Physical Description
The New Italy Museum and Park of Peace site is located at the junction
of the Pacific Highway and the Swan Bay - New Italy Road. A parking
area runs along the highway. The first monument to the Italian pioneers
is located in the open grounds nearest the road junction. It is an
obelisk of concrete and Italian marble. A covered, above ground well is
located nearby. The site contains a pavilion next to the Swan Bay - New
Italy Road housing a display on 200 years of Italian Immigrants in
Australia. Directly opposite is a mud brick display hall which houses a
collection of artefacts relating to the New Italy families and a
cafeteria. Grape vines grow on the outside of the building. A
restaurant and bar is situated to the north west of the Pavilion. These
three buildings form a courtyard which contains several copies of well
known statuary as well as the pioneer and his dog monuments. Another
hall can be found behind the restaurant. There is an Aboriginal gallery
and craft site (currently unused?) on the site. In the north west
corner of the site is the new park of Peace containing trees planted by
various dignitaries commemorating significant events and celebrations.
Items considered original fabric
As the site contained Antoniolli's farm some items are considered
to be fabric from this earlier settlement. A post and rail fence which
separates the 1961 Memorial and well from the newer Museum complex
buildings is considered to be made of original materials. However there
is no evidence to suggest it is in its original position. It is likely
that the fence was erected in its current position after the Memorial
was built. The adjacent well is also considered to be an original stone
lined well (in situ), possibly similar to that on Roder's farm, but it
has been capped, the sides extended above ground level and a roof built
over the top. Archaeological studies would need to be undertaken to
confirm how much of the original well still exists.
1961 Memorial Monument
Messes D.G. Board & Sons, Architects of Lismore, designed this
obelisk type monument. The monument is concrete with white Italian
marble plaques attached to each of the four sides of the obelisk. The
story of New Italy is inscribed (in both English and Italian) on these
plaques, as are the names of the original settlers. See photograph
taken in 2001. It is reputedly located on the site of the former mud
brick house.
1989 Bicentennial Museum & Restaurant /Caretakers Residence
These two mud brick buildings, designed by Ross McDonald and
Associates were opened in 1989. The Museum building is a single story
construction with mud brick walls, a tin roof supported by whole
timbers and a cement floor. The building houses the museum and a cafe.
A large verandah, which is now covered with grape vines, extends along
the northern wall. This area is used by the cafe. On both the external
and internal walls are paintings by Dr Floriano Volpato. These
paintings depict scenes of Italy. Floriano also hand painted many of
the signs around the complex including the panels that tell the story
of the de Rays expedition and the immigrants eventual arrival in
Sydney. The museum contains a wide selection of items from the New
Italy Settlement including a desk from the school; alter rails from the
church; numerous farming implements and household items such as a
butter churn and a sewing machine. It also contains clothing and a fine
petite point of Venice. Recently it has acquired a collection of
telephone memorabilia used on the north coast of New South Wales. In
2001 the New Italy Museum Incorporated applied for a grant and acquired
showcases to house photographs and pioneer family memorabilia.
The Restaurant/Caretakers Residence is a two-story mud brick
building designed to look like the original Antoniolli residence. The
caretaker lives on the top floor and the bottom floor contains a
restaurant, kitchen and toilets. This area is used on special occasions
and is not necessarily open to the general public.
1991 Father Miazzi's Monument
Father Miazzi (a member of the Scalabrinian Order) was a much-loved
priest in North Lismore and served many of the descendants of New
Italy. He was killed in an air accident in 1968.The original monument
to him had been placed at the Catholic Church, North Lismore but when
the parish closed it was decided to move the monument to New Italy. See
photograph.
1992 Sculpture of the Pioneer and his Dog
This sculpture sits at the entrance to the Plaza between the Museum
and Italian Pavilion. It was designed and built by Carlo Jacuzzi and
unveiled by the Italian Consul General Dr Fabio de Nardis.
1992 Gurrigai Aboriginal Arts and Crafts Centre
This building is of white besser block construction and is unlike
most other buildings at the Complex, although built of similar
materials to the nearby community Hall. It is a single storey building
with one main exhibition area and a workroom behind. The managers of
the centre exhibit and sell local indigenous art work, clothing and
jewellery.
