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Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney
Subjects
Sydney's People
Sydneysiders
Cultural and Language groups
Italians

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Italians

Subject

Club Marconi Fairfield

Italians

Spagnoletti, Ernesto

Transcript: Mr Domenico Scuglia discusses restrictions on Italians in Australia during WWII

Transcript: Mr John Costa recalls his family feeding American Italian soldiers on their Liverpool farm during World War II

Transcript: Mrs Carmel Amalfi describes a devastating hailstorm in Liverpool in the 1930s

Transcript: Mrs Carmel Amalfi describes her husband Angelo's work as a child on his father's farm in Liverpool in the 1930s

Arrivederci Roma

Giornale Italiano

Il Risveglio

Italian Bulletin of Australia

L'Italo-Australiano

La Fiamma

Oceania

Raimondo Montecuccoli

Casa d'Italia

Italian Forum

Brookvale processione

Italian Film Festival

APIA Club

Atlanta Club

Chiarini's Royal Italian Circus

Circolo Isole Eolie

Club Italia

Club Marconi Fairfield

Co.As.It.

Dante Alighieri Society

FILEF

Foti International Fireworks

Garibaldi Bar

Gonsalez Opera Company

Gruppo Campari

Italian Benevolent Society

Italian Cultural Institute

Italian Workingman's Benefit Society

Italo-Australian Club

Italo-Australian Welfare Association

La Veneziana

Società Stella d'Italia

Abbiezzi, Mario

Alcorso, Claudio

Antico, Tristan

Arena, Franca

Asselin, Gian Carlo

Bagatella, Rino

Belgiorno-Nettis, Franco

Bellotti, Domenico

Bellotti, Santa Maria

Benedetti, Gisberto

Bixio, Nino

Burattini, Dino

Callose, Bartolomeo

Cappiello, Rosa

Cerretti, Bonaventura

Chiarini, Guiseppe

Coluzzi, Luigi

Compagnoni, Nicholas

Cossiga, Francesco

Costanzo, Evasio

Crestani, Sebastiano

Cuneo, Giovanni

Dal Monte, Toti

Dalle Case, Luigi

Dattilo-Rubbo, Antonio

De Pinedo, Francesco

Despas, Antonio

Falleni, Eugenia

Fiaschi, Thomas Henry

Fontana, Giovanni

Gariglio, Luigi

Gava, Francesco

Gava, Palmira

Giorza, Paolo

Giurgola, Romaldo

Gustin, Lena (Mamma Lena)

Lubrano, Francesco

Magagnotto, Pietro

Malaspina, Alessandro

Melocco, Antonio Nicholas

Melocco, Galliano Eugenio

Melocco, Pietro Olivo

Michelini, Oscar

Modini, Gianbattista

Nervi, Pier Luigi

Pessoto, Antonio

Pessoto, Vito Angelo

Polese, Giuseppe (Beppi)

Prampolini, Giuseppe

Pucci, Alessandra

Ramaciotti, Gustave

Ravenet, Juan

Rizzo, Carolina

Rizzo, Luciano

Rizzo, Maria

Ruggero, Emanuele

Salteri, Carlo

Sani, Tommaso

Sartor, Provino

Sartor, Ruben

Scalfaro, Oscar Luigi

Sceusa, Francesco

Spagnoletti, Ernesto

Spagnoletti, Ernesto jnr

Totaro, Paolo

Zadro, Davino

Zampatti, Carla

Zamprogno, Lorenzo

Zofrea, Salvatore

Zulian, Andrea

Zuliani, Guido

de Muro Lomanto, Enzo

Sydney Macaroni Manufactory

A group of Italian prisoners of war behind the perimeter fence of the main compound at the Liverpool prisoner of war and internment camp November 21, 1945

APIA Club dance at the Trocadero March 1958

Club Marconi, Fairfield May 1982

Eugene Falleni, Long Bay Photographic Description Book, 1928

Eugenia Falleni, alias Harry Crawford, criminal record number 741LB, 16 August 1928. State Reformatory for Women, Long Bay, NSW

