Italian Week in Queensland

Italian Week, an annual event, is being held this week 23 May to 2 June, as a means of marking and celebrating the contributions of Italians and those of Italian descent to Queensland and Australia’s, history and development.

The contribution of the Italian community has been made across a wide range of areas and sectors in Queensland and is still being made today. By way of example, Queensland’s wine industry owes much to the early Italian settlers of Stanthorpe, in particular, the Puglesi family, who pioneered many aspects of this important industry. A further example is provided in the important role played by those of Italian descent in Queensland’s building and construction industries, with this vital contribution also continuing today.

The Italians have also been critical to the success of many of our agricultural industries, with the sugar industry being at the forefront and so much of the surviving history of Italians in Queensland is linked in some way to the sugar industry.

Italian Week will showcase many of these important and on-going achievements. As well, The State Library of Queensland’s John Oxley Library, will focus on the history and contribution of the Italian community, as part of  the John Oxley Library Discovery Day, to be held on 2 June 2012. A range of material and information relating to the Italians in Queensland will be on display.

Brian Randall - Queensland Places Coordinator, State Library of Queensland