
Aeolian Fruiterers
It is right to say that the Aeolian Immigrants had an affinity with the fruit and vegetable industry in Australia.
The agricultural knowledge that Aeolian migrants possessed obviously played a major role in the choice of occupation once in Australia. Fruit and vegetables were things that Aeolians knew much about. A small fruit and vegetable business seemed a desirable occupation which, while demanding hard work and long hours, provided a good livelihood and much-wanted independence for the newly-arrived migrants.
This trend of entering into the vegetable retailing industry set by the earliest Aeolian migrants was followed by most of the later arrivals, who were mostly sponsored by well-established Aeolians. These newcomers, who worked and trained under their ‘paesani’ or older relatives, were able to perceive the various benefits of owning one’s own fruit shop business, and so many went on to open up one of their own. Thus they propagated and eventually dominated the fruit and vegetable retailing industry.
However, during the 1980s, the various supermarket chains squeezed out many fruiterers from their suburban strip shopping centres, and today most of the formidable Aeolian fruiterers who set up their own businesses in the 1950s and 1960s have gone into retirement.
Some Aeolian names synonymous with Melbourne’s Fruit & Vegetable industry include Pino Narduzzo, Tesoriero & Luca Bros., Marino Casamento, the Biviano and Scaffidi Brothers, Attilio Peluso, Tullio Scaffidi, the Tarantos, Mario Russo and the Rando family, Bob Natoli, Bob & Lyn Giuliano, Cincotta, Costa, Giuseppe Mandile and family, the De Luca and Mecca families plus F. Dimattina & Co. which still operates today after 80 years, as Dimattina Provedoring, and many more.
There is no doubt that Aeolians have contributed to the Australian community with their efforts and sense of achievement in establishing themselves in a new country where everything seemed so different from the islands where they hailed from.
Please Note: Information about the below fruit shops has been supplied by family members. If there should be any corrections, please contact us at the form below.
- all
- Abbotsford
- Albert Park
- Ararat
- Ascot Vale
- Balaclava
- Ballarat
- Brighton
- Brighton East
- Brunswick
- Box Hill
- Clifton Hill
- Coburg
- Collingwood
- Fitzroy
- Eaglemont
- Essendon
- Fairfield
- Fitzroy
- Footscray
- Elsternwick
- Hampton
- Ivanhoe
- Malvern
- Malvern East
- Middle Park
- Moonee Ponds
- Melbourne
- Mordialloc
- Northcote
- Nunawading
- Prahran
- Port Melbourne
- Reservoir
- Richmond
- Stawell
- South Yarra
- Thornbury
- Westgarth
- Windsor
- West Melbourne
- Australia

202 Oxford St,Woollahra Sydney

187 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe

122 Hampton St, Hampton

42 Murphy St, Wangaratta

201 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

233 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern - The Embassy Fruit Palace

