The story behind the Italian Pavilion
In 1989 Italian Government officials visited the New Italy Museum Complex and decided to present us with part of the contents and part of the structure of the Italian Pavilion building used at World Expo 88 in Brisbane. Volunteers brought the materials and infrastructure down in many truck loads and built the structure at the New Italy museum site. In 1993, the rebuilt Italian Pavilion was officially opened by the Governor General of Australia, Mr Bill Hayden. It housed displays about the Northern Rivers Italian community curated and created by local businessman and entrepreneur, Floriano Volpato.

New Italy’s Italian Pavilion Upgrade: The Building Renovation
Decades later, the building and some of the earlier displays had deteriorated. An opportunity presented itself to NIMI to refresh and enhance Pavilion themes about the Northern Rivers Italian community.

In 2020, Museums Advisor, Joan Kelly, developed New Italy Italian Pavilion Interpretation Plan, which welcomed a fresh opportunity to interpret the many local stories of migration and community building, continuing Floriano Volpato’s vision.

In 2021 the New Italy Italian Pavilion Exhibition Plan was developed by Leonie Lane, through funding from Museums and Galleries NSW Project Development. Here was a unique opportunity to gather and tell more stories of Italian migration to regional Australian in one place, expanding on the 1880s New Italy settlement story as told in the New Italy Museum. Referencing many sources including ‘Power of the Land: a social history of Italian settlement in Lismore’ by Lesley Jenkins and many existing and new oral histories, recently acquired donations from families, new displays are being devised by New Italy’s, Museums group. The three major themes are: ‘Migration Stories’, ‘Connections back to Italy’ plus ‘Businesses Agriculture and Culture’.

In 2022 NIMI was thrilled to be recipients of a Create NSW Creative Capital Minor Works Grant of $250,000 to enable the renovation of the Italian Pavilion. Hayes Building & Maintenance Pty Ltd of Woodburn were procured to complete the build.

Awnings being added to allow comfortable visitor access to both the new front entrance and the existing Piazza entrance.

The Pavilion is a large space. The renovation has included the closure of the front of the Tower (allowing space for highway visible signage) and the addition of a south facing entrance to visually connect it with the New Italy Museum opposite. This space will acknowledge the many volunteers that created the museum site at New Italy. Awnings have been added to allow comfortable visitor access to both the new front entrance and the existing Piazza entrance. The lined ceiling, refreshed paint and new displays present an inviting space for the interpretation of our collected stories.

With the renovation now complete, some displays are in place while some are still developing. We are hoping to reopen this revitalised exhibition space to the public and our many visitors mid 2026. A celebration will be advised when all the displays are in place. This new exhibition will be an asset to the local and larger Australian and Italian community.

For more information please email museums@newitaly.org.au