Floor in the crypt of St Mary's Cathedral 2014

Francesco Zeni, Italian dramatic tenor, as Lohengrin, 1911

Il Porcellino replica, Sydney Hospital 2007

Italian Club on deck c1936

Italian Forum Leichhardt 2009

Italian delicatessen in Sydney, February 1958

Italian ex-servicemen give fascist salute at Cenotaph, Anzac Day parade, Martin Place April 1937

Italian migrant John Battista and family members working in his pizza business Kensington 1966

Italian migrants arriving in Australia 1967

Italian prisoners of war at Strathfield Station after arrival from country prisoner of war camps on the way to the internment camp at Moorebank November 17 1945

Italian waiters and staff, Mamma Maria Bar 1971

Italians arrive on Alitalia, Mascot 30 June 1965

La Fiamma press 1975

Land of the Sunny South, All Hail 1879

Lena Gustin (Mamma Lena) on 2CH, 1976

Long Bay Description Card for Eugenia Falleni 1920-40

Long Bay Gaol photograph of Eugenia Falleni, 1920

Lorenzi family at La Veneziana Restaurant c1950

Macinante family and fruit shop, Ultimo c1927

Melocco Bros craftsman making the brass filigree fretwork for a coat of arms for Mitchell Library vestibule floor mosaic 1940

Melocco Bros working on the Tasman Map mosaic, 1940

Mug shot of Eugenie Falleni 1920

Police Gazette notice about arrest of Eugenie Falleni, 1929

Program for Chiarini's Royal Italian Circus and performing animals: Friday, June 11, 1880

Luigi Coluzzi on Sydney coffee culture 2009

Mr Domenico Scuglia discusses restrictions on Italians in Australia during WWII, interviewed 1986

Mr John Costa recalls his family feeding American Italian soldiers on their Liverpool farm during World War II, interviewed in 1986

Mr John Costa recalls the gypsies who were once common in the Liverpool area, interviewed in 1986

Mrs Carmel Amalfi describes a hailstorm on her father-in-law's Liverpool market garden in March 1947, recorded 1986

Mrs Carmel Amalfi, interviewed in 1986, describes her husband Angelo's work as a child on his father's farm in Liverpool in the 1930s

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Italians

Club Marconi Fairfield

Long a landmark in Sydney's west, Club Marconi has served the social, cultural and sporting needs of Sydney's Italians for over 50 years.

Italians

There were Italians in Sydney before the proclamation of Italy in 1861 and stonemasons, fishermen, market gardeners and manufacturers have left their mark on the city. Expanded Italian immigration after World War II brought a strong sense of community and culture that has enriched and enlivened Sydney's cuisine and city life.

Spagnoletti, Ernesto

Two musicians by the name of Ernesto Spagnoletti, father and son, were prominent in the musical life of Sydney in the 1850s.

Transcript: Mr Domenico Scuglia discusses restrictions on Italians in Australia during WWII

Mr Domenico Scuglia was born in Italy in 1924, came to Liverpool in 1937, and was interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool: An Oral History of the Liverpool Region 1900 to 1960.' He discusses here the restrictions placed on free movement of Italians in Australia during World War II, due to Italy's membership of the Axis Powers.

Transcript: Mr John Costa recalls his family feeding American Italian soldiers on their Liverpool farm during World War II

Mr John Costa was born in 1928 and was interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool: An Oral History of the Liverpool Region 1900 to 1960' project. Here he recalls his family feeding Italian American soldiers on their farm during World War II.

Transcript: Mrs Carmel Amalfi describes a devastating hailstorm in Liverpool in the 1930s

Mrs Carmel Amalfi, interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool' oral history project, describes a hail storm on the family farm in Liverpool in the 1930s

Transcript: Mrs Carmel Amalfi describes her husband Angelo's work as a child on his father's farm in Liverpool in the 1930s

Mrs Carmel Amalfi, interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool: An Oral History of the Liverpool Region 1900 to 1960' project, describes her husband Angelo's work as a child on his father's farm in Liverpool in the 1930s.