217 Carlisle St Balaclava

199 Carlisle St Balaclava (East St. Kilda) Rando G. & Co. Fruiterers

121 Nicholson St, Footscray

13 Glass St, Essendon

70 Poath Rd, Hughesdale

190 Swan St, Richmond

Canberra St, Randwick, NSW

125-127 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe

Lakemba / Greenacre, NSW

484 Bridge Rd, Richmond

57 Sydney Rd, Brunswick

226 Johnston St, Abbotsford - The Abbotsford Excelsior

187 Union Rd, Ascot Vale

Waverley Rd, Malvern East

237 High St, Northcote

20 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern

162 Spir Rd, Mosman, NSW

366A Military Rd, Cremorne, NSW

457 Elizabeth St, West Melbourne

87 Chapel St, Windsor

51 Chapel St, Windsor

95 High St Westgarth

59 High St, Westgarth

693 High St, Thornbury

399 Chapel St, South Yarra

Wimmera Café Stawell

Main St, Stawell

115 Swan St, Richmond

244 Broadway Reservoir

31 Bay St, Port Melbourne

608 Main St, Mordialloc

6 Puckle St, Moonee Ponds

301 Waverley Rd, Malvern East

22 Armstrong St, Middle Park

267 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

300 Station St, Fairfield North

149 Glenhuntly Rd, Elsternwick

Silverdale Rd, Eaglemont

128 Johnston St, Collingwood

454 Sydney Rd, Coburg

276 Queens Pde, Clifton Hill

356 Queens Pde, Clifton Hill

587 Sydney Rd, Brunswick

616 Hampton St, East Brighton

194 Bridport St, Albert Park

781 Hampton St, Brighton

356 Bay St, North Brighton

970 Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill

601 Station St, Box Hill

250 Carlisle St, Balaclava - Tesoriero & Luca Brothers

905 Sturt St, Ballarat

102 Bridge St, Ballarat

129 Dundas Place, Albert Park

99 Dundas Place, Albert Park

95 The Avenue, Albert Park

Barkley St, Ararat - Bon Ton Café then Town Hall Cafe

Barkley St, Ararat - Plaza Café then Pinzone Bros Cafe

352 Flinders St, Melbourne

597 High St, Northcote

495 High St, Northcote

263 High St, Northcote

527 Chapel St, Prahran

267 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

601 Station St, Box Hill

135 Victoria Ave, Albert Park
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202 Oxford St,Woollahra Sydney
202 Oxford St., Woollahra. Sydney
1920-1937
Gaetano (Thomas) Taranto and Giovannini (Jack) Taranto
The building was on the corner of Nelson and Oxford Sts Woollahra. It was bought in 1937 by a brewery and the Nelson Hotel was built on the site. -
187 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe
Salvatore & Carmela Frizza
Approx. 1941-1949/50
Salvatore & Carmela first operated a fruit shop a few doors up from No. 187 Upper Heidelberg Rd and were present around 1940.
They moved to No.187 Upper Heidelberg Rd in about 1941. It was quickly developed as a typical Aeolian fruit shop, expanding into drinks. Both Salvatore and Carmela fitted in well with local clientele and had an excellent command of the language.
Grandson, Tony Frizza has memories of serving in the shop when he was only 7-8 years of age. -
122 Hampton St, Hampton
Salvatore Rando purchased shop
1939 -
42 Murphy St, Wangaratta
Salvatore Rando managed his brother-in-law Mick (Domenico) Russo’s fruit shop, for 12 months.
1937 -
201 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Giacomo Rando
Before 1905 -
233 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern - The Embassy Fruit Palace
Salvatore Rando, with wife Italia Russo, daughters Nina and Carolina and son Giacomo (John).
Circa 1930s-1987
Salvatore Rando purchased the fruit shop from his brother-in-law Tom (Gaetano) Russo (possibly mid 1930s). It was occupied by the family or leased until Italia's death in 1987.
In 1941 the Embassy Fruit Palace won ‘Best Fruit Shop and Window Dressing Competition by the Apple and Pear Marketing Board (The Argus 15 July 1941) -
217 Carlisle St Balaclava
Giacomo Rando
1928 - till retirement c.1931 -
199 Carlisle St Balaclava (East St. Kilda) Rando G. & Co. Fruiterers
Giacomo Rando
1914 -
121 Nicholson St, Footscray
A. Lopes Family
1960-2000
The Lopes family also had Stores at 10 Hall Street Newport and 266 Hampshire Rd Sunshine [Morton Arcade -1955 Lopes, F. - Fruiter] -
13 Glass St, Essendon
Giuseppe and Maria Lopes
1943-1957
