1.3 THE WORKING LIFE

Gina Bortolin typifies the self reliance & industry of post war migrants. She has run a babyware shop first in Five Dock and then in Leichhardt since 1973.

1.3.1 The Working Lives of Italy - born in Sydney and Leichhardt and the Leichhardt Municipality in the pre - World War 2 Period

The history of Italy-born in Leichhardt Municipality in the pre-World War 2 period reflects the general patterns of migration and settlement noted in 2.1. There is no firm figure available for the number who lived and/or worked in the Municipality in the pre-World War 2 period. However, Joseph Giovenco's research is a model for the kind of research needed to address this knowledge gap._ Giovenco's data reveals Italy-born dispersed throughout the Municipality, in a range of occupations up to 1932, the time limit imposed by the sources he consulted.

This section draws extensively on Giovenco's data. Giovenco's information provides snapshots, but not a comprehensive history, of individuals who lived and/or worked in the Municipality until the early 1930s, drawing principally on the Sand's Directories. Wise's New South Wales Post Office Commercial Directory is another valuable source for amplifying and supplementing the information uncovered by Giovenco. It has also been used in this section.

The dates referred to below indicate a year or defined period of time when the person named is known to have lived or conducted a business at the given address.

In the latter part of the nineteenth century, Italian-born artists, sculptors, and music and singing teachers lived in the suburbs of Annandale, Glebe and Balmain. A professor of music, Ernest Spagnoletti, lived and possibly also taught in Balmain in 1858, before moving to Glebe in the early 1860s where he remained for around four years before moving to Paddington, via Darlington, where he lived between 1867-1868. Thomas Riccardi, a singing teacher in the city and Annandale lived in Young Street, Annandale in 1895-1896. Oreste Vincenzini taught piano "and any description of Band instruments and theory"_ at 333 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt in 1899, and lived at 96 Evans Street, Balmain in 1898, and at 33 Smith Street in 1902-1903.

The sculptor Thomas Sani, who was responsible for the (once controversial) reliefs on the Pitt Street façade of the G.P.O. in Martin Place, lived at 120 Trafalgar Street, Annandale between 1894-1900, while the sculptor for Sydney society, Achille Simonetti, who married Margaret Doherty in 1888, lived at 22 Rose Street, Balmain between 1887-1901. Louisa and Luigi Del Vescovo were sculptors who lived in William and Waterview Streets, Balmain in the 1880s. In 1886 the artist Augusto Lorenzini had a studio at 148 Phillip Street in the city and lived in Gipps Street, Balmain. These occupations required well-to-do clients. Italy-born in these skilled occupations would have taken advantage of opportunities for social advancement, given the cachet which Italian art and culture enjoyed among the privileged classes in colonial and early post-colonial society._

Other skilled occupations can be traced around the turn of the twentieth century. William (Guglielmo) Antoriello was a lithographer who ran a business in the Victoria Arcade in Castlereagh Street in the city, and lived at 48 or 50 Gipps Street, Balmain, in 1889-1890. Augustino Riva, a piano tuner, lived in Lyndhurst Street, Glebe in 1879. The jeweller Farivanti [Fioravante?] Leoni ran a business at 68 King Street in the city and lived between 1884 and 1885 in Bradford Street, Balmain. The signwriter C. Ramacciotti lived at "Prestonville', 48 Wells Street, Annandale in 1898, and ran his business at 3 Castlereagh Street in the city. Francis (Francesco) Sceusa, a draftsman, lived at different street addresses in Balmain in 1891-1904 and at 103 Young Street, Annandale in 1905. Sceusa is better known as a militant Socialist who founded in his native Trapani (Sicily) a branch of the International Workingmen's Association. In exile in Australia from 1877, he was part of the group that in 1881 opened in Sydney the International Socialist Club, "the first Socialist body in Australia" (Cresciani 1988: 88). He was responsible for what is thought to be the first Italian language magazine/newspaper in Australia, published in its first issue on 12 January 1885, L'Italo-Australiano. Rivista mensile organo degli italiani sparsi per le terre oceaniche (The Italo-Australian. Monthly Magazine, Organ of the Italians in the Lands of Oceania). "The pupose of the paper was to promote the interests of Italians immigrants, keep them informed of events in Australia and Italy . . . and to propose reforms for the betterment of Italian workers" (Rando 197). Sceusa was employed as an architectural draftsman in the Lands Department in Sydney. After he was transferred to Orange, the newspaper ceased publication, in July 1885. Sceusa returned to Sicily in 1908.

An apparent majority of Italian-born immigrants in the Leichhardt Municipality in the late nineteenth century were single men or men who lived alone, later marrying or bringing from Italy wives or fianceés. The stonemason Alexander Peneluna is recorded in Mullens Street, Balmain in 1875 and as a storekeeper in Park Road, Balmain in 1883. Pietro Sarino [or Sarina] was a sawyer who lived in Curtis Road, Balmain in 1875 and in Rosser Street in 1883. Arthur Sarina was a greengrocer at 59 Booth Street, Annandale in 1897 and at 187 Catherine Street, Leichhardt in 1902.

On current evidence, it difficult to identify an Italian-born community in the sense of a sizeable group living in proximity until the mid-late 1920s when Italy-born can be traced across the Municipality in clusters related by kinship or region of origin, working in a range of occupations.

Research-to-date suggests that a majority of working Italy-born in the Municipality from the later 1920s were engaged in fruit and vegetable retail marketing. Fishing and fish marketing also have a place in this history. In the contexts of the dominant agrarian economy of Italy until well into the twentieth century, the extreme difficulty of life for the vast majority of landless agricultural workers which forced emigration on many Italians, as well as the strong maritime tradition, fruit and vegetable marketing and fishing and related activity fitted well with the previous employment and experience of Italian immigrants.

These business activities also provided Italy-born with a means of earning an independent livelihood in a society that was foreign to them both culturally and linguistically. The range of English language skills needed to run a business were learned quickly out of necessity or provided by children or by fellow Italians who had emigrated at an earlier time. The proximity of the Leichhardt Municipality to the central markets in Haymarket was possibly another factor that made marketing in fresh produce a popular start-up enterprise.

Over the first thirty years of the twentieth century, Italy-born had an increasing presence in a variety of sectors in the retail economy of the Municipality. For 1858-1933, the period covered by the Sand's Directories, as Seymour reports, there were 259 "identifiably Italian-run shops or businesses" in the Leichhardt Municipality (Seymour 1991: 43). Of the 20 noted for the period 1885-1890, two were in the suburb of Leichhardt, ten were in Balmain, seven in Glebe and one in Annandale. Between 1915-1920 there were 39 Italian-run businesses in total across the Municipality, while there were 76 between 1925 and 1930, reflecting a peak in the numbers of Italian immigrants. As Seymour also notes, in the latter half of the 1920s, the proportion of Italian-run businesses in Leichhardt was the fastest to grow (Seymour 1991: 43), although at that time the suburb had fewer Italian-owned businesses than Glebe or Balmain (18 Italian-owned businesses as opposed to 22 and 24, in Glebe and Balmain, respectively).

Seymour indicates that, although there was a variety among Italian-run businesses, fruiterers and greengrocers predominated: they were 135 of the 259 total (Seymour 1991: 43). There were also evident degrees of concentration in fish shops, confectioners and boot repairers (Seymour 1991: 44). Other Italian-run businesses spanned "no fewer than 42 occupations" (Seymour 1991: 44), including tailors, tobacconists (for example, Mr J. Mammone, a tobacconist, was at 202 Norton Street in 1930-1932), ice-cream manufacturers; grocers (Mr R. Ramo at 36 Marion Street, Leichhardt in 1911; Mr Laurence Tognette [Tognetti?] at 12 Cook Street, Glebe in 1921-1923, and at 55 Glebe Point Road in 1924); hairdressers (Leon Tozzi in Catherine Street, Forest Lodge in 1891-1892); ladies' outfitters (Mrs Grace Marretta at 95 Glebe Point Road, Glebe in 1932); stationers (John A. Bernasconi lived at a number of addresses in Leichhardt, including Renwick Street, from 1889-1898); and café and restaurant owners (a restaurant run by J. Motta is recorded for 114-116 Mort Street, Balmain in 1912-1914).

