$25 pp
Mr & Mrs A. Nardi were among the first settlers and are pictured here in front of their new home, one of the first houses to be built at the settlement.
We leave Grafton and travel to New Italy on the Pacific Highway. After morning tea, you will be treated to two different venues at this rest area (great night stopover).
New Italy was settled by Italians who, in 1880 set sail on a disastrous voyage to a phantom paradise in the Pacific. In October 1880, they landed in Port Breton, not the promised land, but a place of deprivation and death.
The Italian Consul in Australia eventually heard about their plight and in April 1881, 217 of the original 330 emigrants were rescued, coming to Australia, and eventually settling in what is now known as New Italy. There is a museum and memorial to those died for our country at this stop. You will be told about their fantastic and frightening trip where many perished. The museum reflects what these people managed to salvage and bring with them to start their new lives.
At New Italy there is also a craft shop run by Ian O’Driscoll. Ian does flame work with glass. Ian’s work has been praised by his peers and mentors for its technical precision, attention to detail, use of colour, and artistic versatility. His craft shop also displays and sells a range of wheel engraved glassware and crafts from the accomplished glass blower, Stephen Morris. He also has items from a variety of local artisans.
He hopes to be able to have one other of these crafts people to also demonstrate their work. You can purchase items from this shop. They include aboriginal works, blown glass goblets, glass dishes and plates, jewellery etc.
The RSL Club at Evans Head does a special for lunch which you can purchase on your visit there before going to the Aviation museum. Meals are very reasonably priced from $10 and upwards.
The museum at Evans Head is dedicated to aviation. During World War II service men and women trained in the Empire Training Scheme before taking off for the distant theatres of Europe and the Pacific.
Get up close to heritage, military and civilian aircraft: Canberra Bomber, Korean War MIG 15, Scout, Gyro and Drifter. You are also able to try out the Westpac Helicopter Flight Simulator.
A full day tour.