Originally from Alicudi and Salina, Giuseppe Lopes ran this fruit shop with the help of their eight children. Possibly called "Quality Fruits" Unfortunately the existing strip of shops were demolished in 2016. -
70 Poath Rd, Hughesdale
Amelia (nee Materazzo) and Tony Marchese
1955 - 1971 (Approximately)
Amelia and Tony were both originally from Malfa, Salina. Tony arrived in 1949, and Amelia followed in 1952 with daughter, Emma. Tony would drive his truck to Queen Victoria market at 2am everyday, as this was the wholesale fruit and vegetable market at the time.
Their two children (Emma and Tony) worked in the shop as well. Fifty percent of the orders were by telephone, and delivered by bike to the customers home. Amelia's brother John Materazzo ran the fruit shop on Bridport St, Albert Park. -
190 Swan St, Richmond
Angelo Natoli and Anna Giulia Natoli
Approximately 1932 to 1946
Angelo Natoli born in Lipari on 12 March 1912 opened his first business at 190 Swan Street Richmond. He married Anna Giulia Peluso in 1941 and remained at that address until 1946.
They then purchased a property incorporating an ongoing fruit shop business at 126 Hopkins Street Footscray where they conducted the business and resided until 1955 when Angelo retired and sold his business to Vincenzo Favorito who was also born in Lipari and who conducted the business until the early 1980's . -
Canberra St, Randwick, NSW
Antonio Virgona
1930s
Photo: circa 1936, Antonio behind the counter with 4 of his 5 children. Giuseppe on the left age about 13 with his siblings Santa (Sary), Benito and Angelo. -
125-127 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe
Cuono & Grazia Biviano, Dominic Biviano, Frank Biviano, Josie Biviano, Nancy Biviano, Cuono jnr Biviano.
1957-1995
Cuono & Grazia were both born in Pianoconte, Lipari. They arrived in Melbourne in 1954. -
Lakemba / Greenacre, NSW
Giovanni ‘John’ Dante Palisi
Circa 1950s- circa 1960s
Giovanni Palisi was born in Santa Marina, Salina, and ran his fruit shop in Sydney’s South West 1950s - 1960s. Daughter, Marina Palisi is pictured bottom right of the photo. -
484 Bridge Rd, Richmond
Angelo Felipe Peluso (Son of Giovanna and Giuseppe Peluso from Lipari)
Dates to be confirmed Circa 1950s- circa 1970 -
57 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Bobby( Bartolomeo also Robert John Taranto 1939 to 1998) and Maria Taranto (nee Rocca)
1950s
Bob Taranto was know as the fruitologist. Literally born premature in a fruit shop when the weight of carrying the bar of the shop shutters induced an early labour at 479 Sydney Rd Coburg.
His parents Rafeale Taranto and Nancy (nee Lopes) were there since the mid 1920s to the late 1950s when the government forcibly acquired the property to house the Coburg post office. After that they moved to 57 Sydney Rd Brunswick.
In late 1966 Bobby married and soon after took over the family business.
Relocated to 479 Sydney Rd Brunswick until Dec 24 1997. -
226 Johnston St, Abbotsford - The Abbotsford Excelsior
Antonino & Tilda Ziino
1924-1946 Circa
In photo: Antonino Ziino (27 Sept 1893 - 15 May 1976) Marianna (Mary) - daughter (15 Aug 1920 - 12 Apr 1986) Francesco (Frank) - son (14 Jul 1924 - 6Sept 1988) Domenico (Nin) - son (22 Oct 1927) - still living. -
187 Union Rd, Ascot Vale
Giovanni and Nunziata Martello
1950's to 1970's
Giovanni would wake up early to go to the Victoria Market to get his supplies for the day.
The photo depicts Nunziata and Giovanni Martello and their little daughter Angelina Martello-Di Benedetto at 6 years of age.
It was taken in 1955 in their fruit shop located at 187 Union Rd, Ascot Vale.
The Martello family originate from Vulcano & Lipari, Giovanni arriving in Australia, via Fremantle in 1938. -
Waverley Rd, Malvern East
Tom Mollica -
237 High St, Northcote
M. Casamento -
20 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern
Giovanni Alaimo -
162 Spir Rd, Mosman, NSW
Giovanni Favaloro & Son Giuseppe Favaloro
1934 to 1976
In 1944 Giovanni's son, Giuseppe Favaloro took over and ran the fruitshop until 1976. -
366A Military Rd, Cremorne, NSW
Giovanni (Jack) & Angela Favaloro
1953 to 1972
Giovanni Favaloro also run a fruit shop at 162 Spir Rd Mosman NSW from circa 1934 to 1944 when his son Giuseppe Favaloro took it over and ran it until 1976. -