Arrivederci Roma

Radio program hosted by Lena Gustin in the post war period, providing a forum for Italian immigrants.

full record »

Giornale Italiano

Italian weekly newspaper published between 1932 and 1942.

full record »

Il Risveglio

Italian language newspaper published between 1944 and 1956.

full record »

Italian Bulletin of Australia

Periodical distributed by the Italian Chamber of Commerce between 1900 and 1995.

full record »

L'Italo-Australiano

Italian language newspaper published in 1885 and again between 1905 and 1909.

full record »

La Fiamma

Italian-language newspaper launched in 1947 to counteract left-wing influence from rival newspaper Il Risveglio.

full record »

Oceania

Italian language newspaper.

full record »

Raimondo Montecuccoli

Italian naval ship from 1935-64 which visited Sydney in 1938.

full record »

Casa d'Italia

Community centre for Italian migrants first established in Surry Hills in 1952 before moving to Norton Street.

full record »

Italian Forum

full record »

Residential and shopping complex built around a central plaza off Norton Street in Leichhardt.

Brookvale processione

Various religious festivals, celebrated with masses and processions, held by the Italian community in Brookvale since the 1960s.

full record »

Italian Film Festival

Annual festival of Italian films held each September in several cinemas.

full record »

APIA Club

Italian sporting club opened in Norton Street, Leichhardt, and moved to Fraser Street in 1962.

full record »

Atlanta Club

Social club for Italian migrants.

full record »

Chiarini's Royal Italian Circus

Circus company formed by Guiseppe Chiarini in 1856 and based in California, which performed in Asia, Europe, United States of America and Australia.

full record »

Circolo Isole Eolie

Social club established in 1903 by Italian migrants from the Aeolian Islands

full record »

Club Italia

Italian sports club and restaurant at Lansvale.

full record »

Club Marconi Fairfield

Social club for Australians of Italian descent.

full record »

Co.As.It.

Organisation established to promote Italian language and culture in New South Wales and to assist migrants arriving from Italy.

full record »

Dante Alighieri Society

Sydney branch of organisation founded in Rome in 1889 to promote Italian language and culture.

full record »

FILEF

Cultural organisation which catered for Italian migrant workers and their families.

full record »

Foti International Fireworks

Pyrotechnic company established by Celestino Foti who came from an Italian pyrotechnic family.

full record »

Garibaldi Bar

Italian café in Riley Street, Surry Hills, run by Mario Abiezzi.

full record »

Gonsalez Opera Company

Italian opera company who toured Australia occasionally between 1916 and 1928.

full record »

Gruppo Campari

Global wine and spirit manufacturer.

full record »

Italian Benevolent Society

Social welfare organisation for members of the Italian community active 1882-1902

full record »

Italian Cultural Institute

Organisation sponsored by the Italian government for the promotion of Italian language and culture in Australia

full record »

Italian Workingman's Benefit Society

Social welfare organisation for members of the Italian community active 1891-1902

full record »

Italo-Australian Club

Social club for the Italian community providing meals, dances etc.

full record »

Italo-Australian Welfare Association

Social welfare organisation for members of the Italian community during the 1950s and 1960s, merged in 1968 with the Italian Welfare Committee (CoAsIt)

full record »

La Veneziana

Italian restaurant opened in 1952 in Stanley Street, East Sydney.

full record »

Società Stella d'Italia

Italian cultural organisation formed in 1906.

full record »

Abbiezzi, Mario

Owned Garibaldi Bar in Riley Street, an iconic meeting place for Italians.

full record »

Alcorso, Claudio

Businessman and philanthropist.

full record »

Antico, Tristan

Founder of Pioneer Concrete, racehorse owner and breeder, and patron of the arts.

full record »

Arena, Franca

Labor politician, later independent, who was the first woman of non-English speaking background to enter Parliament.

full record »

Asselin, Gian Carlo

Political refugee who became Italian Vice-Consul.

full record »

Bagatella, Rino

Italian community leader who assisted in the foundation of Club Marconi.

full record »

Belgiorno-Nettis, Franco

Founder of construction company Transfield and patron of the arts.

full record »

Bellotti, Domenico

Italian settler who fled to Australia after the failure of French nobleman Marquis de Rays' abortive settlement attempt in New Ireland.

full record »

