New Italy
Tuesday: 09:00 - 15:15
Wednesday: 09:00 - 15:15
Thursday: 09:00 - 15:15
Friday: 09:00 - 15:15
Saturday: 09:00 - 15:15
Sunday: 09:00 - 15:15
About New Italy
Historic New Italy is a Museum complex with a Cultural Pavilion, the "Tastes of New Italy" Cafe, a Glass Blowing Workshop & an Italian Gift Shop. Here we celebrate the history of Italians in the Northern Rivers & share our wonderful Italian Culture.
New Italy Description
The New Italy Museum celebrates and commemorates the Italian pioneers who bought so much to the Northern Rivers region of NSW.
In 1880, 50 Italian families (340 people) left grinding poverty and desperate economic and social conditions in the Veneto region of Northern Italy to seek a new life. They spent their life savings on an enticing plan, organised by a French nobleman the Marquis de Rays, to sail to a new land in the South Pacific called “La Nouvelle France”. However they were misled and many died on the frightful journey from Barcelona in the ‘SS India’.
When they arrived, after months at sea, at a harsh, untamed and remote part of New Ireland called Port Breton, east of Papua New Guinea, they faced inadequate and rotting food, the tropical climate, sickness and many deaths, and found themselves in greater hardship than what they had left behind. More family members grew sick and died as they endured months under the harsh and remote circumstances at Port Breton.
Feeling no option but to risk the seas again in the ‘SS India’, they persuaded the captain to take them off the island. They wanted to go to Sydney but as the ship was unsound the captain took them to Noumea in New Caledonia, a French governed penal settlement. Sickness and death continued on this voyage, and on arrival in Noumea the ‘SS India’ was regrettably declared un-seaworthy and the families were stranded again.
Through the British Consul in Noumea the plight of the families reached Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of NSW, who gave permission for the stranded Italian families to come to Sydney and sent the ‘James Paterson’ for their rescue. On April the 7th, 1881, destitute and in poor health, 217 survivors of the original 340 Italians sailed into Sydney Harbour. More than one in three family members died on the Marquis de Rays expedition and the pioneers’ journey to Australia.
Within three months, all the families were given labouring jobs throughout the colony for 12 months. But they had a strong desire to re-unite at the end of the 12 months, and when they learned of land that was available in Northern NSW near Lismore, they took steps to buy it and move there together. The land was of poor quality and had been rejected by other settlers. Through sheer determination, tenacity and hard work, the families made the parcel of sterile forest productive and recreated the social fabric of their country of origin. They built a school, a church, a wine shop and small industry. On family values, community and hard work, what became known as the settlement of ‘New Italy’ was built.
As the original pioneers of New Italy began to die and the next generation of the families moved to surrounding towns for work, most of the land of the original New Italy settlement was sold. In 1961 however, The New Italy Museum Incorporated (NIMI) was created under founding President Spencer Spinaze to establish a memorial tribute to the settlers.
Reviews
The weather was perfect on the Saturday of our first fashion parade for New Italy. The function was very well attended! Even so, there was plenty of Prosecco and the sumptuous Italian fare offered was enjoyed by all. A very successful event from the reports we received. Doris Rosa from McLeans Ridges won the raffle. Congratulations Doris!
Italy is one of the leading countries in fashion design. To support this claim, Casa Vecchia Gift Shop is inviting you to their very first fashion parade to be held on the 21st April. Come and see what today's fashionable ladies are wearing in Roma and Milano ....
Unfortunatley Carnevale is not going to be held this year due to the disruption from all the roadworks with the highway upgrade. We are holding an Italian lunch to honour the day instead! Come along and catch up with descendants and marvel at the progress of your museum upgrade that our volunteers have been tirelessly working on.
You haven't heard from me for awhile but we have been very busy in the gift shop raising money for the museum upgrade! I must tell you, for those Murano collectors, we recently received a limited range of Murano Glass clowns for our shop! The colours and craftsmanship are outstanding! We have lately purchased beautifully hand crafted Venetian masks from Venice, some made with Swarovski crystals and ostrich feathers – stunning! You will be the Belle of the Masquerade Ball in this …. We also have a new range of cook books, plus some innovative children’s educational kits to assemble where they can make their very own programmable Italian robot! Pop in and say Ciao and see our ever extending range of Murano jewellery here at Casa Vecchia, your Italian Gift Shop on the north coast of NSW.
Around 1880 when the Veneto Italians were setting out on the ill-fated Marquis De Ray’s expedition to Nouvelle France - not far away in Florence two brothers were setting up their micro mosaic Business which they named “Fratelli Traversari mosaici artisici”.
Four generations later Daniele Traversari & his sister Letizia continue the family business in Florence, whilst in Australia, descendants of the original expeditioners who settled New Italy volunteer to keep their memor...y alive, with the generous help of many other volunteers.
‘Casa Vecchia’ Gift Shop at New Italy is very fortunate to be the only stockist in Australia of the beautiful “Fratelli Traversari” mosaic jewellery made in Florence. The jewellery is made using Murano glass set in brass dipped in gold. We are expecting a new range any day now that will include Brooches, Bracelets, Ear Rings and Crosses.
See More
Four Elvis's!! How lucky can a girl get!
A fun morning was had by all when the Variety Bash visited us on Thursday.
Breaking News
Today, Wednesday 7th June the gift shop will be closed all day for stocktake. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.
Viva l'Italia!
Long Live Italy!Translated
A trial of our new shade cloth - we will be prepared for Carnevale next year!
The recent flood-forced cancellation of the popular annual Carnevale Italiano at New Italy did not stop the volunteer organisers from continuing with ticket sales in their yearly fund raising raffle.
The raffle was drawn today (Friday 5 May) at the offices of major sponsor Summerland Travel, Hello World in Keen St Lismore.
First prize – a $2,000 international travel voucher donated by Summerland Travel, Hello World – was won by J. Hicks (ticket number 0654).
... Second prize – a Scala leather handbag courtesy of Casa Vecchia Gift Shop, New Italy – was won by Valda Van Gelder (ticket number 1214).
Third prize – a $100 gift voucher courtesy of Casa Vecchia Gift Shop, New Italy was won by Maddie Clarke (ticket number 1291).
The New Italy Museum Inc. would like to thank Summerland Travel - Hello world, and the many people who have supported Carnevale Italiano.
See More
April 9th
CELEBRATE AT CARNEVALE ITALIANO APRIL 9TH It's on again, New Italy's much anticipated annual event, Carnevale Italiano – A full day of wine, food, music, dancing and history talks, in celebration of the successful settlement of a group of tough Italian refugees, who landed in the Northern Rivers 136 years ago. The story of this quaint and unassuming little town, originally named La Cea Venezia, began as a tale of triumph over adversity, a journey from despair to hope; when fifty refugee families fled their impoverished lives in Northern Italy, and taking a treacherous boat ride to the south Pacific before settling in the region, back in 1880.......
Over price food not worth stopping food wasn't as good as packet food pizza and chicken Cesar salad $19 had chopped toast sickly taste pizza not as good as $5 domino's ����
Over price food not worth stopping food wasn't as good as packet food pizza and chicken Cesar salad $19 had chopped toast sickly taste pizza not as good as $5 domino's ����
Over price food not worth stopping food wasn't as good as packet food pizza and chicken Cesar salad $19 had chopped toast sickly taste pizza not as good as $5 domino's ����
More about New Italy
Tuesday: 09:00 - 15:15
Wednesday: 09:00 - 15:15
Thursday: 09:00 - 15:15
Friday: 09:00 - 15:15
Saturday: 09:00 - 15:15
Sunday: 09:00 - 15:15