The Settlement
New Italy is situated some 13 kilometres south of the township
of Woodburn in northern New South Wales, Australia. The Pacific
Highway bounds the settlement to the east and Double Duke State
Forest forms the southern boundary of the settlement. To the west
it adjoins the Bungawalbyn wetlands, and to the north it borders
cane lands associated with Swan Bay.
The New Italy area (as determined by the NSW Geographical Names
Board) lies entirely within the boundaries of the Richmond Valley
Council Local Government Area.
In all some 3030 acres of land was selected by the first Italian
settlers at New Italy. Clifford described the area saying “it
is about 3 miles square and consists of fifty-three selections,
ranging from 40 to 120 acres, occupied by about thirty families”.
There are several significant archeological sites that remain
to illustrate aspects of the New Italy settlement, these include
the school site, timber and stone lined wells, hoop pine trees,
fruit trees & other plants (such as rose bushes) planted by
the original settlers and fence posts.
The fabric of the original settlement plays an important role
in helping to shape how the cultural landscape of New Italy is
shared with the wider community. A cultural landscape can be described
as the shape, form and meanings attributed to a physical landscape
by the perceptions, beliefs, stories, experience and activities
of people within it (Australian Heritage Commission, 2001a).
Thus it is the collective activities of the Italian pioneers at
New Italy, the archaeological fabric that remains of their endeavours,
and the social significance of their activities both in the past
and in the present that today forms the cultural landscape of
New Italy. The New Italy museum provides an accessible and tangible
link to this, helping to foster greater understanding and appreciation
of the significance of the New Italy settlement.
We have broken down the history of the New Italy Settlement into
the three phases of settlement, Voyage, Primary Settlement and
Memorialisation. Prominent families are also represented.
|
Map of Australia
showing the geographical location of the
New Italy Settlement. Click on the red button to view
in greater detail.
Map showing the original settlement
during the 1880's
Click on the map to view in greater detail.
NOTE: You will need Adobe
Acrobat Reader to view the
maps in greater detail.
|