Pasta makers also had an early presence in the Municipality. In 1903-1904 Vivaldi and Co. operated a macaroni factory at 93a Parramatta Road, Glebe, near the corner with Mallett Street. (In 1903, Nimzie Vivaldi lived at 110 Norton Street, Leichhardt.)_ Italy-born around the turn of the twentieth century and later sometimes changed occupations. D. (possibly Desiderio) Cristofani was a hairdresser at 99 Mansfield Street, Balmain/Rozelle from 1888-1891, and then a tobaconist at the same address from 1893-1906. Mrs M.A.C. Cristofani is recorded as a tobacconist at 99 Mansfield Street, from 1907-1913.

The Trades section of Sand's Sydney and N.S.W. Directory for 1900 reveals a small number of identifiable Italian family names, concentrated in what would now be designated the Sydney Central Business District. Occupations in which Italian family names are represented in 1900 include Artist, Fruiterer, Winegrower, Wine Retailer, Wine and Spirit Merchant, and proprietor of Wine Bodega. With direct reference to the Leichhardt area, there are two entries of interest: S.A. Rosa, a Storekeeper, at 320 Parramatta Road, Petersham, and a Teacher of Music by the name of Luigi Asioli, at 11 Mansfield Street, Balmain. Giovenco identifies four people with the family name Rosa living over the period 1917-1932 at a number of different addresses across suburbs of the Municipality. Giovenco also notes Mrs Rose (or Rosa) Asioli at 11 Mansfield Street, Balmain, between 1907-1917, the wife of Luigi who was a resident of 11 Mansfield Street from 1891, as well as their daughter Giuseppa V. Asioli, who later married Peter Melocco: see section 6.

Wise's New South Wales Post Office Commercial Directory for 1900 provides a more comprehensive picture of the presence of Italy-born in the retail sector of the Municipality at the turn of the twentieth century. Fruiterers predominate, and they are scattered across the Municipality. Wise's for 1900 records only one fishmonger, A. De Maria at 307 Darling Street, Balmain. Fruiterers in Leichhardt in 1900 were Frederick Cascio, at 303 Parramatta Road; S. Catalano and Son at 285 Paramatta Road; V. Favaloro at 227 Parramatta Road; and A. Sciacchitano at 333 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt. Giovanni Cincotta and G. Costa traded as fruiterers at 163 and 149 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, respectively. In Balmain, Meria Bros were at 301 Darling Street, and Alphons. [Alfonso] Russo traded at 267 Darling Street, Balmain. A. Palise is recorded as the sole Italian-born fruiterer in Annandale, at 91 Parramatta Road.

As has been noted, the maritime tradition of Italy was a factor in the employment of Italy-born in Sydney. Giovenco records an Italian shipwright named A. Vincenzi who lived at 91 Mansfield Street, Balmain from 1893-1895, and the mariners Thomas Rossa [Rosa?] in Cardwell Street, Balmain in 1863 and George W. Bossi at 5 Sardinia Place, Birchgrove in 1890-1891, and at 38 Young Street Leichhardt in 1892. Italy-born worked in the Municipality also as boat builders, repairers, deckhands and fishermen. A history of the family and extended family groups of fishermen who established themselves at Woolloomoloo Bay, Iron Cove and other bays in the harbour remains to be written.

Giovenco records two fishermen in the Rozelle/Balmain area in the late nineteenth century: Gerard Voto at 99 Denison Street, Rozelle in 1890 and 101 Denison Street from 1891 to 1894, and Rocco Caminiti at nearby 43 and 41 Foucart Street in 1890-1891. Gerard Voto was apparently the anglicised name of Ciro Vuotto who is known to have lived at 79 Denison Street in 1891. By 1897 Rocco Caminiti had ceased fishing and is recorded as a greengrocer living at 40 Denison Street, Rozelle, where he remained until 1904. From 1905, Catherine Caminiti, presumably his wife, is recorded as a greengrocer at the same address, until 1912 (and at four other addresses in the same street, and in Datchett Street, until 1931). In 1913, a fish shop run by the Caminiti brothers (possibly Rocco and John) was open at 675 Darling Street, Balmain, while there was a fish shop under the proprietorship of John Caminiti at 697 Darling Street from 1913-1915.

Italian-born fishermen would have been among suppliers of the Italian-run fish shop and fish and oyster saloons that can be traced in the Municipality from the early twentieth century. In 1894 Antony Timbaldi operated a fish and oyster saloon at 931/2 Glebe Point Road, Glebe (on or next to the current site of the Indian Home Diner), while the fish saloon of A. Torso supplied "Fresh fish and Oysters daily" and "Suppers till 12 p.m."_ at 93 Parramatta Road, Annandale in 1900. An oyster saloon belonging to the Palmisano brothers, a family name associated with the Aeolian Islands, operated at 307a Darling Street, Balmain, in 1902. (V.E. Palmisano, a fruiterer lived at 77 Darling Street, Balmain in 1903-1905, and is listed in the Sand's Directory of 1929 as a fruit merchant at 24 City Markets.) A.A. Natoli ran an oyster shop at 233a Parramatta Road, Leichhardt in 1904-1905. The fishmonger Angelo Pomabello at 21 Halloran Street, Leichhardt between 1887 and 1892 was possibly one of the earliest in the Municipality. Antonio Profilio's fish shop at 184 Norton Street in 1929-1932, A. Donato's fish shop at 219 Glebe Point Road, Glebe in 1930, and A. Genovesi's fish shop at 211 Darling Street, Balmain in 1929-1930 belong to another generation.

A sampling of the Sands' [sic] Sydney, Suburban and Country Directory for 1923 demonstrates that Italian family names are represented in a wider range of occupations across Sydney than was the case in 1900. Where there is connection with the Leichhardt area in the following information, the Italian name and street address are provided in parentheses. Categories listed in Sands in 1923 where (apparently) Italian names are listed include Artist, Costumier (Riley & Borgogni, 63 Crystal Street, Petersham), Fruitgrower, Market Gardener, Interpreter, Wholesale Fruiterer, Fruiterer, Marble and Monumental Mason, Outfitter-Tailor (D. Renno, 2a Norton Street, Leichhardt),_ Pianoforte Repairer and Tuner, Piano Player Manufacturer, Picture Frame Maker, Restaurant, Dining and Refreshment Room proprietor, Teacher of Music, Teacher of Singing, Tobacconist, Translator, Winegrower, Wine Retailer, Wine and Spirit Merchant, and Wine Bodega proprietor. Giovenco records Mrs Dora Borgogni who lived at 27 Myrtle Street, Leichhardt from 1921-1932, and Scipio Borgogni at "Gaitani", 19 Myrtle Street, from 1897-1915, and 27 Myrtle Street from 1916-1919. He records no information, however, on Renno. Men's tailoring and ladies' costumes, as they were then known, were two areas of commerce in which Italy-born had a constant presence over the early twentieth century. Madame Morelli's business as a costumière at 189 Parramatta Road, Annandale in 1909 was possibly a grander establishment than the dressmaking business run by Miss S. Triglone at 1 Glebe Point Road in 1908-1909.

Giovenco's data highlights the growing occupational variety among Italy-born in the latter years of the 1920s. By the late 1920s pasta was apparently produced in commercial quantities by the Italia Australia Delicacies Co. Ltd., Spaghetti and Macaroni manufacturers, at 22 George Street, Leichhardt, which operated from 1929, while the Savory Macaroni Company was trading next door at 20 George Street in 1932. An advertisement in the Italian language newspaper Il Giornale Italiano of 18 November 1936 (p. 2) for Italia-Australia Delicacies Ltd. refers to the recent winning of the Melbourne Cup by Wotan at 100:1, out of Macaroni. Their Savoy brand macaroni (the name commonly given to Italian pasta before the era of multiculturalism) were offered in 56 different varieties, and were advertised for the way pasta could "make a champion out of you too in the race of life" in the "force and stamina" they can provide.