Bellotti, Santa Maria

Italian migrant who had lost family in the aborted attempt to settle in New Ireland organised by the French nobleman Marquis de Rays.

full record »

Benedetti, Gisberto

Builder.

full record »

Bixio, Nino

Captain of ship that brought Italian emigrants to Sydney in 1856, later deputy of Garibaldi.

full record »

Burattini, Dino

Architect whose controversial design for East Circular Quay was not built.

full record »

Callose, Bartolomeo

Manufacturer and importer of Italian food.

full record »

Cappiello, Rosa

Italian-born writer who wrote about her experience of migration to Australia in Oh Lucky Country, 1981.

full record »

Cerretti, Bonaventura

Italian cardinal of the Catholic church who became the first Apostolic delegate of the church in Australia in 1914.

full record »

Chiarini, Guiseppe

Italian born equestrian and showman who formed a touring circus company.

full record »

Coluzzi, Luigi

Italian boxer who, with his wife Eleni, established Bar Coluzzi in Darlinghurst.

full record »

Compagnoni, Nicholas

Italian market gardener in Marrickville.

full record »

Cossiga, Francesco

Italian President who made an official visit to Australian in 1988.

full record »

Costanzo, Evasio

Journalist who became editor and owner of La Fiamma, Sydney's Italian newspaper.

full record »

Crestani, Sebastiano

Italian community leader whose shed was used for some of the first meetings of Club Marconi.

full record »

Cuneo, Giovanni

Builder and manager of the Garibaldi Hotel in Hunters Hill in the mid-nineteenth century.

full record »

Dal Monte, Toti

Italian soprano who toured Australia with Nellie Melba and was married in Sydney in 1928.

full record »

Dalle Case, Luigi

Leader of the first circus troupe to visit Sydney in 1841.

full record »

Dattilo-Rubbo, Antonio

Artist and teacher who taught Sydney's first generation of modern painters and helped found Manly Art Gallery.

full record »

De Pinedo, Francesco

Italian aviator who flew a sea-plane from Rome to Australia in 1925.

full record »

Despas, Antonio

Italian-born businessman.

full record »

Falleni, Eugenia

full record »

Italian-born woman who dressed as a man and was twice married. In 1920 she was convicted of murdering her first wife Annie Birkett.

Fiaschi, Thomas Henry

Surgeon, army medical officer and wine industry leader who was held in high esteem by wide sections of the community.

full record »

Fontana, Giovanni

Sculptor who worked in Sydney during the 1870s to 1890s producing several public works including three figures for the General Post Office facade and a statue of John Dunmore Lang.

full record »

Gariglio, Luigi

Merchant whose trade with Italy helped supply Italian produce to the local community.

full record »

Gava, Francesco

Vineyard licensee and local council worker.

full record »

Gava, Palmira

Italian born wife of Francesco Gava.

full record »

Giorza, Paolo

Composer and conductor who was director of music for the International Exhibition of 1879.

full record »

Giurgola, Romaldo

Internationally acclaimed architect and academic who designed the new Parliament House Canberra.

full record »

Gustin, Lena (Mamma Lena)

full record »

Radio broadcaster and welfare worker who was the voice of the Italian community from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Lubrano, Francesco

Owner of the 'Italo- Australian' newspaper.1922-1940.

full record »

Magagnotto, Pietro

Italian priest who became Dean of Sydney in 1850.

full record »

Malaspina, Alessandro

Italian explorer who spent most of his life as a Spanish naval officer, commanding many scientific expeditions around the world stopping in Sydney in 1793.

full record »

Melocco, Antonio Nicholas

Partner in Melocco Brothers. He arrived in Sydney in 1910 to work in the mosaic business established in Sydney by his brother Pietro in 1908.

full record »

Melocco, Galliano Eugenio

Partner in Melocco Brothers. Arrived in Sydney in 1910 to work in the mosaic business established in Sydney by his brother Pietro in 1908.

full record »

Melocco, Pietro Olivo

Founder of Melocco Bros, mosaic manufacturers who were notable for marble and terrazzo work in numerous city buildings including the the Crypt of St Mary's Cathedral, Anzac Memorial, State Theatre and the Mitchell Library.

full record »

