How Little Italy got its name
The GNB endorsed the place name Little Italy in Leichhardt as a way to honour the many Italian-Australians who've made it their home since the mid-1800s.
How Little Italy got its name
In October each year, Little Italy in Leichhardt lights up for the Norton Street Italian Festa.
Leichhardt officially got its 'Little Italy' name in 2020 when the Geographical Names Board (GNB) endorsed a proposal from the Inner West Council. The precinct takes in Norton Street and Marion Street between Hawthorn Parade and Balmain Road.
Commemorative naming
Since the 1980s, historians and the media have referred to Leichhardt as Little Italy due to the Italian immigrants who made it home.
"Italian migrants first came to Australia in the mid-1800s in search of work and opportunities in the wake of poverty, natural disasters and war," says the Inner West Council on its website.
"Many were from rural communities, bringing with them a rich knowledge of agricultural, architectural, artistic and culinary trades. Since at least 1920, Italian fishermen settled in and worked out of Leichhardt's Iron Cove, engaging in inner-harbour and deep sea fishing.
"In the post-war years, Leichhardt provided the Italian diaspora a social, cultural, economic and spiritual meeting place."
Multicultural community
Before they made their place name application to the GNB, the council spoke to the Italian community – local residents, focus groups, community organisations, even the Italian Consulate – to find out if they agreed with naming a precinct Little Italy.
There was unanimous support for the name Little Italy. And Leichhardt was the location preferred by 73% of respondents.
"The diversity of our people brings unlimited strengths, and that's something the community wants to celebrate," says Simon Chan AM and GNB Board member.
The NSW Government encourages place names that acknowledge the multicultural nature of our society. According to 2021 Census data, half of the people in NSW have at least one parent born overseas. And nearly a third of us were born overseas (in 251 other countries).
The GNB is asking communities to put forward names that highlight the cultural diversity in their area. In particular, the Board is encouraging proposals that commemorate the contributions made by migrants to NSW.
Little Italy was the second of the 'Littles' in Sydney, after Little Portugal. Little Greece and Little Vietnam are also in the Inner West council area.
The GNB is responsible for naming features such as mountains, rivers, beaches, parks and suburbs.
- Source: Inner West Council: Little Italy
- Hear stories of the Leichhardt Italian migration experience from the 1920s to the 1960s: Italian Leichhardt Storytelling Project
About multicultural place naming
The NSW Government encourages place names that acknowledge the multicultural nature of our society.
For instance, Mount Kosciuszko got its name when, in 1840, a Polish man called Paul Edmund Strzelecki was the first European to climb it. He named it for a fellow Pole, Tadeusz Kosciuszko.
Here are some other NSW names inspired by multicultural people and places.
| Place name | Local government area | Country being acknowledged | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rangihou Reserve | Parramatta | New Zealand | Maori name meaning new horizons, new dawning. |
| Mihajlovic Reserve | Liverpool | Serbia | Named after Vladimir Mihajlovic, a Yugoslav refugee who helped establish a local Free Serbian Orthodox Church. |
| Brallos Park | Liverpool | Greece | Named after a high mountain pass and village in the Peloponnese Mountains. |
| Fortunato Foti Park | Liverpool | Italy | Named after a founding member of the Marconi Club and a well-known businessman and community leader. |
| La Perouse (the suburb) | Randwick | France | Named after the French navigator who was in Botany Bay a few days after Captain Phillip in 1788. |
| George Dan Reserve | Randwick | Lebanon | Named after a man who arrived in Australia in 1884 from Lebanon when he was 17, and went on to become a successful businessman. |
| Abdul Haq Reserve | Blacktown | Bangladesh | A community leader who spent his life in service to others, Dr Abdul Haq raised thousands for the NSW Cancer Council. |
| Bucholtz Park, Bombira | Mid-western regional | Germany | Named after a family who arrived in Australia in 1853, helped establish a school and established the largest winery in the Southern Hemisphere at the time. |
| Refalo Reserve, Glenwood | Blacktown | Malta | Mr Refalo was a market gardener who migrated to Australia from Malta in 1950 and was recognised for his generous assistance to the local community. |
| Kolombo Reserve, Oran Park | Camden | Croatia | Remembering Kolombo Perich, who migrated from Croatia in 1948 and successfully contributed to the dairy industry in the Camden area and gave to his community. |
Names put to the Board should comply with the place naming guidelines. The Board will work with local councils and the community to establish these place names wherever it can.