The Gold Coast History Museum and its grounds lies on a 1.7 acre block in Elliott St, Surfers Paradise. For many years after European settlement the entire area was comprised largely of farms, from sugar cane to dairy. The above painting in our collection shows the buildings at the Heisner farm, which was adjacent to what is now the Anglican Church on Salerno St, Isle of Capri.
In 1958, Efim Zola purchased 104 acres of swampy farmland from dairy farmers Heisner and Gooding, with sugar cane now becoming a fading memory. He purchased an additional 173 acres and then two years later sold it to Bruce Small. The move from farmland to home blocks transformed the land on which cattle were run, and which grew produce such as pumpkins and potatoes.
The Heisner cottage, bore no name of its own and was a known landmark for many years for people crossing the Isle of Capri. In June 1979 it was demolished to make way for the “Fig Tree” townhouse development. The complex took its name from the giant fig tree which stood on the northern boundary of the property.
Information on the back of the painting notes, “By an odd twist of fate, as though to signal the end of a bygone era, the fig tree met its fate – being blown down during a violent windstorm on the day of the official Opening of the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, 1982.
From the South Coast Bulletin in 1933…A Native Cat. With a tally of 8 fowls to its credit a native cat was shot by Mr. Bert Gibson on Mr. A (August) Heisner’s dairy farm on Monday morning. The cat measured 3ft from nose to tail tip and its fur was brown in color with white spots. This was the first native cat seen at Benowa.
The Fig Tree complex has since been replaced with Capri Villas, which has almost completed construction. Welcome to a world of unparalleled luxury on the stunning Gold Coast. Nestled in an exclusive enclave, these magnificent luxury villas redefine upscale living with their exquisite design and breathtaking surroundings. Crafted with meticulous attention to details, each villa offers an unrivalled blend of opulence and comfort.
If you are quick and have a deep wallet, you may still be able to snaffle one up!
The Gold Coast Historical Museum 
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