Italian
Italian settlement in Australia
Italian migration to Australia dates back to the 1800s, with many groups arriving over the decades that followed.
After World War II, large numbers of Italians and other southern Europeans migrated to Australia to escape the devastation of war and build new lives. Many found work on farms, construction sites and major infrastructure projects such as the Snowy Hydro Scheme.
Most migrants arrived by ship, with several shipping lines offering specialised migrant services to Australia.
Lloyd Triestino, Australia Lloyd Triestino [picture] : MN Australia, MN Oceania, MN Neptunia, 1957, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137241735
Lloyd Triestino, Australia Lloyd Triestino [picture] : MN Australia, MN Oceania, MN Neptunia, 1957, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137241735
Language and community
Language use in Italian communities in Australia has evolved over time. Many Italians who migrated after World War II viewed their stay as temporary. As a result, some chose not to learn English or socialise outside their community networks.
The Allora is a bimonthly newsletter produced by an Italian community organisation. It is published entirely in Italian to support and maintain cultural, social and linguistic connections.
Like Greek communities in Australia, Italian communities often developed family-run and community-focused businesses that became central to local economies and social life.
Newspaper resources
(1906). Deutsch-Australische post : wochenschrift = German-Australian Post : weekly (Sydney, NSW: 1893–1906), nla.gov.au/nla.news-title1600
(1906). Deutsch-Australische post : wochenschrift = German-Australian Post : weekly (Sydney, NSW: 1893–1906), nla.gov.au/nla.news-title1600
(1901). Australische Zeitung (Adelaide, SA : 1875–1916), nla.gov.au/nla.news-page23339361
(1901). Australische Zeitung (Adelaide, SA : 1875–1916), nla.gov.au/nla.news-page23339361
(1851). Adelaider Deutsche Zeitung (SA: 1851–1862), nla.gov.au/nla.news-title277
(1851). Adelaider Deutsche Zeitung (SA: 1851–1862), nla.gov.au/nla.news-title277
Learning activities
Activity 1: Write a mystery article
Have students write a newspaper article about a mystery—real or imagined. This activity encourages students to:
- consider the writing style and tone
- demonstrate a range of grammatical and stylistic techniques
- tailor their writing for a specific audience and purpose
Activity 2: News from the homeland
Hold a class discussion on how the delivery of information from a country of origin might influence the content and tone of newspapers written in that language. Consider:
- political or media influences
- cultural values and narrative styles
- the impact of distance and diaspora
Activity 3: Explore multilingual newspaper content
Ask students to explore the articles and content of the newspaper resources linked earlier in the module. Encourage them to:
- identify key themes or recurring topics
- reflect on how language and culture shape the way news is reported
More to explore
Kathy Weeden reading her book Phonobet, illustrated by Kim Drane and published by NLA Publishing, at Enlighten at the Library 2024
