From Italy to Newstead
Italian migration to Brisbane began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the most significant influx occurring after World War II. Seeking a better life and an escape from war-torn Italy, many Italians settled in Brisbane, working across a range of industries, including the sugar industry in North Queensland and as fishers on the Brisbane River.
Newstead, once a working-class riverside area near Brisbane’s industrial heart, became a popular place to live due to its proximity to work, particularly in construction, manufacturing and food production.By the 1950s and '60s, Italian-run cafés, delicatessens and fruit shops appeared throughout inner Brisbane suburbs such as New Farm, Teneriffe and Fortitude Valley. Newstead residents often frequented these businesses and the Italian influence grew steadily in Brisbane