The Italian community has helped shape industry across Melbourne’s west for generations. Post war migration saw areas like Werribee, Spotswood, Newport, and Kingsville benefit from hard working Italian families.
Today ancestors of those migrant workers gather in the Williamstown Italian Social Club to enjoy meals, play bocce and listen to live music. The Club, which was established c.1950, is believed to have been constructed on the site of the former Empress Pavilion, later converted to a roller skating rink and then to a picture theatre.
The social club, which is 100 metres from Williamstown beach, fosters community togetherness between its members and their families through social, cultural and recreational activities.
The Williamstown Italian Social Club will be proudly opening its doors as part of the Art and Industry Open Day with tasting and making experiential sessions called ‘The Tastes of Italy’. These one hour sessions are limited to thirty people wanting to experience authentic Italian cuisine.
This is an opportunity to learn how to play Bocce and make pasta from different regions in Italy and then taste it. Don’t miss out on the creating a mouth-watering Italian meat balls and salad Sunday lunch.
Artist Alisha Abate will present her live projection ‘A Labour of Love’ based on stories of food making from family and members of the club.
The Bar will be open all afternoon and visitors will be able to dance the tarantella or Sardinian ballu tundu to live music.