By this time, confectionery and ice-cream made by Italy-born were also sellable commodities, almost certainly adapted to Australian tastes. Francis Podesta, an ice-cream maker, was located at 13 Beattie Street, Balmain, between 1924 and 1930. Arthur and Joseph Podesta lived at 22 Hubert Street, Leichhardt over the period 1915-1932. The confectioner, Mrs Lillian Bellini, was at 231 Darling Street, Balmain in 1915, and at 73 Mort Street, Balmain from 1927-1932. Angelo Virgona operated a confectionery business at 1 and at 20 The Crescent, Annandale, between 1925 and 1932. (Wise's refers to the Virgona business at 20 The Crescent as a fruit shop.) A confectioner with the family name Pittorina lived or worked at an address between 417 and 425 Glebe Point Road, Glebe in 1925.

As already noted, from the turn of the twentieth century fruit and vegetable selling was an essential marker of the presence of Italy-born in the Leichhardt Municipality. Among the earliest were Frank Caleo who is recorded as a fruiterer in Parramatta Road, Glebe in 1889-1890, G. Nigro in Broadway, Glebe in 1891, and the Bongiorno brothers who ran a fruit shop at 305 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt in 1891-1892 (and in 1893 in Oxford Street in the city). Many Italians in this sector who arrived later were linked by kinship and region of origin. They were located in and linked across suburbs of the Municipality.

Joseph [Giuseppe] Serio was a fruiterer in a business run by Serio and Giuffré at 263 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt in 1909, who had previously been in joint business in 1908 at 233 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt. Joseph Serio was at 263 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt from 1910-1913, and then at six different addresses in Balmain, principally in Darling Street, between 1915 and 1928. Bartolo Sidoti was a fruiterer at 301 Darling Street between 1902-1916, and was later at 25 Touton Street and 3 Campbell Street, Balmain. Giovanni Sidoti is listed in Sand's of 1895 as a fruiterer at 269 Darling Street, Balmain. Sidoti and Iacono ran a fruitshop at 137 Rowntree Street, Balmain in the early 1930s, while at least three Iacono family members operated as fruiterers in the Municipality from the mid-1920s: A. Iacona [an alternative spelling] was at 218 Darling Street from 1924-1931, and G. Iacono operated at 606 Darling Street from 1925-1931, while B. Iacono was at 151 Parramatta Road, Annandale in 1932.

Other family names are also prominent. Taranto Bros. [Brothers] fruiterers were located at 696-698 Darling Street, Balmain, from 1917-1926. Vincent Taranto, a fruiterer, who was at 4 Belmore Street, Rozelle from 1916-1918, can be found at 696-698 Darling Street from 1927-1932. J. and R. Taranto are recorded as fruiterers at 267 Darling Street from 1924-1932, and at 722 Darling Street from 1928-1932. The family name Ristuccia is linked with Ristuccia Bros. fruiterers at 115-117 Johnston Street, Annandale between 1923-1930, and also with 99 Parramatta Road, Annandale from 1931-1932. J. Ristuccia operated a fruit shop at 337 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, from 1927-1929, which had been in the hands of Tauro and Ristuccia between 1922-1926. Four men with the family name Tesoriero were fruiterers and greengrocers in Glebe Point Road, Glebe from the late 1920s: J. and F. Tesoriero at 41, J. Tesoriero at 327, and G. Tesoriero at 373 Glebe Point Road, Glebe.

Sidoti, Tesoriero, Ristuccia, Iacono, Giuffré, Virgona, Pittorina, and Palmisano are all family names connected with the Aeolian Islands, off Sicily. Emigration from these islands began around the 1880s but did not gain momentum until the mid-1890s (Jones 1964: 256). The role of Aeolian islanders in the fruit and fishing sectors of the Australian economy was prominent well into the twentieth century.

The inter-family connections noted in such instances as Iacono and Sidoti and Tauro and Ristuccia point to a pattern of mutual support and interdependence. There was also a defined pattern of mobility in business (and residence). The case of Angelo Virgona demonstrates the diversity of retail activity carried out by Italy-born, as well as the continuity of an Italian link in the businesses with which he was associated.

In 1918-1919 Felix Taranto was proprietor of a fruit shop at 1371/2 Norton Street, Leichhhardt, at or near the corner of Short Street, later run from 1921-1923 by Angelo Virgona, the same Angelo Virgona who was to set up as a confectioner in 1925. P. Palmisano was proprietor of the same premises from 1924-1925, before moving on to 164 Norton Street from 1926 to 1932. In 1924 Angelo Virgona moved from the fruit shop at 1371/2 Norton Street, Leichhardt, to a fish shop at 129 Catherine Street, Leichhardt, at the corner with Thorby Avenue, before setting up the business at 1 The Crescent, Annandale in 1925, and subsequently at 20 The Crescent. The premises of the short-lived Virgona fish shop at 129 Catherine Street Leichhardt, at the corner with Thorby Avenue, continued to be run as a fish shop by B. Speziale from 1925 to 1928. The same premises operated as a fruit shop under R. Speziale from 1927-1932. The shop apparently operated as a dual business for a period between 1927-1928. Fish and fruit and vegetable selling were apparently often conducted in the same business premises. This pattern can also be traced in the post-World War 2 period.

By the late 1920s, family or extended family clusters of Italy-born lived in and across suburbs of the Municipality. The Sands' New South Wales Directory for 1929 confirms this, for example, in the instance of the family name Arena. In addition to Arena Bros. greengrocers at 41 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, in 1929 C. Arena lived at 74 Edith Street, Leichhardt, D. Arena at 14 Clifton St. East, Balmain, F. Arena at 111 Glebe Point Road, J. Arena at 79 Glebe Point Road, N. Arena at 77 Glebe Point Road, and S. Arena at 179 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. Giovenco records that no. 111 (and other addresses) in Glebe Point Road were connected from the late 1890s-1932 with fruit and greengrocery businesses run by members of the Arena family. 111 Glebe Point Road, Glebe is associated over time with A. Arena, G. Arena and L. Arena, while 41 Glebe Point Road figures by the second decade of the twentieth century in association with a greengrocery run by members of the Arena family. Other greengrocery businesses are linked with P. Arena at 147-149 Glebe Point Road, from 1908-1922, and S. Arena at 179 Glebe Point Road from 1917-1929.

By the late 1920s, in Glebe Point Road and St John's Road, Glebe and Ross Street, Forest Lodge, there was an established tradition of Italian-run retail enterprise. It began in the early 1900s. Alfred Falla was a bootmaker at 4 Ross Street, Forest Lodge in 1904, and is recorded at 152 St John's Road from 1911-1923. Lamaro Bros. were fruiterers at 95 Glebe Point Road in 1904. Giuseppe Peluso was a fruiterer at 139 and 141 Glebe Point Road from 1912-1916, and Antonio Piconi moved his fruit shop at 59 St John's Road in 1909 to 139 Glebe Point Road where he remained between 1910-1916.

John Merlino was a greengrocer at 46 Ross Street from 1921-1929. Giuseppe Divola was a confectioner at 127 St John's Road in 1921 and between 1923-1924 at 97 Mansfield Street, Rozelle. From the early 1930s, he was established at 337 Glebe Point Road. Jack Divola was a greengrocer at 327 Glebe Point Road, Glebe from 1922-1926 and Giovanni Divola was a fruiterer at 127 St John's Road from 1922-1932. Mrs Mary Divola was a fruiterer at 59 St John's Road from 1917-1918. J. Divola was a Ladies Outfitter at 95 Glebe Point Road from 1925-1930 (this business was later operated by Mrs Grace Marretta). Joseph Licciardi, with his wife Alice, was a greengrocer at 233-235 Glebe Point Road from 1923-1932. Portelli Bros. were greengrocers at 163 Glebe Point Road in 1929. Harry Licciardi began as a greengrocer at 107 Mansfield Street, Balmain in 1912-1914, moved to 39 Weston Street, Rozelle as a fruiterer in 1916, and then became a poulterer at 235-237 Glebe Point Road, Glebe from 1917-1922. A. Donato ran a fish shop at 219 Glebe Point Road in 1930.