1993 Italian Pavilion
The Italian Pavilion is a reconstruction of the Italian Pavilion
that stood at the Brisbane Exposition in 1988. The Italian Government
donated the materials from the Italian Pavilion and New Italy Museum
committee, under the leadership of Floriano Volpato, physically removed
the Pavilion from Brisbane and re erected it at New Italy. The exhibits
in this building are different from those in the Museum as it is aims
to show 200 years of Italian immigration to Australia. Information
sheets tell of the contribution of Italians who are now household names
such as Carla Zampatti, Al Grasby and Franca Arena. This building
contains paintings, produced by Floriano Volpato, information on the 20
Regions of Italy and a collection of photographs showing Italian
migrants on the North Coast of New South Wales. The Pavilion also
contains a number of Italianate sculptures. One is a bust of Floriano
Volpato. The opening of the building was a Nationally significant event
attended by the then Governor General Mr Bill Hayden.
1996 Community Hall
This besser brick building is really just one big room. It contains
a stage at the southern end and glass windows that look over the Park
of Peace. Located above the stage are heads representing figures at the
Opera House in Milan that were acquired, along with the Italian
Pavilion, from the Brisbane Expo, 1988.
The Park of Peace
This open area was dedicated in 1984 and since that time trees have
been planted to commemorate either important occasions or people
associated with the New Italy settlement or their descendants.
Unfortunately the soil is poor in this area and most of the trees have
not thrived. Species vary from Australian natives to Italian Deredales
(check spelling).
The School Site
The school site is located at the junction of the New Italy - Swan
Bay Roads and Moonem Road. Planted hoop pines are located along the
line of the roads. The School is a mostly overgrown paddock of which
the southern and southeastern perimeter is lined by a number of very
tall (c. 30 M) Araucaria cunninghammi (hoop pines) that were planted by
students of the school in 1891. These trees are somewhat obscured by
vigorous hardwood forest regrowth, and an understorey containing
numerous self-seeded hoop pine trees. Other items of the fabric of the
school which remains on the site include: footings for a tank stand
underlying which is some brick rubble containing locally made bricks, a
crepe myrtle tree, believed to have been positioned in front of one of
the two buildings, two pits identified by Mr Mick Roselen, (a 92 year
old descendent of the a first pioneer family who attended the school
until he was 14 years old) as being associated with the school toilets,
a number of post and rail fence elements and a modern sign declaring
the area to be the site of the Historic New Italy School
These sites are part of the much larger New Italy landscape which
contain wells, fruit plantings and archaeological evidence of churches,
domestic buildings and artifacts, shops and cellars. |
History
The New Italy settlement covers an area of 485.62 hectares (1200 acres)
and represents an unusual phase of settlement in NSW. It is the only
known settlement of its type in New South Wales.
On 7 April 1881 217 Italians arrived in Sydney. They had sailed
from Venetia, Italy for New Ireland north east of New Guinea to set up
a new colony. The expedition had been organised by the Marquis de Ray
Charles Marie du Breil, a young Frenchman of noble descent who was
unhappy with the changes that the French Revolution had made to his
position. In 1879 he announced that a colony would be established to
the north east of Australia, namely East New Guinea, New Britain and
New Ireland to be known as La Nouvelle France, or Port Breton. Word of
the venture spread to North Italy, de Rays having placed an agent to
sell the venture in Milan. To those living close to starvation and
seeing only a grim future for their children in a climate of economic,
social and political hardship, this venture was the opportunity for a
new life. Despite and a decree by the French government forbidding
emigration agencies to recruitment for the venture and the Royal
Investigation Bureau in Milan issuing a direction that no passport be
issued to any Italian planning to participate in the scheme fifty
families were determined to try their luck Italians had begun arriving
in Barcelona, the point of departure, in April 1880. By 8 July 1880
everyone had boarded the ship 'India' which left the following day
loaded with goods thought useful and necessary were abroad. The
passengers were essentially paying immigrants who had either paid in
francs or who had agreed to work for the administrators of the new
colony for five years before qualifying to own their own house and
land. The journey was difficult and the immigrants on arrival at Port
Breton found not a settlement, but a harsh land where no improvements
had been undertaken. Initial attempts were made to establish a colony.
The 'Genil', which had left for Port Breton prior to the 'India' with
supplies and Spanish soldiers, many of whom had deserted before it
reached its destination, left for Sydney for supplies in mid December.
By the end of February 1881 those Italians still alive were on their
way to Noumea in New Caledonia despite having requested transport to
Sydney.