Michelini, Oscar

Italian born community leader.

full record »

Modini, Gianbattista

Italian merchant in 19th century Sydney.

full record »

Nervi, Pier Luigi

Italian engineer and architect famous for his novel use of reinforced concrete.

full record »

Pessoto, Antonio

Italian community leader.

full record »

Pessoto, Vito Angelo

Italian community leader.

full record »

Polese, Giuseppe (Beppi)

Italian-born chef and businessman who opened famous restaurant Beppi's in 1956 and is considered the patriarch of Italian restaurants in Sydney.

full record »

Prampolini, Giuseppe

Italian immigrant who launched weekly newspaper Uniamoci.

full record »

Pucci, Alessandra

Italian biochemist who pioneered the linkage of science and business in Australia.

full record »

Ramaciotti, Gustave

Italian-born law clerk, theatrical manager and soldier who became a partner in Australia's largest theatrical company with JC Williamson and George Tallis.

full record »

Ravenet, Juan

Italian-born figure painter who sailed with a Spanish expedition commanded by Alejandro Malaspina aboard the corvettes Descuvierta and Atrevida. He sketched striking portraits of an Aboriginal man and woman after his arrival in Sydney.

full record »

Rizzo, Carolina

Wife of Luciano Rizzo.

full record »

Rizzo, Luciano

Pasta manufacturer who opened Sydney's first macaroni factory.

full record »

Rizzo, Maria

Second wife of Luciano Rizzo.

full record »

Ruggero, Emanuele

Sicilian Benedictine priest who worked in Sydney from the mid-1840s.

full record »

Salteri, Carlo

Mechanical engineer who, in 1956, co-founded Transfield with Franco Belgiorno-Nettis.

full record »

Sani, Tommaso

Italian born sculptor who created public statues for several public buildings but whose reputation was forever blighted by the outcry to his commissions for the General Post Office.

full record »

Sartor, Provino

Italian community leader who with his brother provided the land for the Club Marconi.

full record »

Sartor, Ruben

Italian community leader who with his brother provided the land for the Club Marconi.

full record »

Scalfaro, Oscar Luigi

President of Italy 1992-1999.

full record »

Sceusa, Francesco

Socialist who directed his political activities towards assisting Italian migrants.

full record »

Spagnoletti, Ernesto

Musician and composer who became choirmaster at St Stephen's Newtown.

full record »

Spagnoletti, Ernesto jnr

Musician.

full record »

Totaro, Paolo

Italian-born chairman of the Ethnic Affairs Commission of New South Wales

full record »

Zadro, Davino

Italian community leader.

full record »

Zampatti, Carla

Italian born fashion designer and business woman.

full record »

Zamprogno, Lorenzo

Builder and community leader who drove the foundation of the Club Marconi.

full record »

Zofrea, Salvatore

Graduate of the Julian Ashton Art school, Zofrea works in oils, woodcuts and frescos.

full record »

Zulian, Andrea

Italian community leader.

full record »

Zuliani, Guido

Italian born artist and photographer who designed the emblem for Club Marconi.

full record »

de Muro Lomanto, Enzo

Italian tenor who visited Sydney on tour in 1928.

full record »

Sydney Macaroni Manufactory

Sydney's first pasta factory established at 73 Stanley Street East Sydney which served to anchor the growing Italian population of the area.

full record »

A group of Italian prisoners of war behind the perimeter fence of the main compound at the Liverpool prisoner of war and internment ...

full record »

By

Contributed By

Australian War Memorial

APIA Club dance at the Trocadero March 1958

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[d7_05116 / APA 05116]

(Mitchell Library)

Club Marconi, Fairfield May 1982

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[d4_06175 / GPO4 06175]

(Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW)

Eugene Falleni, Long Bay Photographic Description Book, 1928

full record »

Contributed By

State Archives & Records New South Wales

[NRS 2496, No 741,[3/6004]]

Eugenia Falleni, alias Harry Crawford, criminal record number 741LB, 16 August 1928. State Reformatory for Women, Long Bay, NSW

full record »

Contributed By

Sydney Living Museums

[35369]

(Justice & Police Museum Collection)