In addition to these streets in Glebe/Forest Lodge, others throughout the Municipality had a demonstrable connection with Italian retail commerce: Darling Street, Balmain, Parramatta Road, Leichhardt and Annandale, Norton and Catherine Streets, Leichhardt, as well as Booth Street, Annandale and Weston Street, Rozelle, are all important in the history of Italian retail shops over the first three decades of the twentieth century.

A number of family names have been highlighted in relation to these localities. Others include Favaloro, Fazio, Giuffré, Lo Schiavo, Losurdo, Merlino, Natoli, Russo, Palise, and Russo.

The family name Giuffré has strong connections with Parramatta Road, Leichhardt (see Serio and Giuffré above). The fruiterers Giuffré and Co. were located at 303 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt from 1903-1906, followed by Angelo Giuffré at 3 Renwick Street, Leichhardt from 1907-1912, and Giovanni Giuffré at 285 Parramatta Road from 1910-1914, and at 389-391 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt from 1915-1931.The greengrocers Favaloro Bros. were located at 153 and 159 Parramatta Road, Annandale between 1904-1915, and at 67 Booth Street from 1916-1919. Mr Vincent Favaloro traded as a fruiterer at 231 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt from 1906-1914. Mrs G. Favaloro was a confectioner at 256b Parramatta Road, Leichhardt in 1932. The fruiterer Guy Lo Schiavo was located at 315 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt from 1905-1906. Vincent Fazio was a fruiterer at 677 Darling Street, Balmain between 1906-1912. M. Merlino was a fruiterer at 685 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt between 1927 and 1928, while N. Merlino operated at the same address from 1929-1931. Family names from the Aeolian Islands again figure prominently.

Fruit shops run by members of the Merlino family are scattered across time and throughout the Municipality. Merlino Bros. were located at 646 Darling Street, Balmain between 1909-1915, and at 674 Darling Street from 1919-1932. B. Merlino and Co. were at an address between 126 and 134 Weston Road, Rozelle in 1914, while J. Merlino and Co. was at 130 Weston Road, Rozelle from 1915-1921. Frank Merlino apparently began at 1 Hancock Street, Rozelle in 1911 and was located at 642 Darling Street, Balmain from 1916-1921. Robert Merlino conducted a fruit selling businesses at 164, 162 and 166 Norton Street, Leichhardt from 1914-1924. Angelo Merlino was located at 39 Collins Street, Annandale from 1925-1932.

Haberfield fruiterer in 1942 - Onofrio Merlino with his son John.

The Natoli, Russo and Palise families are similarly represented in fruit shops across the Municipality. Angelo Natoli was located at 221 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt between 1906 and 1914, and then at 301 Parramatta Road from 1915-1919. Natoli and Russo traded as fruiterers at 221 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt from 1910-1912. Giuseppa [or Giuseppe?] Natoli was located at 677 Darling Street, Balmain in 1914. Russo family members in fruit shops are represented in Balmain/Rozelle by Angelo at 267 Darling Street from 1903-1910, Gaetano at 646 Darling Street (and at 1 Hancock Street, Rozelle) from 1908-1909, George at 695 and 697 Darling Street between 1910 and 1916, Alfred at 584a Darling Street in 1911, B. Russo at 301 and 303 Darling Street between 1921 and 1932, and G. [Giovanni?] Russo at 301 Darling Street in 1922, who is then to be found at 301 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt from 1924-1928, and 44 Carrington Street, Leichhardt in 1931. Giovanni Russo was located at 221 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt from 1907-1908. Palise Bros. fruiterers at 361a, 373 and 365 Darling Street, Balmain between 1914 and 1917 were connected with Gaetano Palise who ran a fruit shop at 267 Darling Street independently between 1914 and 1916, and with a brother between 1917 and 1919. Gaetano Palise was later associated with businesses at 363-365 Darling Street, Balmain.

By the late 1920s, there were established patterns across the Municipality of kinship, family continuity, and inter-connectedness, and a growing, if still relatively very small Italian-born community. By the late 1920s, the isolation of earlier Italian immigrants, aggravated by the language barrier and reinforced by prevailing cultural and racial stereotypes, would have been mitigated by established kinship and regional links. Later, when Italian-born fruitgrowers and market gardeners had settled in semi-rural areas of outer Sydney, in areas such as Fairfield, Eastwood and Dee Why, there would have been mutually supportive retail and wholesale activity among Italy-born in fruit and vegetable trading.

By the 1930s, Italian-born storekeepers, confectioners, tobacconists, barbers, and fruiterers and greengrocers would have been a distinctive presence in corner shops and shopping strips in the predominantly Anglo-Celtic Balmain, Glebe, Annandale and Leichhardt. The goodwill or financial security created by those who survived in business during the difficult period of the 1930's Depression would have been severely compromised by the internment of Italian-born men in the early years of World War 2, which left many families in difficulty.

Italians in small industries with craft and trade skills possibly faced a harder time during the economic slump of the 1930s. Industrial ventures carried out by Italy-born in the pre-World War 2 period include the marble yard of P.M. Pellegrini, which operated at 48 Wentworth Park Road, Glebe, between 1927 and 1929 (William Pellegrini lived at 5 Charlotte Street, Leichhardt in 1931-1932), and a marble yard owned by R.M. Spreafico at 37-39 Denison Street, Rozelle between 1930-1932. Zaro Art Cement Co. at 18 Cheltenham Street, Rozelle in 1935 was possibly another enterprise with an Italian connection. Another type of industry was represented by the furniture manufacturers, Benedetto brothers, who were based in Booth Lane, Annandale and at 63 Booth Street from 1925-1932. Antony, Joseph (Giuseppe), Luigi, Robert and D. Benedetto were all closely associated with Booth Street, Johnston Street and other streets in Annandale throughout the 1920s and into the 1930s. L. Diamanti was a furniture manufacturer at 67 Parramatta Road, Annandale from 1918-1926. The cabinet makers Fraumeni, Lupica and Rumore were based at 58 Excelsior Street, Leichhardt in 1927, and traded as Fraumeni and Rumore in 1928-1930. Roy Furniture Pty. Ltd. in Norton Street, Leichhardt was run by the Bertoldo family from around 1930. Other furniture makers and sellers and cabinet makers can be traced to the 1930s and '40s: see section 3.1.2.

The most celebrated story of Italian industrial enterprise related to the Melocco family. The establishment in 1919 of the Melocco Bros. Pty. Ltd. at 1 Booth Street, Annandale was a defining moment in the history of Italy-born in the Leichhardt Municipality. Companies such as Melocco's which grew and expanded over the 1920s and remained viable over the 1930s became reference points for Italian immigrants in the post-World War 2 period. In the 1930's trade directories Melocco Bros. are referred to as Fibrous Plaster manufacturers or alternatively Marble Manufacturers. A full section of the Thematic History is devoted to the Melocco brothers, Peter, Anthony and Galliano and to the industry they founded: see Section 1.9.

1.3.2 An Update on The Working Lives of Italy-born in Leichhardt and the Leichhardt Municipality in the pre-War and early post-War Periods

This section is based on a sampling of Wise's New South Wales Post Office Commercial Directory for the years 1931, 1935, 1940, 1945-1946, 1947 and 1950. Wise's directories expand on the information in Sand's and provide an update on Giovenco's data. Italian family names referred to the previous section are highlighted, and new names are noted. Previously unidentified trades or professions are also noted.

