By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
There’s something unmistakable about the scent of Sydney’s Leichhardt, which has long been synonymous with Italian expats.
From the soft waft of garlic sizzling in olive oil to the nutty aroma of coffee beans mid-roast and the sweet perfume of custard-filled cannoli drifting through open doors, this wedge of Sydney’s inner-west has been home to trattorias, tavolas and all types of eateries inspired by The Beautiful Country for more than half a century.
Once a post-war migrant neighbourhood, 1960s Leichhardt quickly evolved into the pulsing centre of Italo-Sydney life - a place where marriages began over minestrone and business deals were sealed with a handshake and a biscotti. However, as cities shifted and populations scattered, the suburb lost its recognition as an Italian institution.
However, this July, a modern Renaissance is set to return to Sydney’s original Italian enclave thanks to Viva Leichhardt, a passionate business alliance launching an equally passionate campaign: Little Italy Sydney.
With support from the NSW Government’s Uptown Grant Program and Inner West Council, the goal is clear - to put Leichhardt back on the map as a must-visit multicultural precinct and remind Sydneysiders that the biggest experiences can sometimes be found in the smallest corners.
While it might be Little Italy by name, the latest incarnation of the Land of the Popes is seeking to make a big impact - one where Leichhardt deserves to be celebrated like New York’s Mulberry Street or Toronto’s College Street.
Consider this your call to arms (and carb-attached appetites) to stroll through Norton Street and walk through a place pulsating with possibility. This is where Mamma’s secrets simmer on restaurant stoves and where the sound of dialects that span North and South of the boot are as comforting as the crunch of crusty bread dipped in olive oil.
It's a living museum of migration, culture, family and, most importantly, food.
Fiery Italians do little by halves - fashion, football, food. So, expect streets brimming with stories and corners alive with character. Take a passeggiata - the cherished Italian evening stroll - past pasticcerias, panetterias and pizzerias.
Enjoy an aperitif or an after-dark espresso. Meet the Nonnas behind the kneading at family-run cucinas and stock up on sweets at cafes with windows dusted in flour.
Whether it means ordering a Negroni from a bartender who knows the bitters to gin ratio better than their own phone number, cheering for APIA Leichhardt at Lambert Park like your Zio once did, or catching a subtitled film at the local cinema, followed by a creamy scoop of pistachio gelato that lingers on your tongue like a Summer in Sicily, this version of Little Italy is sure to deliver a taste of La Dolce Vita…often literally!
As Ilario Ventolini, President of Viva Leichhardt and owner of Moretti Ristorante Pizzeria (who hosted the launch event), said so poignantly: "Leichhardt is more than just a suburb. It’s a living story, layered with culture and tradition. We want to welcome people back to experience the generosity, the flavour, the warmth that defines us.”
So, next time you're choosing where to eat, explore, or encounter the rich nostalgia of one of Australia’s original pioneers of multiculturalism, remember this: you don’t need a passport to experience Italy. You just need to catch a bus to Norton Street.