457 Elizabeth St, West Melbourne
Giuseppe Cara
1914 – 1925
From 1903-1904 Giuseppe and Harry Carra were selling fruit and flowers from barrows on Princes Bridge.
In 1927 Guiseppe moved to 115 Swan Street Richmond and became a Wine Merchant. -
87 Chapel St, Windsor
Francesca Biviano
Years Currently Unknown -
51 Chapel St, Windsor
Joe and Rosina Cincotta
1950s and 1960s -
95 High St Westgarth
A.Biviano
1928 -
59 High St, Westgarth
G. Mollica
1926 to 1936 -
693 High St, Thornbury
Cincotta Brothers
1926 to 1933 -
399 Chapel St, South Yarra
Giuseppe & Maria Lagreca & son Bob La Greca
1910 to 1954 -
Wimmera Café Stawell
Charie Strangio & Vincenzo Pinzone
1924-1933 -
Main St, Stawell
Charlie Strangio & Vincenzo Pinzoner
Abt 1917 -
115 Swan St, Richmond
Giuseppe Cara
1927
Between 1903- 1904 Giuseppe and Harry Carra were selling fruit and flowers from barrows on Princes Bridge.
In 1927 Guiseppe moved to 115 Swan st Richmond and became a Wine Merchant. His father Gaetano also established a business in Melbourne.
His brother Felix Carra was a fruiterer in Horsham before moving to Melbourne to become a wine merchant. His brothers Lorenzo and Harry were publicans and wine merchants. -
244 Broadway Reservoir
Felice and Leonilda Natoli
1960s to 1970 -
31 Bay St, Port Melbourne
Giuseppe and Maria Villanti
1936 to 1956 -
608 Main St, Mordialloc
Giacomo and Edna Jean Martello
1929 till 1953
Giacomo would drive his fruit truck to Vic Market several times a week and put long hours in without a break. -
6 Puckle St, Moonee Ponds
Frank and Rosalia Mollica
1934 to 1958 -
301 Waverley Rd, Malvern East
Vince and Melba Portelli
1950s to mid 1960s -
22 Armstrong St, Middle Park
Tony and Mary Mandile
1949 to 1961 -
267 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Bartolo and Bartolina Palamara
1920s -
300 Station St, Fairfield North
Bartolo and Giuseppina Natoli
1958 to 1977 -
149 Glenhuntly Rd, Elsternwick
Antonio & Angelina Casamento and Frank Casamento -
Silverdale Rd, Eaglemont
Frank and Popi Natoli
1960s to 1970s -
128 Johnston St, Collingwood
Frank and Maria Cincotta
1934 to 1936 -
454 Sydney Rd, Coburg
Angelo and Nunziata Ferlazzo
1920s until unknown -
276 Queens Pde, Clifton Hill
Bartolo Ferlazzo and managed by Marino Casamento (Former President of the Societa) and Giuseppe Casamento.
Circa 1930-1935
They were there until around 1935 when Marino Casamento bought his own business at 237 High Street Northcote and Giuseppe Casamento bought a business with Francesco Mollica at 6 Puckle Street Moonee Ponds.
The premises was bought and sold over the years to many other Aeolian families like Natoli, Villanti, and Muleta.
It is still a fruit shop known as Fruits on Parade. -
356 Queens Pde, Clifton Hill
Antonio and Giuseppina Casamento 1919 until 1925 Bartolo Ferlazzo 1925-1940
Unfortunately in 1924 Antonio died from Peritonitis at aged 49 and Giuseppina died from a stroke in 1925. After this time the business was being managed by Bartolo Ferlazzo on behalf of Antonio and Giuseppina's son, Antonio jnr and daughter Nancy who were 17 and 11 years respectively. They sold it to Bartolo Ferlazzo who was there until about 1940.
In the photograph are Bartolo Ferlazzo and Francesco Mollica who were working there. The children are daughter and son of Bartolo and his wife Santa. They are Caterina (later known as Rene Mollica a member of the Aeolian Club) and her brother Antonio.
The premises was bought and sold a few times by members of the extended family until the 1960's with the surnames of Casamento and Mollica. -
587 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Angelo & Caterina Russo
1920 to 1940
Angelo Russo at the age of 9 sold flowers at the corner of Flinders & Swanston Streets. At 18 years old, he operated the fruit stall in the laneway behind Young and Jackson then later in 1920 purchased a shop at 587 Sydney Rd Brunswick Angelo Russo's grandson Peter Russo Solicitors operates at 150 Sydney Rd Brunswick today. -
616 Hampton St, East Brighton
Tony and Rosa Devola
1950 to 1990
Son Anthony took over the business -
194 Bridport St, Albert Park
Giovanni (John) Materazzo & Beryl (Fraser)