The 'India' barely made it to Noumea. The colonial administration
and public were sympathetic and generous offering shelter, rations and
gifts. However, the Italians refused to leave the ship, determined to
go to Sydney. A deputation approached the British Consul who forwarded
the immigrant’s request to come to Sydney to Sir Henry Parkes, then
Colonial Secretary of NSW and the Governor, Lord Loftus. There was no
hesitation by Parkes to bring the immigrants to Australia as ship
wrecked mariners but he was undecided whether they could stay as he
feared their destitution would leave them without means of subsistence.
An inquiry after they arrived in Sydney noted the immigrants were
mainly agriculturally skilled with particular knowledge of vines and
olives but had no money or knowledge of trades. The French
administration advanced the funds necessary to allow Australian
Steamship Navigation Co ship the 'James Patterson' to transport the
people and in return the 'India' and her cargo were sold. The remaining
217 Italian immigrants left Noumea on 2 April and arrived in Sydney on
7 April.
The government, press, public and Sydney Italian community took
great interest in the new arrivals and gave all the assistance
possible. On 20 April Parkes announced that the Italians could stay.
However, they were not to settle together but be dispersed throughout
the colony to learn the language, find work and attempt to make a life
for themselves. The Italians, having been through so much together,
were reluctant to part ways and did so only through the persuasion of
the Italian Consul General. In the coming months they made the most of
their new life and King Umberto of Italy conferred honours on the men
who had helped the Italians throughout the ordeal. Parkes was made
Commander of the Crown of Italy. The desire to be together however,
remained.
In early 1882 Rocco Caminotti, a man of Italian origin met some of
the settlers from the de Ray expedition. He knew of their desire to
remain together and while in Northern NSW noticed that there was land
still being offered and believed it a place that may allow the new
settlers to live in close proximity. He and Antonio Pezzutti
investigated the region in April and applied for a selection close to a
creek on the South Woodburn - Chatsworth island coach route. This was
at the junction of the main road between the Clarence and Richmond
Rivers and of the Road to Swan Bay. This would form the nucleus of the
New Italy settlement. The first seven families came to New Italy in
1882 and were followed by 19 in 1883. The men, women and children set
about creating a new community. The earliest arrivals lived at Swan Bay
travelling every day on foot to their selections to build homes. The
first child was born at the settlement on 29 July 1882 to Angela
Pezzutti. The houses were built of materials available on and around
their selections including clay, bark or wattle and daub. Later homes
were built with chamferboard and trees felled from the selections.
Wells were dug 2.43 to 3.65 metres (8 to 12 feet) deep as there was no
natural water source, ovens were built close to homes and later cellars
to store the wine the settlement produced. Men felled trees and cleared
land while the women dug trenches for drainage. The inhabitants made
their own baskets and chairs and utilised whatever resources they
could. They called the settlement La Cella Venezia, the Venetian Cell,
as a symbol of their closeness. A travelling correspondent for the
Sydney Tribune visited the settlement and found hospitable, amiable and
interesting people growing fruits and vegetables including grape vines,
melons, lemons and pumpkin. Among the families were the Caminottis,
Pezzuttis, Nardis as well as the Pallis, French brothers who had joined
the Italians. The new arrivals continued to work their land and planted
peach, apple and loquat trees, corn and more vines. They acquired pigs,
cows, poultry and sheep. In 1889 Frank Clifford wrote of the success of
the settlement, suggesting similar colonies be established in New South
Wales. Frank Treatt visited the settlement in 1899 having encountered
the families as an immigration agent in 1881. He found the people
content, at the beginning of prosperity and held in high esteem
throughout the district.
The settlers funded their achievements by taking work in the
district, particularly in the sugar cane fields and mill and were known
as reliable, hard workers. They made and sold wine and the fruits and
vegetables they grew. They also sold the timber from the trees they
felled on their selections. Timber remained an important industry for
around thirty years at New Italy. As the settlement developed the men
were less willing to leave regularly for work. The poor soil quality
and lack of water prevented them turning to full scale commercial
production of fruit and vegetables. Instead they worked for a period
while they saved money and then returned to the settlement until the
money ran out again. They were often away for about six months of the
year. Eager for the men to remain in the settlement permanently the
settlers eagerly embraced the suggestion that they consider silk
production. (sericulture)
Attempts had been made to cultivate the large numbers of naturally
occurring mulberry trees for the use of silkworms for commercial silk
production since the 1820s. In the 1880s Reginald Champ was the most
active proponent of this. He approached Parkes in December 1888 and in
mid 1889 suggesting the government give impetus to the establishment of
a silk industry. Parkes sent him to New Italy too see if the settlers
there were interested. It would not have been lost on Parkes that the
silk industry was a traditional industry of Venetia and that the
settlers had probably had some contact with it. It is very likely it
was also a strategic political act, showing interest and providing
opportunities in a region that had not been happy with the Sydney
government. There were mulberry trees among the orchards at New Italy
and the settlers had already shown interest and ability in utilising
available resources. In 1890 the Inspector General of Forests J E Brown
accompanied Champ to New Italy to give his opinion on the suitability
of the site for intensive silk worm breeding. Champ and Brown both
considered that New Italy was a suitable environmentally and labour
wise. The settlers assured Parkes of their willingness and ability with
a petition which was presented to him on behalf of the settlers by the
Italian Consul-General.
