Italian-built homes in the suburbs are becoming increasingly rare time capsules, preserving a unique slice of Australian housing history.
When Australian film director Frank Lotito put out a call on social media recently for a humble Italian-Australian home stuck in a time warp, he was overwhelmed by the response.
“I didn’t think there were that many still around,” said Mr Lotito, director of 2022 film Wog Boys Forever.
Time-warp homes like 33 Grebe Street, Stirling are becoming increasingly rare as the homes are sold and renovated or demolished. Picture: realestate.com.au
From Coburg in Melbourne’s north to Leichhardt in Sydney’s Little Italy and Balcatta in Perth, 1970s and 1980s solid brick homes with strong Italian influence still stand, built to last.
The post-WWII southern European migrants who built these suburban castles were drawn to cheap homes near jobs, in turn reshaping the urban character.
Film director Frank Lotito's public call-out for an Italian-Australian time-warp home. Picture: Facebook | Frank Lotito
Sometimes lion heads guarded the facades, framed by white concrete balustrades and curved brick archways. Inside, you’d find ornate tiles, a laminex kitchen in orange and brown (possibly a second kitchen in the garage) and a formal lounge for visitors.
But homes in original condition are becoming rarer as inhabitants move on, younger generations opt for renovations or even detonations, and larger blocks are carved up amid a push for higher density living.
For Mr Lotito, who turned to social media to find a typical Italian family home for his film, Nonno, the house needed to feel “lived in and loved”.
Director Frank Lotito with Wog Boys Forever actors Nick Giannopoulos and Vincenzo Colosimo. Picture: Facebook | Frank Lotito
Based on Archie Fusillo’s The Dons, Nonno is a coming-of-age film about a teenage boy and his grandfather, exploring family and generational ties. Filming begins in April, starring Django legend Franco Nero.
After days of sifting through responses and visits - where nonni greeted him with coffee, biscuits, homemade salami and even grappa - he found his dream suburban palace in Preston, Melbourne, owned by the mother of his executive producer, Frank Monterosso.
Frank Lotito location scouting for his upcoming film Nonno's House with cinematographer Craig Barden and set designer Marty Manca. Picture: Facebook | Frank Lotito
Classic hallmarks included a brown double-fronted brick facade adorned by white balustrades and columns, a 1970s laminex kitchen, beige tiles, shag pile carpet, and amber glass room dividers.
Ray White Perth’s Justin Merendino notes similar homes in suburbs like Balcatta and Stirling.
“Double brick, columns, lions at the front, big cast iron gates … a sense of pride and wealth within the community from all those Europeans that - let's be frank - did it tough coming to a foreign country," he said.
“All they knew was to labour, because the majority of them weren't fully educated.”
39 Bruce Street, Coburg heads to auction in March with a price guide of $1.3m - $1.4m. Picture: realestate.com.au
Many homes were hand-built to European tastes - dark timber staircases, marble tiles and benchtops - but younger generations often find them old fashioned.
“They're coming in, going: ‘Oh, the kitchen is dated.’ It's got Jarrah doors that are brown but to an Italian of the ‘70s, if you had that, you'd won lotto,” Mr Merendino says.
11 Gertrude Street, Sunshine has been described as "every beloved Nonna and Nonno's place you've ever visited" in its listing. Picture: realestate.com.au
Buyers who can afford these family homes today are modernising, rather than just moving in. The true time capsules are owned by people in their 80s who have maintained them since they were built, he said.
This Reservoir home went viral last year when it hit the market due to its dolphin fountain built by the home’s late owner, Ignazio “Benny” Di Benedetto, who migrated from Italy to Australia as a teenager. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
In Sydney’s Leichhardt, Italian heritage is gradually declining as the area gentrifies and modern homes replace older ones, though some original properties remain.
“Depending on the land size, they're either being split into two, and brand new duplexes are being built on them, or they're getting knocked down, and people are building brand new homes,” said James Montano, director at Montano Group Leichhardt.
“They’ve probably gone out of fashion in terms of actually being a desirable home for people locally to buy. It's more just the opportunity of looking to renovate it.”
Brick, tile and white concrete columns are a classic feature of the Italian-Australian homes of the 70s and 80s. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
However, as original Italian homes are slowly phased out, stories of Italian-Australian nostalgia are reaching new generations with successful comic acts like Sooshi Mango and social media accounts like Maddie and Nonna Fina.
Sooshi Mango comedians Joe Salantiri (Johnny), Carlo Salantiri (Vince) and Andrew Manfre (Sam). Picture: Jake Nowakowski
For Frank Lotito, a key reason he wanted to make the film Nonno is the nostalgia people are feeling right now.
And the second kitchen off the garage. Picture: realestate.com.au
With life moving so quickly and so much going on, these homes represented a time when life was great, and much simpler.
“I feel if we could capture that, and put it in a time capsule, people could go and see that, and it would keep it alive a little bit. It’s a bit sad some of these houses are going, but I also understand there are certain luxuries we didn't have back then that we need these days, like a dishwasher,” he laughed.
“I feel like it’s a shame.”
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