building style: black tile or sandstone corner angles on brick dwellings in a suburb synonymous for its Maltese community.

He established his company CF Cefai, which constructed Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church at Greystanes along with the neighbouring Newman High School (now St Paul’s Catholic College), Patrician Brothers’ Fairfield monastery and St Dominic’s Home for the Elderly at Blacktown.

Frank built the house of Maltese Herald founding editor, Lawrence Dimech, at Pendle Hill.

“Frank was virtually an icon around this area,’’ Mr Dimech said.

“He was a gentleman, well know and above all he was a philanthropist.’’

Mr Cefai’s funeral will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Greystanes, on Tuesday July 11 at 11.30am.

Mr Cefai is survived by his seven children, 22 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.