In March 1891 Champ went back to the settlement and activity
clearing and felling trees, planting mulberry trees and silkworm
breeding began with earnest. A year later progress was impressive and
the industry showing every sign of success. However, in mid 1891 the
Parkes ministry was overturned and government interest and
participation in the enterprise decreased. A request for government
purchase of a reeling machine for the settlement met no response. Once
again, showing their resourcefulness and tenacity, the settlers came up
with their own solution. Pezzutti and Martinuzzi devised and built a
machine instead which brought much praise from J S Campbell, Director
of Agriculture when he visited the settlement in November 1892. He was
impressed by the expertise and enthusiasm in the settlement and the
district and recommended government assistance building a filature
where silk reeling could be more professionally carried out.
Unfortunately 1893 saw changing fortunes in NSW generally with the
onset of depression. Fire also caused much damage at the settlement,
ending silk production as a large scale government sponsored industry.
Small production did continue and silk was sent to the Dibbs government
in 1893. This silk won a gold medal at the Great Exhibition in Chicago
and the skeins then sent to Queen Victoria. Giacomo Piccoli won first
prize for his silk at the Sydney Exhibition in 1899 and Milan in 1906.
The Governor of NSW Sir Earl Beauchamp visited New Italy in 1900 and
praised Mr Piccolli’s silk and skills.
The settler’s success, hard work and thrift allowed them to recover
after the fire. Some rented nearby dairy farms and others bought the
selections of these people and increased their stock numbers. Dairying,
timbergetting, winemaking and canecutting provided many opportunities.
Whilst establishment of industry was going on the education needs
of the children and the spiritual needs of the community were not
forgotten. A local priest recommended a school be made available under
the Public Instruction Act aimed at giving equal opportunity in access
to education. The Woodburn School committee assisted the settlers in
drafting a request for a schoolteacher. At this time the official name
of New Italy was chosen rather than the Italian name, the first
suggestion of integration with the wider Australian community. On 9
September 1885 the school had its first teacher and fifteen children.
Many children only went to school for a few years but there were always
children to go to school. The first teacher was French but spoke
Italian. The second teacher Thomas Morgan, who took over in 1890,
considered it a responsibility to teach the children English so they
could participate in English speaking society. He forbade Italian in
the classroom. He stayed for 13 years and during this time the school
was enlarged twice. In 1896 a pupil teacher was appointed to assist
him. Introduction of a school was not without its problems. The Public
Instruction Act made it compulsory for school attendance which
decreased the available labour at settlement, forcing some families to
move away as they could not survive without this help.
In 1887 a church was built on land donated by Antonio Nardi and
services were held once a month. Prior to this a priest had visited
periodically. It was in the context of church that significant social
activity took place. After the service most retired to the Nardi’s for
the afternoon, to eat, relax, socialise, play games and take a break
from the hard work of the week.
Of those who stayed many married others within the settlement
reinforcing the bonds of the families who had arrived in 1881 although
there were also many Italian newcomers. The Antonioli's, Bazzo's,
Bertoli's, Buoro's, Capelin's, Gava's Mellare's, Pellizer's,
Pezzutti's, Roder's, Spinaze's, Ras’ Rosolens, Tome's, Scarabelotti's,
Morandini's and Picoli’s were joined by the Fava's, Pedrini's and
Serone's. Non Italians also married into the settlement, becoming a
part of the New Italy family. Louie Antonioli’s wine shop was an
attraction throughout the district on Saturday afternoons where there
was singing and dancing on the lawns.
In 1900 Giacomo Rosolen built a sawmill which handled timber for
nearly 20 years. A New Italy Progress Association was formed in 1903 to
discuss establishing a post office and look at naturalisation and the
silk industry and other issues. A new church was built in 1907 despite
a rapid decline in population between 1905 and 1910 as younger families
moved away. Those left were often widowed or unmarried.