As already outlined, from the 1920s in Annandale, Balmain/Rozelle, Glebe/Forest Lodge and Leichhardt, the dominant business activity of Italy-born was in the fruit and vegetable sector.

In 1931, in Annandale, in addition to A. Merlino at 39 Collins Street, G.F. Ristuccia at 99 Parramatta Road, Ristuccia Bros at 115 Johnston Street, and Angelo Virgona at 20 The Crescent, other Italian-born fruiterers were Ignazio Allotta at 151 Parramatta Road, Joseph De Trapani at 245 Parramatta Road, R. Giuseppi at 187 Parramatta Road, A. Macaroni at 205 Parramatta Road, R. Santangelo at 67 Booth Street, and Isidoro Urso at 25 Parramatta Road, Annandale. Vincent Palesy [Palesi] was a carrier at 190 Johnston Street, Frank Cirillo was a bootmaker at 7 Trafalgar Street, and A. Cassera was a butcher at 41 Collins Street, Annandale.

In 1931, in Rozelle/Balmain, in addition to Anthony Iacona at 606 Darling Street, Rozelle, Mrs M. Iacono at 218 Darling Street, Balmain, Merlino Bros at 674 Darling Street, Rozelle, T. Messina and Co. at 57 Darling Street, Balmain, Battista Russo at 301 Darling Street, Balmain, Sidoti and Iacono at 137 Rowntree Street, J. Taranto at 267 Darling Street, Rozelle, R. Taranto at 722 Darling Street, Rozelle, and V. Taranto at 696 Darling Strret, Rozelle, Italian-born fruiterers in Balmain/Rozelle were G. Defina at 88 Weston Road, Rozelle, F. Ferraro at 574 Darling Street, Rozelle, G.D. Maio at 39 Weston Road, Rozelle, and J..L Scelhitano at 642 Darling Street, Rozelle. C. Farrugia and C. Locantro were bootmakers at 46 Evans Street, Rozelle and 43 Mullens Street, Balmain, respectively. Clifford Longobardi was a grocer at 86 Curtis Road, Balmain, and N. Larucci and Miss E. Latta were confectioners at 81 Storey Street, Rozelle and 339 Darling Street, Balmain, respectively.

In 1931, in Glebe, in addition to Louis Arena at 111 Glebe Point Road, G. Divola at 337 Glebe Point Road, Giovanni Divola at 127 St John's Road, A. Giuffré at 371 Glebe Point Road, Gaetano Tesoriero at 327 Glebe Point Road, and G. Tesoriero at 41 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, Italian-born fruiterers in Glebe/Forest Lodge were G. Ferlazzo at 46 Ross Street, Forest Lodge, and Harry Licciardi at 223 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. Antonio Bros ran a fish shop at 35c Ross Street, Forest Lodge, H. Conradi [Corradi?] was a grocer at 28 Christie Street, Glebe, and A. Megna ran a mixed business at 381 Glebe Point Road, Glebe.

In Leichhardt, in 1931, in addition to Giovanni Giuffré at 389 Parramatta Road, N. Merlino at 685 Parramatta Road, P. Palmisano at 164 Norton Street, and B. Speziale at 129 Catherine Street, Italian-born fruiterers in Leichhardt were G. Ancona at 429 Parramatta Road, A. Cincotta at 354 Catherine Street, J.A. Jaconelli at 132 Norton Street, Tony Losurdo at 204 Norton Street, and Tony Macela at 357 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt. Mrs C. Boldini was a florist at 493 Parramatta Road, A. Profilio was a fishmonger at 184 Norton Street, and J. Mammone was a hairdresser/tobacconist at 202 Norton Street, Leichhardt.

In 1935, in Annandale, among Italian-born fruiterers were S. Giuffré at 20 The Crescent, B. Iacono at 151 Parramatta Road, Anthony Melano at 67 Booth Street, Ristuccia Bros at 117 Johnston Street (already noted), Tempone Bros at 6 Johnstone Street and Votano Bros at 119 Parramatta Road. C. Falco was a bootmaker at 61 Booth Street, and there were two modellers, Mei and Picchi at 41 Parramatta Road, and Moretti and Son at 85 Parramatta Road. Mrs G.T. Zenere was a smallgoods seller at 155 Nelson Street, Annandale.

In 1935, in Balmain, Miss E. Latta was still a confectioner at 339 Darling Street, Balmain, while T.H. Latta was trading in smallgoods at 337 Darling Street, Balmain. E. G. La Cava was a fishmonger at 673 Darling Street, Rozelle. Iacono family members were still fruiterers at 606 Darling Street, Rozelle, and 218 Darling Street, Balmain, G.D. Maio was still at 39 Weston Road, Rozelle, Merlino Bros were at 674 Darling Street, Rozelle, and Battista Russo was still trading at 301 Darling Street. New names in fruit selling were M. Amendolia at 390 Darling Street, Balmain, N. Arena at 588 Darling Street, Rozelle, L. Farniola at 375 Darling Street, Balmain, S. Giorgio at 574 Darling Street, Rozelle, T. Mazzitello at 642 Darling Street, Balmain, A. Palise at 88 Weston Road. Rozelle, and T. Sidoti at 129 Rowntree Street, Balmain.

In 1935, in Glebe, G. Speziali was a fishmonger at 125 St John's Road, and G. Zavoginni ran a fish shop at 329 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. John Spora had a smallgoods business at 44 Ross Street, Forest Lodge. Fruiterers still in business in 1935 were Louis Arena at 111 Glebe Point Road, G. and Giovanni Divola at 337 Glebe Point Road and 127 St John's Road, respectively, and G. Ferlazzo at 46 Ross Street, Forest Lodge. A. Giuffré, H. Licciardi, A. Megna and G. and G. Tesoriero were at the same addresses as in 1931. New names in fruit selling were Salvatore Galluzzo at 187 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, and Vincent Malaponte at 25 Glebe Point Road, Glebe.

In 1935, in Leichhardt, Tony Milazzo was a bootmaker at 12 Norton Street. G. Ancona, A. Cincotta, Giovanni Giuffré, J.A. Jaconelli, Tony Losurdo, and B. Speziale still ran fruit shops at the same addresses as in 1931. New names in fruit selling were S. De Paoli at 164 Norton Street, Marino Lauricella at 2a Norton Street, A. Miceli at 357 Parramatta Road, F. Pantano at 325 Parramatta Road, and G. Rao at 204 Norton Street, Leichhardt.

Wise's Directory for 1940 records G. Raffoli as a boot repairer at 61 Booth Street, Annandale. S. Giuffré was still proprietor of the fruit shop at 20 The Crescent, the Ristuccia Bros were trading at 117 Johnston Street, and the Tempone Bros were still at 6 Johnston Street. Joseph Rizzuto was a newcomer in the fruit selling business, at 67 Booth Street. G. Moretti and Sons continued to trade as modellers at 85 Parramatta Road, Annandale.

In Balmain, in 1940, H.V. Angelini is listed as an alderman in the South West Ward (the first such listing),_ and A. Margiotta had a boot repair business at 59 Weston Road, Rozelle. Newcomers in fruit selling were G. Alafaci at 341 Darling Street, Balmain, T. Bonanno at 88 Weston Road, Rozelle, V. Casamento at 386a Darling Street, Balmain, and Losurdo and Sons at 588 Darling Street, Rozelle. Battista Russo had moved to 303 Darling Street, Balmain, T.M. Messina was still trading at 57 Darling Street, Balmain, and S. Tesoriero had set up in business at 499 Darling Street, Rozelle. L. Farniola, S. Giorgio, A. Iacona, G.D. Maio, T. Mazzitello, the Merlino Bros, T. Sidoti, and the three Tarantos still traded as in 1935. J. Salvia was a newcomer as proprietor of a mixed business at 236 Darling Street, Balmain.

