Migrant family stories between the wars

Hear stories of strength, resilience and longevity of a group of migrants from the Italian region of Veneto who settled in the western suburbs of Adelaide between 1926  to 1928 and established successful market gardens.

Madeleine Regan, oral historian, will draw on stories from her collection of 65 oral histories in the State Library that she has collected over 16 years.

Discover the history of the community of the Veneto market gardeners.

dr Madeleine Regan

Madeleine Regan, an experienced oral historian, has worked on a project with three generations of Italian market gardeners since 2007. Her PhD focused on the history of the community who established their market gardens in the 1930s. Her book about the market gardeners will be published in 2024.

Image: Maria, Lina and Narciso Ballestrin, outside one of their glasshouses, St James Park, (now Kidman Park), c 1948. Photo supplied by Lina Campagnaro nee Ballestrin.

This presentation was recorded as part of the State Library's Stories from the Stacks series on 20 February 2024.

Presenter: Madelaide Regan, Oral Historian

Image: Maria, Lina and Narciso Ballestrin, outside one of their glasshouses, St James Park, (now Kidman Park), c 1948. Photo supplied by Lina Campagnaro nee Ballestrin.