In 1918 the timber industry folded at New Italy. During the 1920s
the population further decreased and became less Italian in character.
In 1931 the jubilee of the settlement was celebrated with descendents
arriving to visit those left behind. They had become prosperous in
their lives. The school closed in 1933. However a new tradition began
at this time. In 1936 Giacomo Picoli established a Park of Peace on his
property where a tree was planted every year on 7 April to celebrate
the immigrant’s arrival in Sydney. Younger members of the families
assembled every year for the commemoration. The tradition continued
throughout World War Two without the festivities. Trees were planted on
other important occasions. In 1942 Picolo was the last surviving
resident of New Italy. He remained there until his death in 1955.
Between 1942 and 1955 the settlement slowly disintegrated. A
cyclone severely damaged the church and its contents were distributed
throughout the district. The school residence was removed from the
settlement before being brought back and used as a home by a new
resident in the 1970s.
Today many of the houses and buildings have disintegrated though
evidence of their existence can be found in the form of wells,
footings, and other artefacts scattered throughout the settlement site.
However, the spirit of the settlement lives on. Interested in new Italy
was revived in the 1950s when a reporter from Ballina Diana Mercer
wrote about he settlement. The Richmond River Historical Society
suggested preserving the old mud house there. This did not eventuate.
However proposal for a memorial was accepted. Money was raised and on 8
April 1961 the Richmond River Historical Society erected a monument to
commemorate the pride, courage and strength of the Italian settlers and
their contribution to the community. Approximately 1500 people attended
the function including the Consul General for Italy, several members of
Parliament and local dignitaries. With the imminent arrival of the
centenary of the immigrant’s arrival in 1981 a committee was
established to organise celebrations. In April 1980 the ABC filmed the
New Italy story through enactments and interviews for its Big Country
series and large centenary celebrations were held at the Lismore
showground in August. Again many dignitaries attended including the
deputy Prime Minister of Australia, the Mayor of Lismore, the Italian
Consul General and numerous members of Parliament and Ministers
including the Commissioner for Community Delegations and Ethnic Affairs
and the State Minister for Decentralisation and Development. Plans were
made for a Museum and new Park of Peace adjacent to the monument. The
land was purchased in 1983 and in 1984 the Italian Consul General Dr
Alvise Memmo laid the first stone at the entrance of the proposed new
Peace Park and planted a tree, continuing Picoli’s tradition. In the
same year Spencer Spinaze received a knighthood in the Order of Merit
of the Italian republic in recognition of his contribution to
commemorating the Italian settlers and generating the interest of
descendants. The initial reason for the committee's work was to
celebrate the centenary of the arrival and achievements of the settlers
and their descendents in Australia but it was not until 1989 that the
Bicentennial Museum, restaurant and mud brick house were opened, the
key buildings in the New Italy complex. Again a long list of state and
local dignitaries attended the function. In the same year Italian
Government Officials from World Expo visited New Italy. In 1992 a
sculpture 'The Pioneer and his dog' by Carlo Jacuzzi was unveiled on
the site by the Italian Consul-General. At this opening it was
announced by Brian Pezzutti, a member of the Legislative Council, that
a $5000 grant had been made to the New Italy Committee to help complete
a new complex to tell the story of 200 years of Italian immigration to
Australia. This was opened in 1993, the building being the Italian
pavilion from World Expo 88 in Queensland. It was opened by the
Governor General of Australia Bill Hayden. In the same year and
Aboriginal Arts and Crafts centre was opened to the rear of the
complex. A community hall was opened in 1996 and the complex received
its first tourism award. The Museum won a Cultural Tourism Award for
NSW in 1997.
Trees have continued to be planted in the Park of by various
dignitaries and celebrations are held each year celebrating Italians in
Australia including Australia day, and the anniversary of the Italian
community’s arrival. A special occasion was the presentation of the
Medal ‘Castellanetta della Repubblica Italiana by Italian Ambassador Dr
Giovanni Castellaneta in October 1999 to Dr Floriana Volpata who had
been the representative for the Italian Consul general on the North
Coast for his services to the community. Volpata had been a major
driving force behind the activity at the New Italy Complex and the
artistic work in the Italian Pavilion, a complex which has come to
represent not only old and new Italians in Australia and their
achievements and accomplishments but also the joining together of the
Italian and non-Italian community to recognise and commemorate those
contributions and experiences.
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