Online resources
IHS Journal
The Italian Historical Society Journal (first published in 1993) is the only publication of its kind with a focus on the Italian migration story and the Italian contribution to Australian life. It is a source of fascinating stories and valuable research information. Selected issues of the IHS Journal and its forerunner the IHS Newsletter are available online.
Fact sheets
Map: Australia [download]
Map: Italy [download]
Italian migration: 1850-1900 [download]
Contribution of women [download]
Statistics of Italians in Australia [download]
Family history research: Australia [download]
Family history research: Italy [download]
Family history for kids and their parents [download]
Supplementary activities for teachers [download]
CO.AS.IT. Resource Centre online catalogue
Supporting mainly the educational needs of teachers and students of Italian, the CO.AS.IT Resource Centre collection also has a variety of resources on the experience of Italian migration, and the culture created by Italians in Australia.
CO.AS.IT. and Italian Historical Society publications
Per l'Australia: the story of Italian migration
by J Church, 2005
Miegunyah Press, MUP, Victoria.
[English and Italian text]
This story of resourcefulness, struggle and achievement, written in both English and Italian, draws on the extensive collection of photographs, documents, objects and oral histories from the Italian Historical Society Collection. The book celebrates the significant contribution Italian migrants have made to their adopted home since the arrival of the First Fleet.
Hardcover and paperback versions available for purchase – contact CO.AS.IT. Resource Centre
Also available for consultation only at the CO.AS.IT. Resource Centre
By proxy: a study of Italian proxy brides in Australia
by S Bella Wardrop, 1996
Published by Italian Historical Society – CO.AS.IT., Melbourne, Carlton
Features interviews with proxy brides and grooms who talk about their reasons for choosing marriage by proxy, how their relationships grew through several years of correspondence, and the experience of travelling to a new land and building a life together. Not all the stories have positive outcomes and the interviewees speak candidly about the challenges they faced. Illustrated with black and white photographs.
Available for consultation only at the CO.AS.IT. Resource Centre
Bridging two worlds: Jews, Italians and Carlton, 1992
Exhibition catalogue. Prepared in partnership by the Jewish Museum of Australia, The Italian Historical Society, CO.AS.IT. and the Museum of Victoria
Available for consultation only at the CO.AS.IT. Resource Centre
Victoria’s Italians 1900–1945: an exhibition of photographs and documents
Compiled by Ivano Ercole and Maria Tence, CO.AS.IT., Italian Historical Society, 1986
Exhibition catalogue. The Exhibition was jointly presented by the Italian Historical Society and the State Library of Victoria in March 1985, to celebrate Victoria’s 150th Anniversary. The story of Italian migration to Victoria in the early half of the 20th century was told through the use of photographs and documents gathered from the Italian community in Victoria.
Available for consultation only at the CO.AS.IT. Resource Centre
The Italian Heritage of Victoria: a short history of the early Italian settlement
By Sir James Gobbo, Italian Historical Society, Melbourne, 1985
Available for consultation only at the CO.AS.IT. Resource Centre
A profile of the Italian community in Australia
By Ware, H., 1981
Published by Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs, Melbourne and CO.AS.IT. – Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria
This joint project between CO.AS.IT. Italian Assistance Association – Melbourne and the Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs was commissioned to obtain a comprehensive picture of the Italian community. Author, Dr Helen Ware of the Australian National University, uses demographic data on Italians from the 1976 Census to examine aspects of Italian migration and settlement from the 1800s to the mass migrations of the 1950s and 1960s. Also analysed are the educational backgrounds of first and subsequent generations, language use, citizenship issues, migrants and their offspring in the workforce, and the distribution of Italian populations across Australian states.
Available for consultation only at the CO.AS.IT. Resource Centre
The social context of depression in Italian migrant housewives: a report for CO.AS.IT.
By Jan Harper & Rosemary Langmore, Melbourne, 1976
A study commissioned by CO.AS.IT. Italian Assistance Association
Available for consultation only at the CO.AS.IT. Resource Centre
