The Hurstville Museum and Gallery is seeking information from the community on the Georges River area's Italian heritage.
The information will be used it its upcoming Spotlight display about 'Villa Fatima', an Italian migrant hostel that provided support and accommodation to new Italian migrants in Hurstville from 1952 to 1957.
The Museum and Gallery is interested to hear from those in the community who may have lived, worked or been associated with the hostel during its years of operation.
The hostel located at Woniora Road, Hurstville, on the site of the former 'Woodleigh' hospital, was established by the Capuchin Franciscan Fathers in Leichhardt, and Reverend Anastase Paoletti, an American-born priest who was well regarded within Australia's Italian community and recognised by the Italian government for his contribution to the welfare of Italian migrants to Australia.
'Villa Fatima' was the only non-Government run hostel in south-west Sydney, and housed between 50 to 60 Italian migrants at a time, mostly single young men.
The Capuchin Friars sought to 'provide accommodation for Italian male migrants who after leaving the ship had nowhere to go' once they arrived in Sydney.
The hostel not only provided much needed accommodation but also assisted migrants with their physical, employment and spiritual needs during the time they lived there.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Australia's Italian population flourished in numbers as many made the journey to Australia in search of a better life in the aftermath of World War II.
The Hurstville Museum and Gallery's Spotlight display will shed light on the history and stories of the hostel, which itself is part of a much larger story of Australia's social evolution during the post-war period.
Hostels like 'Villa Fatima' were for many Italian migrants, their first experience of Australia.
The stories, recollections, experiences and material objects related to the lives of those associated with 'Villa Fatima' will form the basis of the new display at Hurstville Museum and Gallery and online in late 2020.
Those with stories should email museumgallery@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au or visit
yoursay.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au to complete the online survey form by April 30.
Contact details:
Hurstville Museum and Gallery, 14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville.