Floor in the crypt of St Mary's Cathedral 2014

full record »

By

Contributed By

Francesco Zeni, Italian dramatic tenor, as Lohengrin, 1911

full record »

By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

(Mitchell Library)

Il Porcellino replica, Sydney Hospital 2007

full record »

By

Contributed By

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/25846046@N03/3435641689/]

Italian Club on deck c1936

full record »

By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a221018 / PXE 789 (v.20), 101]

(Mitchell Library)

Italian Forum Leichhardt 2009

full record »

By

Contributed By

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/chechuan/3243803716/]

Italian delicatessen in Sydney, February 1958

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[d7_04723 / Australian Photographic Agency 04723]

(Mitchell Library)

Italian ex-servicemen give fascist salute at Cenotaph, Anzac Day parade, Martin Place April 1937

full record »

By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[hood_14490 / Home and Away 14490]

Italian migrant John Battista and family members working in his pizza business Kensington 1966

full record »

Contributed By

National Archives of Australia

[A12111, 1/1966/16/21]

Italian migrants arriving in Australia 1967

full record »

By

Contributed By

National Archives of Australia

[A1200, L62876]

Italian prisoners of war at Strathfield Station after arrival from country prisoner of war camps on the way to the internment camp ...

full record »

By

Contributed By

Australian War Memorial

Italian waiters and staff, Mamma Maria Bar 1971

full record »

By

©

Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive

Italians arrive on Alitalia, Mascot 30 June 1965

full record »

By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[d7_20107 / Australian Photographic Agency - 20107]

(Mitchell Library)

La Fiamma press 1975

full record »

Contributed By

National Archives of Australia

[A6180, 24/10/75/70]

Land of the Sunny South, All Hail 1879

full record »

By

Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[nla.mus-an5443739]

Lena Gustin (Mamma Lena) on 2CH, 1976

full record »

Contributed By

National Archives of Australia

[A12111, 2/1976/13A/6]

Long Bay Description Card for Eugenia Falleni 1920-40

full record »

Contributed By

State Archives & Records New South Wales

[NRS 2493 [11/3128], State Reformatory for Women, Long Bay, description card, Side B]

Long Bay Gaol photograph of Eugenia Falleni, 1920

full record »

Contributed By

State Archives & Records New South Wales

[NRS 2496 [3/6006 p.499, 1920], State Reformatory for Women, Photo description books.]

Lorenzi family at La Veneziana Restaurant c1950

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a1434001 / MLMSS 5288 ADD-ON 1975]

Macinante family and fruit shop, Ultimo c1927

full record »

By

Macinante family

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a126054 / ML MSS 5288 Add-On 1967]

Melocco Bros craftsman making the brass filigree fretwork for a coat of arms for Mitchell Library vestibule floor mosaic 1940

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[d1_22762 / GPO1 22762]

(Mitchell Library)

Melocco Bros working on the Tasman Map mosaic, 1940

full record »

Contributed By

State Archives & Records New South Wales

[NRS4481_St24753]

Mug shot of Eugenie Falleni 1920

full record »

Contributed By

Sydney Living Museums

(Justice & Police Museum ; FP07_0031_005)

Police Gazette notice about arrest of Eugenie Falleni, 1929

full record »

Contributed By

State Archives & Records New South Wales

[NRS 10958 Police Gazette NSW, 1920 [1/3252, p.474]]

Program for Chiarini's Royal Italian Circus and performing animals: Friday, June 11, 1880

full record »

Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[JAF Broadside 8]

Luigi Coluzzi on Sydney coffee culture 2009

full record »

By

Courtesy:

City of Sydney Council

Mr Domenico Scuglia discusses restrictions on Italians in Australia during WWII, interviewed 1986

full record »

Mr Domenico Scuglia was born in Italy in 1924, came to Liverpool in 1937, and was interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool: An Oral History of the Liverpool Region 1900 to 1960.' He discusses here the restrictions placed on free movement of Italians in Australia during World War II, due to Italy's membership of the Axis Powers.
Transcript

DOMENICO: During the war you couldn't go out of Liverpool, a certain distance. If you planned to go anywhere on business you had to get a permit, to let you go. Provided that you didn't get into trouble, and we carried on like that, we had no problems

INTERVIEWER: That was because you are Italian?