1935-1953 <br In 1925 when John first arrived in Australia at the age of 14 he worked at the Victoria Market. From 1935 to 1953, (for 18 Years) John and his wife Beryl owned a Fruit Shop at 194 Bridport Street Albert Park. -
781 Hampton St, Brighton
Bartolo and Bartolina Palamara
1948 to 1960 -
356 Bay St, North Brighton
Frank and Maria Cincotta
1937 to 1957 -
970 Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill
Giuseppe (Joe) Russo & Josephine Russo
1947-1959
Workers/Boarders -Micheal Palma, Antonio Castellano, Bob Castellano, John Taranto
In 1959 Joe & his brother Giovanni Russo (Jack) opened another fruit shop in the new Box Hill arcade. They continued to trade here till 1967. Josephine Russo (Jack’s wife) also worked here along with other part-time female staff. -
601 Station St, Box Hill
Antonio Ferlazzo
1950's
Antonio Ferlazzo had three fruit shops. He then married Felicia Natoli and they rented a fruit shop in New Market, then Mont Albert. In the early 1950's they purchased a fruit shop. -
250 Carlisle St, Balaclava - Tesoriero & Luca Brothers
Michele De Luca & Giuseppe Luca
1915- 2015
The original fruit shop was established in 1915. Vincenzo & Caterina Tesoriero's business would operate in the heart of Carlisle Street Balaclava for 70 years.
Due to Vincenzo's poor health, his children and their husbands would take over and the business was renamed TESORIERO & LUCA BROS.
Nearly all the grandchildren worked there at some stage and a number of Aeolians worked with the family. Three generations of family members ran the business until it was sold on February 15th, 2015. -
905 Sturt St, Ballarat
Antonino Casamento & Giuseppina Palmisano then Angelo Palmisano and Maria Famularo
1910-1918, 1919-1960
Opposite the Ballarat Base Hospital.
Originally Giuseppina Palmisano and her husband Antonino Casamento owned the fruiterer business from 1910 to 1918.
In 1914 Angelo Palmisano (Giuseppina’s brother) and Maria Famularo moved from Colac to help them run the business.
In 1919 Angelo Palmisano and Maria Famularo purchased the business from Giuseppina and Antonio Casamento after they moved to the fruiterer shop at 356 Queens Parade, Clifton Hills.
In 1960 the 905 Sturt Street fruiterer shop was sold to R. Ritchie, along with all the other shops in the complex, which was then demolished for his supermarket.
Information given my Lyn (Palmer [Palmisano]) Sands. (Granddaughter of Angelo Palmisano)
Image- 1938. The Palmisano Family outside the 905 Sturt St fruiterer shop. L-R: Rosina, Grandmother (Maria Palmisano), Mary, and Angelo (my dad). Absent: Kate and Tony. Grandfather Angelo Palmisano left his family in 1933. -
102 Bridge St, Ballarat
Frank and Jack Re
1940s -1970s -
129 Dundas Place, Albert Park
Giuseppe and Elvira Palamara
1950’s
Established the first Milk Bar with Italian deli and mixed business. -
99 Dundas Place, Albert Park
Giuseppe and Elvira Palamara
1950’s -
95 The Avenue, Albert Park
Giuseppe (Jack) Mandile
1937 to 1962 -
Barkley St, Ararat - Bon Ton Café then Town Hall Cafe
Joe & Tom Pinzone
1935- -
Barkley St, Ararat - Plaza Café then Pinzone Bros Cafe
Vincenzo Pinzone
1935- -
352 Flinders St, Melbourne
Giuseppe and Harry Carra
1903- 1904
They were selling fruit and flowers from barrows on Princes Bridge. -
597 High St, Northcote
G. Lo Piccolo
1926 to 1950 -
495 High St, Northcote
Phil and Lina LoRicco
1950s and 1960s -
263 High St, Northcote
Bartolo and Giuseppina Natoli
1925 to 1955 -
527 Chapel St, Prahran
Giuseppe Carra
1914 - 1925 -
267 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Bartolo and Bartolina Palamara
1920s -
601 Station St, Box Hill
Antonio Ferlazzo
1950's
Antonio Ferlazzo had three fruit shops. When he first arrived in Melbourne from Vulcano, he worked in his brother's fruit shop. He then married Felicia (nee Natoli born in Lipari) and they rented a fruit shop in New Market, then Mont Albert. In the early 1950's they purchased a fruit shop they were renting at 601 Station Street Box Hill. -
135 Victoria Ave, Albert Park
Tony & Giuseppe (Jack) Mandile
1950's
More shops will be added this year. Please fill in the below form for us to add your family’s fruit shop here.