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History
The Lucini family arrives in Australia
The Lucini brothers came from Intra on Lake
Maggiore high in the Italian Alps close to the
Swiss border. They were educated fabric merchants
who had fought with Giuseppi Mazzini to free
Italy from their invaders and unite her states
and monarchies as a republic. They lost their
battle, were forced to leave their homeland
and came to Australia as political refugees.
Pietro arrived in Melbourne in 1854 and Giacomo
and his wife Rosa joined him in 1859.
Melbourne to Hepburn Springs
Pietro opened Australia's first macaroni manufacturing
business in 1854 in Melbourne. He had tried
selling his beautiful fabrics from Europe, but
the demand was very small in the then provincial
city, whose population was dominated by those
in pursuit of gold. With the realisation there
were few Italians and lovers of pasta in Melbourne
Pietro closed his shop and headed for the goldfields!
Settlement at Spring Creek
Pietro first opened a bakery premises but soon
converted to pasta production, due to the growing
demands of the many Italians now working in
the gold mining area at Spring Creek - later
named Hepburn Springs. By the end of 1855 pasta
production was well established and he had discovered
a lucrative gold mine.
In 1859 his brother Giacamo and his wife arrived
from Italy. Major construction across the road
on a new factory and living quarters commenced
to more comfortably accommodate the expanded
family and business.... this was the birth of
the Macaroni Factory.
Gold was the obvious attraction to fortune
and the Lucini's took advantage of mining well
into the 1870s. Pietro also knew the value of
mineral water and was among community leaders
who convinced the Government to set the area
aside as public land. Pietro gathered about
him other patriots who had settled in the area.
They met at the 'Factory' and established the
Hepburn Democratic Club.
The Old Macaroni Factory Today
Guided tours of the Macaroni Factory give a
rare insight into the fascinating story of the
Lucini family told through Giacomo Lucini's
unique frescoes that adorn the ceilings and
walls. Much restoration has been done to reveal
these colourful frescoes that are Australia's
oldest and preserve the family's history. They
reflect complicated political statements and
lives and scenes of their Italian homeland at
beautiful Lake Maggiore. | |
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