Italian community of Melbourne

The Italian community of Melbourne is the second largest ethnic group in Greater Melbourne, Australia, second to the Anglo-Celtic Australians ethnic group.[2] The 2011 Census counted that of the 185,402 residents that were born in Italy who live in Australia, 68,823 lived in Melbourne, which was the highest percentage of the country at 37.1%. The same could be said for the total Australian population of Italian ancestry, with 279,112 of the 916,121 (30.4%) listed as Melbournian residents, which is the highest Italian population in Australia and the Oceanic continent per city.[1]

One dot signifies an approximate area of Melbourne where 100 residents were born in Italy

Italian community of Melbourne
Marco Bresciano
Total population
Italian
68,823 (by birth, 2011)[1]
279,112 (by ancestry, 2011)[1]
Languages
Religion
Predominantly Roman Catholic
Related ethnic groups
Italian American, part of Italian Australian, Italian Canadian, Italian Scottish, Italian Welsh, Mediterraneans
Part of a series on
Ethnicity in Melbourne

    History

    Victorian gold rush era

    Inaugural records of the Italian community of Melbourne are debated as official records are obscured. It is known that the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s attracted thousands of Italians and Swiss Italians to Australia. The drain on the labour supply occasioned by the gold rush caused Australia to also seek workmen from Europe for land use and the development of cultivation. It is the approximate number of Italians who joined the Victorian gold mines is obscure, and until 1871 Italians did not receive a special place in any Australian census figures. By 1881, the first year of census figures on Italian migrants in all Australian states, not just in Victoria, there were 947 (0.10%) in Victoria, of whom one-third were in Melbourne.

    World wars' migration

    Following Italy's involvement in world war I, many Italians particularly from the southern regions of Calabria and Sicily and descended into both, the south eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne. Following World War II, Australia saw a huge influx of Italian migrants settling all throughout Melbourne. The northern inner-suburbs saw the highest population densities of Italian migration between the 1940s-60's. These suburbs consisted of Brunswick, Brunswick East, Brunswick West, Carlton, Carlton North, Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, Parkville and Princes Hill. Of all the listed suburbs, the highest concentration in Carlton, saw the eventual establishment of Melbourne's current Little Italy, on Lygon Street, between the intersections of Elgin & Queensberry streets.

    Post global financial crisis migration

    In the recent years, Australia has been witnessing a new wave of migration from Italy in numbers not seen in half a century, as thousands flee the economic hardship in Europe, with the Financial crisis of 2007–08 playing a large role, many Italians migrated from Italy to Australia in large numbers. The explosion of numbers saw more than 20,000 Italians arrive in Australia in 2012-13 on temporary visas, exceeding the number of Italians that arrived in 1950-51 during the previous migration boom following World War II.[3]

    Today

    Today, the city of Melbourne is a sister city to Milan, Italy,[4] with the city's population consisting of 68,823 residents by birth, and 279,112 residents by heritage, as of 2011.[1] Recent restaurant expansion on Lygon street has seen many new Italian restaurants open in the Brunswick East side and also seen the re location of Mondo Music (50 Lygon Street Brunswick East) - the iconic retail store specialising in Italian DVD's, CD's and other Italian merchandise. The recently redeveloped Abruzzo club opened 377 on Lygon in late 2015,[5] and the international award-winning 400 gradi restaurant, that was declared to have the 'world's best pizza' in 2014.[6]

    Lygon Street - Melbourne's Little Italy
    Alfresco dining along Lygon Street
    The street at night, the particular block of the street was the site of celebration when Italy defeated Germany 2-1 in the 2012 Euro Cup
    Main article: Little Italy, Melbourne
    Further information: Lygon Street, Melbourne

    The Italian restaurant district synonymous with Lygon Street district occupies a number of blocks between Queensberry Street in the South, along Lygon Street, to Elgin Street in the North. Restaurants can also be found along the streets intersecting Lygon Street, towards the Carlton Gardens in the East and the University of Melbourne in the West. The Lygon Street Festa is an annual celebration that is one of Australia's largest outdoor street festivals, celebrating the Italian culture and cuisine of Melbourne which is held in the district in November.

    The La Mama Theatre and Courthouse Theatre are also in this area, as is the heritage-listed neon sign at Borsari's Corner, named after Italian cyclist Nino Borsari, on the corner of Grattan Street. Toto's Pizza House, the first pizzeria established in Australia, has been located at the southern end of Lygon Street continuously since its opening in 1961.[7]

    Towards the centre of the district, on the corner of Lygon Street and Argyle Place, there is a small Italian-inspired piazza namedPiazza Italia, which is a joint-redevelopment by Melbourne and its sister city, Milan, in Italy.

    The block between Cardigan street and Arglye Place South, are synonymous for the site of celebrations of Italian sport. During the annual Australian Grand Prix, the restaurant district, particularly the stated block, is bathed in red and yellow banners in support of the Ferrari Formula One racing team and, in 1982 and 2006, it was also a major site of Australian celebrations when Italy's national football team won the 1982 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. In 2012, the block, where Notturno Cafe is situated, was the most popular site during the 2012 Euro Cup. In the early hours of 28 June, Lygon street was brought to a stand still following Italy's 2-1 victory over Germany in the semi-finals, advancing to the grand final against eventual winners Spain, where supporters celebrated on the street for hours, blocking traffic in all directions.[8]

    Sport

    Melbourne's Italian community has played influential roles in many sports throughout Melbourne. Association Football (soccer) and Australian rules football have been the most popular sports the community has engaged in, at professional levels. There has been influence in the sports of bocce, tennis, and basketball in the community.