In Glebe, in 1940, to G. Speziali's fish shop at 125 St John's Road were added two fish shops owned by Anthony Scognamillo, at 219 and 329a Glebe Point Road, Glebe. All the fruiterers of 1935 still traded, with the addition of Lombardo Bros at 41 Glebe Point Road, and R. Scala and Sons at 145 St John's Road, Forest Lodge. At 111 Glebe Point Road, the fruit selling business traded under the name of the Arena Bros. John Spora's smallgoods business at 44 Ross Street, Forest Lodge had been joined by L. Toppano's smallgoods at 143 St John's Road, Forest Lodge. John Arena was a hairdresser/tobacconist at 159 Glebe Point Road.

In Leichhardt, in 1940, Tony Milazzo was still conducting a boot repair business at 12 Norton Street. New in commerce were Mrs G. Favaloro, a confectioner, at 267 Parramatta Road, and P. Pistola, a carrier, at 611 Parramatta Road. In fruit selling, Joseph Ancona, A, Cincotta, Giovanni Giuffré, J.A. Jaconelli, Marino Lauricella, Tony Losurdo, A. Miceli, and B. Speziale were still trading at the same addresses as in 1935. New names in fruit selling were Andy Merlino at 16a Augustus Street, Eugene Ristuccia at 204 Norton Street, A. Biviano at 457 Parramatta Road, and Robert Speziale at 685 Parramatta Road. Leichhardt.

In Annandale, in 1945-1947, Tempone brothers' business at 6 Johnston Street expanded and diversified to a confectionery business run by V. Tempone at 8 Johnston Street and a smallgoods business run by F.V. Tempone at 10 Johnston Street. B. Iacono had set up as a fruit seller at 151 Parramatta Road, and L. Laispina [La Spina?] was trading at 67 Booth Street. S. Giuffré was still at 20 The Crescent, Annandale and Ristuccia Bros were still a fixture at 117 Johnston Street. In 1947-1950 A. Recchia, a cabinet maker, was at 229 Young Street, Annandale.

In Balmain, in 1945-1947, A. Margiotta had passed on to S. Margiotta the boot repair business at 59 Victoria Road, Rozelle, which in 1950 is recorded in the name of V. Margiotta. Peter Amendolia had opened a fish shop at 63 Mullens Street, Balmain which continued until at least 1950. In 1950 S. Amendolia had a fish shop at 235 Darling Street, Balmain. New names in fruit selling in 1945-1947 were Thomas Lazzaro at 642 Darling Street. Rozelle, D. Merlino at 674 Darling Street, F. Milazzo at 129 Rowntree Street, Balmain, John Moschella at 722 Darling Street, Rozelle, Mrs J. Russo at 303 Darling Street, Balmain, S. Salniccia at 588 Darling Street, Rozelle and A. Tumminello at 88 Victoria Road, Rozelle. By 1950 new names among fruiterers on Darling Street were Buonaventura at 341, L. Farinola at 375, C. La Vite at 588, and Romanello and Co. at 674 Darling Street. In 1947 S. Saffioti traded at 70a Mullens Street, Balmain. S. Vasco was established as a tailor at 331 Darling Street.

In Glebe/Forest Lodge, in 1945-1946, G. Speziali was still a fishmonger at 125 St John's Road, while new names in fruit selling were J. Famularo at 371 Glebe Point Road, R, Ierace at 233 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, M. Maresca at 145 St John's Road, Forest Lodge, and A. Tesoriero at 327 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. In 1950 the names which remained were Arena Bros (111 Glebe Point Road), J. Famularo (371 Glebe Point Road), G. Ferlazzo (46 Ross Street, Forest Lodge), S. Galluzzo (187 Glebe Point Road), R. Ierace (233 Glebe Point Road), V. Lombardo (41 Glebe Point Road) and M. Maresca (145 St John's Road, Forest Lodge). A newcomer was C. Strazzeri at 179 Glebe Point Road. By 1950 smallgoods businesses were run in Glebe by S. Ierace (143 St John's Road), C. Nucifora (8 Colbourne Avneue) and C. Sapelli (39 Glebe Point Road). Grotto and Bonser furniture manufacturers were established at 19 Glebe Point Road.

The commercial profile of Leichhardt changed very little by 1945-1950. Jack Favaloro was established at 267 Parramatta Road as a confectioner and traded until at least 1950. Until 1950 the fruit and vegetables businesses of Ancona, Cincotta, De Paoli, Jaconelli, Lauricella, and B. and Robert Speziale still traded at the same addresses as in 1940. In 1945-1946 Mrs O. Penna was proprietor of a mixed business at 151 Norton Street. Tony Milazzo's boot repair business in 1947-1950 was joined by S. Margiotta at 138 Norton Street, who ran what is described in 1947 as a boot and shoe retail business and in 1950 a boot repair business, possibly the same S. Margiotta who had run a boot repair business at 59 Weston Road, Rozelle in 1940 and at 59 Victoria Road, Rozelle in 1945-1947. In 1950 G. Sambuco ran a business as a toolmaker at the rear of 10a Foster Street, and the De Valle furniture manufacturers were at 559 Parramatta Road. P. Pistola continued in his carrier's business until at least 1950.

Italians in the professions were represented by Dr E.A. Bentivoglio who graduated in Medicine from Sydney University in 1939 and practised as a doctor at 97 Norton Street, Leichhardt until at least 1950.

Sections 1.3.1 and 1.3.2 have focused mainly on activity by Italy-born in the fruit and vegetable retail sector of the Municipality. Their role in this sector was significant over most of the twentieth century. In this context, the role of Italy-born in fishing and fish marketing should also be highlighted. The connection of the suburb of Leichhardt with the Italian fishing fleet in Sydney should not be overlooked. For example, by the 1930s, a number of Italian fishermen's families were living in Frazer Street, Lilyfield/Leichhardt. Together with Woolloomooloo, Leichhardt was home for Italian-born fishermen in in the pre-war period as well as the post-World War 2 period. Small Italian-run fishing boats typically had a crew of four or five. In 1954, La Fiamma reported that there were fourteen Italian fishing boats at Leichhardt, principally run by Sicilians and Calabrians (21 May 1954, p. 3).

The Iron Cove fleet today.

1.3.3 A Postscript on the Continuity and Longevity of Italian-run Businesses in the Municipality

Business continuity is a striking feature of Italian-born retailers in the Leichhardt Municipality. Continuity is marked in individual instances. The best example is the shoe repair business in 2001 still in operation at 12 Norton Street on the site of the business run by Mr Milazzo from the 1930s (see also sections 3.1.2 and 4.3).

Family business continuity is also significant. The best example is the Galluzzo family fruit and greengrocery shop at 187 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, which has operated continuously since July 1934. It is the oldest surviving Italian family business in Glebe Point Road, and possibly also in the Municipality. Frank Galluzzo, son of the original owner, Salvatore Galluzzo, has memories of other long-standing family enterprises in the area, including the fruit/fish shop operated for around 30 years by members of the Speziali family in St John's Road, Glebe, opposite the Town Hall.

Mrs Giosi Casamento reported that the fruit and greengrocery shop operated by herself and her husband, Jo Casamento, from the 1960s until 2000 at 57 Darling Street, East Balmain, and bought by Mrs Casamento's father in 1950, had been run from 1919 by Mr Messina, possibly T. Messina. Giovenco records G. Messina as a fruiterer at 57 Darling Street, Balmain between 1924 and 1928, and at 63 Darling Street, from 1929-1932. Wise's Directory reveals T.M. Messina at 57 Darling Street between 1931 and 1945-1946.

The family name Casamento has historical links with the Municipality through Angelo Casamento who was a fruiterer at 6 Johnston Street, Annandale between 1905-1909, then as A. Casamento and Son Fruiterers at 132 Norton Street, Leichhardt from 1910-1913, and again independently at 339 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt from 1916-1919 and 301 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt from 1921-1923. Angelo Casamento is finally recorded as a confectioner at 62 Albion Street, Annandale between 1925 and 1927.