DOMENICO: Yes, that was for the war years.

INTERVIEWER: Did your family resent that at all?

DOMENICO: No, you're there and that's it; you had to do it. My father used to never go out or cause trouble or anything and everybody could see that. We had no problem.

INTERVIEWER: You didn't get any harassment from the local people during the war?

DOMENICO: No, no, not here because as I said we knew nearly everybody; small town. Tell you what, they did intern some naturalised [Italians]; it all depended on political involvement. But the majority wasn't naturalised. We applied for it, and they refused our naturalisation during the war years. After the war we applied again and got it through. Actually, we weren't interned but [we were] in the area, in the town itself. If you wanted to go anywhere you asked for a permit and they gave you a permit. You behave yourself and you can get it again.

INTERVIEWER: Who did you have to go to?

DOMENICO: The police.

INTERVIEWER: The Liverpool police?

DOMENICO: Yes.

INTERVIEWER: And what were they like?

DOMENICO: They were alright. As I said we used to know everybody, we used to know the sergeant in charge because his kids and us go to school together, friendly, you know.

INTERVIEWER: Did you ever have to request to go out further than the seven miles [limit]?

DOMENICO: If you had to go on business they would give you [a permit]; but if not, if it was just for pleasure, 'no'. They'd say 'What do you want it for, what are you going to do over there?' and if you say 'visit a friend' well, 'no'. If I had to look for something to do with the farm, then 'yes'. That was fair enough, I think. They used to call us 'aliens', enemies, see? Not the Greeks, not the Russians because they were Allies; but we had nothing to do with the war, they started the war over the other side [of the world]. If you had crook neighbours, and they kept reporting you every day, you had a headache, I tell you.

INTERVIEWER: And what were your neighbours like?

DOMENICO: Very good. Once in a while they used to go there [the police station] every week, they told us long afterwards; always told them [the police] '8 o'clock [Scuglia family] turn the lights out and they're in bed.'

INTERVIEWER: So they would report on you once a week?

DOMENICO: They [the police] were checking up, to see our movements, thought we might be spies or something. We had none of that, we got on all right. [1]

Contributed By

Liverpool City Library

(Excerpt from interview with Mr Domenico Scuglia, from the 'Looking back at Liverpool : an oral history of the Liverpool region 1900-1960' conducted in 1986 by Liverpool City Council, editor and project co-ordinator Catherine Johnson ; researchers Angela Imbrosciano, Verica Miiosavijevic, Kathleen Smith)

...

full record »

Mr John Costa was born in 1928 and was interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool: An Oral History of the Liverpool Region 1900 to 1960' project. Here he recalls his mother feeding American soldiers on their Italian family farm during World War II.
Transcript

JOHN: My parents were from Italy, from Sicily. My father came out and three years after my mother came out. My people, they came to Chipping Norton, we had a vineyard there and a market garden and I can remember then across the river from our place there was Warwick Farm Racecourse, where quite a few American sailors were in there at the time and they used to come across the river. The river at that time you could walk across it at low tide, it wasnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t very deep, and they used to come around and up to the house, ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“cause a lot of Americans were Italians too, and they used to come over there and have feeds of spaghetti and stuff, Mum used to feed them. I can never forget their faces (we had a couple of cows) they used to like milk shakes, egg flips, and all that sort of thing. They really made us at home - we used to go across with them and they used to give us a few supplies, to keep us going because we had a family, IÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢m from a family of ten, and they were all born around the Liverpool area, all except my sister [who] was born in Pamarea in Italy.

Contributed By

Liverpool City Library

(Excerpt from interview with Mr John Costa, from the 'Looking back at Liverpool : an oral history of the Liverpool region 1900-1960' conducted in 1986 by Liverpool City Council, editor and project co-ordinator Catherine Johnson ; researchers Angela Imbrosciano, Verica Miiosavijevic, Kathleen Smith)

Mr John Costa recalls the gypsies who were once common in the Liverpool area, interviewed in 1986

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Mr John Costa was born in 1928 and was interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool: An Oral History of the Liverpool Region 1900 to 1960' project. Here he remembers gypsies who were once common in the Liverpool area.