    Association Football (Soccer)

    Football (soccer) has been a fundamental characteristic of sport in Melbourne's Italian community. Many clubs in the past seventy years, competing competitively or defunct, have been in suburbs all over Melbourne, with two clubs participating in the former National Soccer League, being Brunswick Zebras FC (formerly Brunswick Juventus) and Carlton SC. There are currently at least thirteen active clubs based in Melbourne who are competing in various divisions throughout Victoria.

    National team players
    Player Years Appearances Goals
    Andrew Zinni1986-1991173
    Danny Tiatto1995-2005231
    Marco Bresciano2001-20158413
    Simon Colosimo1998-2010263
    Patrick Kisnorbo2002-2009181
    Paul Trimboli1988-20024616
    Vince Grella2003-2010460
    As of 8 June 2016

    Clubs

    In Melbourne, there are numerous social and sports clubs founded by and/or have a strong Italian following, or have official Italian recognitions.

    Active clubs as of the 2019 Victorian football season

    Club Founded Location League (Men's)
    Avondale FC1984ParkvilleNPL
    Boroondara-Carey Eagles FC2015BulleenVSL 2 South-East
    Brimbank Stallions FC1986SunshineVSL 1 North-West
    Brunswick Zebras FC1948Brunswick EastVSL 4 North
    FC Bulleen Lions1974BulleenNPL 2 East
    Croydon City Arrows FC1957CroydonVSL 4 East
    Dandenong Inter Warriors FC2005DandenongVSL 5 South
    Epping City FC1997EppingVSL 2 North-West
    Essendon Royals SC1959EssendonVSL 1 North-West
    Fawkner SC1965FawknerVSL 3 North-West
    Juventus Old Boys SC2001DoncasterMen's Metropolitan Masters East
    Knox United SC2003RowvilleVSL 5 South
    Manningham United FC1965DoncasterNPL 2 East
    Moreland Zebras FC1997FawknerNPL 2 West
    Northern Falcons FC1986ThornburyVSL 4 North
    Old Xaverians SC2002Kew EastVSL 4 North
    Thornbury Athletic FC2014ReservoirVSL 4 North
    Thornbury United FC[9]1983ThornburyVicSoccer Premier League
    Werribee City FC1969WerribeeNPL 2 West
    Whittlesea Ranges FC1971EppingNPL 2 West

    Australian Rules Football

    In June 2007 the Victorian Football League-Australian Football League announced a (VFL/AFL) Italian Team of the Century, in recognition of the role of Italian Australian players have had in the sport.[10] The vast majority of the official players were born &/or raised in Melbourne. These players consist of:

    Player Position Club(s)
    Alan MartelloHalf ForwardHawthorn (1970-1980)
    Richmond (1981-1983)
    Anthony KoutoufidesHalf BackCarlton (1992-2007)
    Brendan FevolaFull ForwardCarlton (1999-2009)
    Brisbane Lions (2010)
    Frank CurcioFull BackFitzroy (1932-1948)
    John Kennedy Jr.Half BackHawthorn (1979-1991)
    Mark MercuriHalf ForwardEssendon (1992-2004)
    Len IncigneriFull BackSouth Melbourne (1903, 1905)
    Richmond (1907-1911)
    Melbourne (1913–1914)
    Robert Di PierdomenicoCenterHawthorn (1975-1991)
    Ron Barassias Coachas a coach:
    Carlton (1965-1971)
    North Melbourne (1973-1980)
    Melbourne (1964, 1981-1985)
    Sydney (1993-1995)
    Sav RoccaForwardCollingwood (1992-2000)
    North Melbourne (1958-1971)
    Sergio Silvagnias Interchange
    Center    		Carlton (1985-2001)
    Stephen SilvagniFull BackCarlton (1985-2001)
    Steven AlessioFollowerEssendon (1992-2003)
    Tony Liberatoreas Interchange
    Center    		Western Bulldogs (1986-2002)
    née Footscray

    Notable people
    For a full list of Italian Australians, see List of Italian Australians.

    The following list contains notable Italian Australians who were born and/or raised in Melbourne. The list is structured in alphabetical order by surname, and the resident's listed occupation is what he/she was known for. (Incomplete List)

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    See also

    References
    1. "2011 Australian Census". Retrieved 24 June 2014.
    2. Italians in Australia
    3. Economic devastation in Europe prompts new wave of Italian migration to Australia
    4. "International Relations - Milan". City of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 21 September 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
    5. http://www.smh.com.au/business/property/malaysias-sp-setia-buys-fourth-melbourne-block-20160421-gobuir.html
    6. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/melbourne-pizza-maker-johnny-di-francesco-crowned-world-pizza-champion-at-the-campionato-mondiale-della-pizza-in-italy/story-fni0fit3-1226884139659
    7. John Beveridge (2007), "Toto's fame set to spread worldwide", Herald Sun, 14 June, page 72.
    8. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/lygon-st-erupts-as-italy-beats-germany-and-books-a-place-in-the-euro-2012/story-fnbzs1v0-1226412149149
    9. https://www.furlanclub.com.au/social-sport
    10. Italian Team of the Century Archived 23 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
    11. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/toughtalking-new-carlton-president-mark-logiudice-is-all-about-his-beloved-football-club/story-fni5f5nx-1226960537644?nk=b70db8e17093f9da87a9a7c7b1b20a15
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