Mrs Casamento in her shop @ 57A Darling St. East Balmain

Italy-born in the fruit and vegetable retail sector were never in an absolute majority, but from 1930 they were often almost half of the total number in Balmain/Rozelle and, at a slightly later date, in Leichhardt as well. The presence of Italians in business in the pre-World War 2 period in the principal shopping strips of the Municipality and in smaller clusters in streets such as Booth Street, Annandale in many instances carried over until the 1970s, and in some instances well beyond. In some suburbs of the Municipality, the presence of Italy-born in the retail sector declined in the postwar period. In others it became more marked. From the mid-late 1950s, Leichhardt was apparently the only one which saw an increase.

1.3.4 A Summary Conclusion : Pre World War 2 Migration

The Italian-born population of the Municipality of Leichhardt was not large in the pre-World War 2 period, numbering possibly in the high 100s. It was certainly not large enough to sustain Italian-run businesses which, in the pre-war period, occupied a small but growing proportion of the retail sector the Leichhardt Municipality.

The kinship and regional ties noted, as well as connections in and across businesses all point to one of the essential modes of Italian emigration, chain migration. Continuity (and in some cases longevity) in business as well as activity in a variety of retail businesses are characteristics of Italy-born in the Municipality before (and after) World War 2.

Evidence from Sand's directories, Giovenco's data, and Wise's directories suggests that a majority of Italy-born in the retail sector of the Municipality by the early 1930s were from Southern Italy, possibly principally Sicily and the islands. A comprehensive picture of the regional origins of Italy-born in the Municipality up to World War 2 could be determined only by intensive research, using sources such as shipping and other government records. In general, Jones's statistics point to Calabria and Sicily (including the islands) as the leading regions in numbers of Italian immigrants to Australia in the period 1926-1962. Immigration from the Veneto and the Friuli Venezia Giulia regions was also relatively strong until well into the 1950s.

This focused overview of the settlement and working lives of Italy-born in the Municipality in the pre-World War 2 period demonstrates that there is a substantial history yet to be written of Italian-run businesses in the fruit and vegetable as well as the fish marketing sector. Research based, for example, on family records would also provide an understanding of the settlement experience of Italy-born in the pre-war period in the predominantly Anglo-Celtic suburbs of the Municipality.

1.3.5 The Post-World War 2 Settlement of Italians in the Suburb of Leichhardt and the Leichhardt Municipality

Italian chain migration to Sydney began in earnest in the 1920s. By 1933 there were over 400 Italians in the Leichhardt area, including Leichhardt, Annandale and Petersham (Burnley 1981: 180). Ian Burnley notes that as early as 1933 the cluster of Italians in these three suburbs accounted for the major concentration of Sydney's Italy-born (Burnley 1981: 180). Burnley's sample of naturalisation papers from between 1900 and 1947 suggests that the 1966 concentration of Italians in the suburb of Leichhardt "between Parramatta Road, Balmain [Road] and Hill Street" grew from a 1930s nucleus of Italy-born from the Aeolian Islands off north-eastern Sicily, the area around Catania in eastern Sicily, the Veneto region and the Friuli Venezia Giulia region (Burnley 1972: 72).

The fact that Italians lived in Leichhardt before World War 2 is not sufficient explanation for why the suburb later became so closely associated with Italians. Glebe and Balmain, with comparable socio-economic compositions and similar if not greater numbers of Italian immigrants and Italian-run small businesses in the pre-World War 2 period did not become similarly linked with Italians (Seymour 1991: 47).

According to the 1947 Census, there were more than 1,000 Italian-born residents in the inner and inner-western suburbs of Sydney, including Leichhardt and suburbs such as Pyrmont, Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Chippendale and Redfern. These suburbs offered affordable, single-unit housing in flats and boarding houses for the predominantly single male immigrants. Post-World War 2 immigrants were often guided in their choice of areas for settlement by earlier residential concentrations. From 1947-1954, Italian settlement took place predominantly in locations of pre-war concentration, including Leichhardt, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, and Woolloomooloo.

During the 1950s, the pre-war Italian concentration in Leichhardt was reinforced (Burnley 1981: 180), growing to almost 5,000 in the Leichhardt Local Government Area (LGA) in the 1966 Census (Burnley 1981: 180). The Italian population of the adjacent Marrickville LGA was at that time 4,160.

By the early 1960s, around 6,000 Italy-born lived in rented accommodation close to the Sydney CBD. Many were single male immigrants who subsequently sponsored fiancées or proxy brides or found marriage partners in Sydney. The gender imbalance of the early post-war immigration led later to some assisted passages for Italian women. As before the war, single men worked with the goal of eventually paying for the passage from Italy of a wife, wife-to-be or a pre-existing family, or of marrying in Australia. As Rina Huber notes, their reasons for leaving Italy were diverse: "to escape parental domination, to earn a lot in a short time and enjoy the resulting prestige, and to avoid conscription" (Huber 1977: 143). However, in a majority of cases it is apparent that "economic motives were fundamental in their uprooting and migration to Australia" (Burnley 1981: 182).

Transition to married life resulted in a shift from single quarters, typically boarding houses in the inner city, towards suburbs such as Leichhardt and Petersham and a further afield. Between 1961-1966, the Italian-born population of Sydney LGA fell from 6,100 to 5,100, increasing a little in Leichhardt and Marrickville. Significant increases were registered in Drummoyne, Ashfield, Canterbury and outer Fairfield. Subsequently there was a sharp decrease in the number of Italy-born in the inner city (down to 1,450 in 1971).

Leichhardt was one of the four principal suburbs in the inner-west of Sydney that received Italian immigrants in the post-war period. Some arrived in Leichhardt directly from Italy. Others moved to Leichhardt after a period of residence in another Sydney suburb, typically in the inner city, or after working elsewhere, such as the Queensland cane fields, to save for a house deposit or family passages from Italy.

According to Census figures between 1954 and 1976, Leichhardt LGA had consistently the highest numbers of Italy-born, followed in order by Marrickville, Drummoyne and Ashfield (Burnley 1981: 181). In the 1966 Census Leichhardt for the first time registered a higher number of Italy-born than the combined totals in the Sydney and South Sydney LGAs, 4,979 as against 4,083 (Burnley 1981: 181). In the 1971 Census, Leichhardt was outstripped for the first time by Fairfield in absolute numbers of Italy-born (5,003 against 6,512). In 1976 the number of 4,551 Italy-born living in Canterbury was greater for the first time than the number in the Leichhardt LGA (3,922).

There was a rapid increase in numbers of Italy-born in Leichhardt LGA between 1954 and 1961, from 1,493 to 4,566, with a small but steady increase over decade of the 1960s, with a plateauing between 1966 (4,979) and 1971 (5,003) (Burnley figures). Di Nicola reports alternatively that in 1966 there were 5,405 immigrants from Italy living in the Leichhardt Municipality (Di Nicola 1973: Table 8).

At the time of the 1971 Census, Leichhardt and Lilyfield were the suburbs in the Municipality with the highest numbers of Italy-born, 2580 and 1103, respectively. Annandale (586), Rozelle (247), Balmain (244) and Glebe (243) had smaller numbers. In Leichhardt and Lilyfield, Italy-born were 19.21% and 9.67% of the total population, respectively ((Di Nicola 1973: 2). It is worth noting that immigrants from the U.K. and Ireland in 1966 were almost as numerous as the Italians (5,243 as against 5,405), followed by immigrants from Greece (2,786). Italy-born in were only around 7% of the total population of the Municipality1966 and 1971, although in the suburb of Leichhardt they were much more numerous, constituting 18.79% and 19.21% for those respective years (Di Nicola 1973: Table 6).

