Family Business
Issue No. 50 - December/ /
Nieva means custom-built heirlooms
by Pamela Brombal
In 1982, Argentinean-born migrant, Ernesto Nieva fulfilled his dream of starting a business in Australia.
After migrating in 1977 with his wife and four daughters, Ernesto worked in a cardboard manufacturing and then as a labourer before his supervisor acknowledged his cabinetmaking trade.
“In July 1979 I began working with a local furniture manufacturer as a qualified cabinetmaker. In the evenings and weekends I would make furniture for friends and then they would recommend me to their friends and acquaintances,” says Ernesto.
In 1982, Nieva Furniture was established in Hindmarsh to make custom-built, free standing furniture. The business built up by referral, with Ernesto’s reputation for quality soon selling furniture to interstate retailers.
“I knew it was going to be a long and hard road because of language barriers, but I also knew the quality of my work would see me though,” he says.
Initially Nieva made Baltic pine furniture and sold w...