Transcript

JOHN: We used to grow vegetables like potatoes, beans, beetroot, and why I remember beetroot and potatoes is because we had them up the far end of the farm, right up the back end of the farm, and down Milperra Bridge there was a big vacant block of ground there, where those shops are at Milperra now, that was all vacant blocks of ground. And on that paddock there used to be not dozens but hundreds of gypsies used to stop there, they were everywhere, they'd camp there for about two, three months. And how I remember the beetroot and potatoes because they used to go down the end of our farm and bandicoot them and dig them up and just leave the vines sitting there, they used to take sacks and sacks of them.

INTERVIEWER: What did they live in?

JOHN: Gypsies? Tents. They had great big cars. I'll never forget the size of the cars, they were huge cars. They'd come around and tell your fortune. Just up the road there, there was a sawmill and they went to the people next door to the sawmill and told them to bring their family out and 'we'll tell you your fortune'. And they came out to the front and they told them their fortune alright; when they went around to feed the chooks in the afternoon there wasn't any left! They were all gone! I'll never forget those gypsies. They'd go away for about twelve months, come back here the following year.

Contributed By

Liverpool City Library

(Excerpt from interview with Mr John Costa, from the 'Looking back at Liverpool : an oral history of the Liverpool region 1900-1960' conducted in 1986 by Liverpool City Council, editor and project co-ordinator Catherine Johnson ; researchers Angela Imbrosciano, Verica Miiosavijevic, Kathleen Smith)

Mrs Carmel Amalfi describes a hailstorm on her father-in-law's Liverpool market garden in March 1947, recorded 1986

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Mrs Carmel Amalfi, interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool' oral history project, describes a hailstorm on the family farm in Liverpool in the 1930s.
Transcript

CARMEL: In 1947, it was early March '47, we got a real real bad one. Your father-in-law had, what was it, about 10 acres (approximately 4 hectares) of land that was all under cultivation and we had beans, we had tomatoes, we had lettuce and when the hailstorm came, it looked as if you let a few thousand chickens through it and made a mess of them 'cause on the tomato vines there was only left the stake that was holding them up. The lettuce, they were good for nothing. The beans, there was nothing left but the stalks. So poor Poppy, he went down to have a look to see what happened and the hearts of the lettuce, there was nothing there. Poor Poppy was walking back and forwards saying 'What am I going to do? I've got a big family!'

INTERVIEWER: What did the family do?

CARMEL: Just more or less had to start from scratch again.

Contributed By

Liverpool City Library

(Detail from interview with Mrs Carmel Amalfi from the 'Looking back at Liverpool : an oral history of the Liverpool region 1900-1960' conducted in 1986 by Liverpool City Council, editor and project co-ordinator Catherine Johnson ; researchers Angela Imbrosciano, Verica Miiosavijevic, Kathleen Smith.)

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Mrs Carmel Amalfi, interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool' oral history project, describes her husband Angelo's work as a child on his father's farm in Liverpool in the 1930s.
Transcript

CARMEL: He was on the farm helping his dad, the same with the rest of the family. Helping, working on the land and those days there, by the time he grew, he was about ten years of age, his father had a big family. They had a horse and plough, and he was behind the horse and plough when he was about eleven. And he used to help his dad and when it came to selling the vegetables. His dad used to send him to the city, after the vegetables, send it by carrier, and then he'd stay in the city overnight with an old friend of theirs, and the next morning he'd go to the markets and sell it, and then come home, come home by train. He was only about eleven. They'd get a stall or a stand at the markets and he'd help and sell the vegetables. And then he'd come home, he'd come home the next day, either with the carrier or come home by train. And as the rest of the family grew up of course they did their share too.

Contributed By

Liverpool City Library

(Detail from interview with Mrs Carmel Amalfi from the 'Looking back at Liverpool : an oral history of the Liverpool region 1900-1960' conducted in 1986 by Liverpool City Council, editor and project co-ordinator Catherine Johnson ; researchers Angela Imbrosciano, Verica Miiosavijevic, Kathleen Smith.)

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