By 1971 the suburb of Leichhardt was home to the major concentration of Italy-born in the Local Government Area, constituting almost one-fifth of the total population and almost one-half of the total overseas-born population in the suburb (Di Nicola 1973: 2-3). In 1961 the Italian-born population of Leichhardt was 1,934, increasing to 2,512 in 1966 and 2,580 in 1971 (Di Nicola 1973: Table 5).

The Italian-born population in Sydney reached over 67,000 in the 1971 Census. By 1971 there were nearly 10,000 Italy-born in the Leichhardt LGA, in the adjoining suburb of Petersham in the Marrickville LGA, and in Five Dock and Lilyfield in the Ashfield and Drummoyne LGAs (Burnley 1985: 167).

However, it should be underlined that of the 2,580 Italy-born in the suburb of Leichhardt in 1971, almost one-third had lived there for less than 5 years (Di Nicola 1973: 7). Over the same period, almost 30% of the 1966 Italian-born population had moved on. "As the evidence shows, the Leichhardt Italian population was a moderately transient one at least for 1966-1971, with just less than a third of the 1966 population leaving over a five year period and being replaced by a slightly greater number of new arrivals" (Di Nicola 1973: 7). Di Nicola goes on to suggest that the stable core of the Italian-born population of Leichhardt is likely to have been those who arrived in 1955-1961 and who entered the local housing market soon after, when house prices were relatively low.

The numbers of Italy-born in Leichhardt in the period 1961-1966 were largest in absolute terms over all other suburbs in the city. In 1961 the percentage of Italy-born in Leichhardt was 10.4% of the total Italian-born population of metropolitan Sydney. In 1966 this share had dropped to 9.3% and in 1971 to 7.8% (Burnley 1981: 181). In 1971 when just on 5,000 Italy-born lived in Leichhardt LGA, only Fairfield had a larger number (6,512).

Among the explanations for the numbers of Italians living in Leichhardt and its Municipality in the post-World War 2 years are the previous concentration of Italy-born, pre-established and emerging social and occupational patterns, and the presence of St Fiacre's Church, from 1946 in the hands of Italian-speaking friars of the Capuchin Order. Italians who came to Australia independently were drawn to areas of previous settlement like Leichhardt for the sense of familiarity, the material support, and the opportunities to converse in Italian which the area readily provided.

Newly arrived postwar immigrants were drawn to suburbs like Leichhardt until the early 1960s also because rents were relatively inexpensive and the suburb provided convenient access to employment. Leichhardt (and nearby suburbs like Stanmore and Annandale, as well as those towards the city centre) had factories and industries which employed men and women, as well as construction companies which hired men. The price difference between houses in Leichhardt and those in surrounding suburbs was marked in the late 1950s and early 1960s. For Italians keen to enter the housing market as home owners once they were established, this price differential is likely to have been significant factor in buying and then remaining in Leichhardt.

The presence of Italy-born in the Municipality was sometimes viewed in a negative light. Discrimination was certainly practised. One contributor to the thematic history reported that in the 1950s a hotel in Annandale was not keen to serve Italians in the public bar for fear of fights and arguments, and encouraged Italians to drink outside on the footpath. And as Di Nicola has observed:

On Saturday morning [in the early 1970s] Parramatta Road is a colourful throng of people intent on their weekly shopping. Characteristic of the milling Saturday crowd are the groups of people (usually Italian) who stop in the middle of the footpath to chat. This and the widespread loud talking are not liked by some of the local Australian residents, especially the older ones, but there is nothing much they can do about it.
(Di Nicola 1973: 1).

	Saturday morning shopping in Parramatta Road in the 1950's

It is clear that the suburb of Leichhardt functioned as a "zone of transition" as much as a zone of settlement. For some Italy-born, living in Leichhardt represented a stage in the process post-immigration that marked the shift from single to married life or the move from renting to buying property. A consequence of the "stepping-stone" function (Seymour 1991: 50) for Leichhardt was an ongoing renewal of the Italians living in the suburb. It is possible that only a small number of Italian families stayed in Leichhardt for longer than a five-year period (Seymour 1991: 50, citing Huber). Di Nicola suggests that there was a central core of permanent Italian-born residents in Leichhardt around which there was a sizeable flow of new arrivals in and out of the suburb (Di Nicola 1973: 7). Houses in Elswick and Renwick Street at times reportedly housed 20-30 single men who would have been transient residents, moving on as work opportunities demanded and their economic situation improved.

In the first half of the 1960s, Leichhardt was host to a significant Italian-born residential concentration which remained steady in numbers for another five years. As Burnley has observed, Leichhardt was different from the other concentrations noted above and, in particular, from the Fairfield/Bossley Park concentration because of the "institutional completeness" which sustained it (Burnley 1981: 183). The suburb of Leichhardt had established and emerging Italian-run businesses, associations, clubs and services which used the Italian language. This aspect was especially important to women. One long-term Italian-born resident of Leichhardt reported at the Back to Leichhardt event: "At the time [1959], I felt grateful to be living in Leichhardt where there was so much Italian spoken. As I never worked outside the home, I did not speak any English. The [Italian] shops, doctors and businesses were very important supports for me. St Fiacre's church was also a pivotal point for our family, and I remember Father Atanasio's pride when two of my three children were married in the church".

This "institutional completeness" meant that the suburb of Leichhardt assumed a significant role in the life of wider Sydney's Italian-born population. A significant element of this completeness was the number and variety of Italian-run small businesses in the suburb. Leichhardt became mecca for shopping for Italians from all over Sydney. Many who contributed information to the thematic history reported how busy and bustling they remember Parramatta Road in the 1960s and 1970s when they patronised the Italian-run businesses along the Leichhardt and Petersham shopping strips, particularly on Saturdays.

In fact, as early as the mid-1950s a version of the Italian custom of the passeggiata [a broad translation is walking and talking in the piazza or main street] was observed along Parramatta Road, as those who worked all week made purchases along the strip before Saturday midday closing. "To get past, you had to walk on the road", said one informant. Norton Street, which did have some Italian-run businesses, was much less busy at that time. Another informant reported a memory of Norton Street in the early 1950s where there were "very few Italians in business". Signor Pricolo, a barber, was one Italian among the many non-Italian shops and mixed businesses along Norton Street in 1951-1952 which catered for workers living in the area. The Glebe of 28 September 1972 (p. 8) reports that Vince Pricolo, a "well-known hairdresser in Norton Street near the Leichhardt Town Hall" first arrived in Australia in early 1939, and was in Leichhardt from 1951 "where he went into a barber shop business with his brother".

Burnley identifies four main phases of Italian settlement in Sydney until the early 1980s (Burnley 1981: 192-193). In Leichhardt the first phase (approximately 1925-1939) was the establishment of pre-war regional clusters; the second phase (approximately 1947-1957) was characterised by "post-war rejuvenation and extension of this concentration . . . and was marked by the evolution of an institutional structure"; the third phase (approximately 1958-1971) was marked by a consolidation of the numbers of Italy-born in the area and of the institutional structure; the fourth phase was marked by a decline in the number of Italy-born living in Leichhardt, related to but not entirely a consequence of the decline in net migration from Italy (1971-1980) (adapted from Burnley 1981: 192).

After 1976, when there were 3,922 Italy-born living in Leichhardt, there was a decrease to 2,730 in 1981, with a further decrease in 1986 to 2,246 (Burnley 1996: 92). By 1991 the Census figure for Italy-born in Leichhardt was 1,812. The loss of Italian-born population saw a decline in the numbers of Italian-run businesses, some of which moved to other nearby suburbs where Italians with growing families began to settle in larger houses (Haberfield, Five Dock, Drummoyne, etc.)

Figures for second-generation Italian Australians living in Leichhardt are not known. However, some of the second generation who grew up or went to school in Leichhardt now run businesses there. In 2000 at the Back to Leichhardt event, Italian Australians who had never lived in Leichhardt were heard to remark that the contemporary "Italianness" of Leichhardt was a potential drawcard for them. What goes around comes around. …..