BARBARINA GIACON - TARRAWANNA SHOPS

Barbarina Giacon arrived in Sydney, Australia, March 6, 1954, on the ship Surriento.  Her husband Vittorio had arrived four years earlier and was living with his Aunty in Corrimal, NSW.   Vittorio arrived in Australia on the 26th of August, 1950, aboard the ship Napoli.

Back in Italy, Vittorio was a farmer and for many years he worked in Maccarese, Rome.  It including working in the rice fields from 1936 till he was conscripted. After the ending of WWII he returned to Italy and resumed working in the rice fields until he departed for Australia. He had been a prisoner of war in England. He was also in the Army Tank Corps and when he came to Australia he was initially employed as a truck driver. Years later he began working at Metal Manufacturers where he finished out his employment till retirement.

Vittorio and Barbarina purchased a property in 1954 that was situated in Tarrawanna.  A block of land on the corner of Paynes Lane and Tarrawanna Road.  The block of land had a small garage on it.  The garage dwelling consisted of one large main room and three tiny rooms.  Even though there was an outdoor toilet, there was no running water or electricity in the small dwelling.  There was an outdoor tap where Barbarina would have to fill tubs of water on the daily for everyday living.  They used a small kerosene burner for cooking and lanterns for lighting.

Vittorio wanted to build a house on his property and set about putting in plans to the local council.  The front of his block of land sat on Tarrawanna Road.  Vittorio wanted to build his house as close as possible to the road, so he could have a large garden in his back yard. He wasn’t able to do it, as that section at the front was zoned commercial.  So he built his home back from the road front, which later  would fare him well. Vittorio`s neighbour, who was the local Barber, Ivan Hay, had a good sized yard and Vittorio asked him if he could grow some vegetables in his back yard and Ivan agreed.  For many years Vittorio grew a large of array of fruits and vegetables for his family.  

Vittorio`s new house was complete In 1957 and now he and Barbarina, along with their two sons, had a lovely new home to live in complete with running water and electricity.  Son John was born in 1950 and son Frank came along five years later.  In 1961 daughter Maria was born.  

 

In 1963, Vittorio built his first commercial shop in front of his house on Tarrawanna Road.  Directly opposite Vittorio`s house on Tarrawanna Rd, was the General Store/Post Office.  The gentleman, Mr Williamson, who was running the General store, no longer wanted to keep it going.  He approached Vittorio and Barbarina to see if they would be interested in just keeping the newspaper contract going.  They agreed and sold newspapers from their shopfront as well as cigarettes and sweets.

 

By now the old general store had been demolished as plans had been put into council for a new store with car parking.  A new fruit and vegetable shop had already been established.

Within six months, the Giacon family were approached to lease out the shop front to create a new General Store/Post Office.  The Post Office was situated inside the general store.  The General Store was well received.

The people who were running the General Store wanted it to be it’s own entity and approached the Giacon family about the possibility of building a second shop to house the Post Office.  So plans went back into council and a second shop was built.  The Post Office was now separate to the General Store.

Some time later, the General Store business was sold.  The new owner had grand plans for the general store and wanted to lease out the Post Office store as well, but for a new Delicatessen along with Takeaway food, as an addition to the General Store.  At the time, other Post Offices were located at Corrimal and Balgownie townships, and most of the locals wanted the Tarrawanna post office to remain.

A new plan went into council and a third shop was built that took up the remaining space on Tarrawanna Road, that was in front of Vittorio and Barbarina`s home.  It was a small, corner shop, but was perfect for the Post Office.  The Post Office was relocated and now three commercial shops were situated in front of the Giacon family home.

 

Tarrawanna was becoming quite the little village, with a Fruit Shop across the road, a General store and Post office.  A few doors up there was another shop, which for a time was a Pharmacy and further up from the Pharmacy was a Dry-Cleaner. The locals of Tarrawanna, had everything they needed to live life on the daily.  The Tarrawanna Post Office relocated back to the original location in 1995.

On Feb 7, 2007, Vittorio Giacon passed away leaving behind his wife and three children.  Barbarina, born in 1923, still lives in her home that Vittorio built at Tarrawanna and this year she celebrates her 100th birthday - quite the milestone!  Barbarina is such a character.

All the shops are still leased out and have changed usage over time.  Now you will find a coffee shop and a hair salon.  These businesses add to the ever changing and charming village of Tarrawanna.

With two shops complete work had commenced on a third shop front on the corner which would eventually become the new location for the Post Office.

Notice the tables under the awning of the fruit shop:  This section was built in
and the new permanent home for the Post Office was created.  It didn`t happen
until the mid 1990`s.

All images from the collection belonging to Barbarina Giacon

GAETANO COSTANZO - WOLLONGONG`S SINGING CHEF

Gaetano Costanzo was 19 years old when he arrived in Australia in 1969 from Lipari, with his 18 year old wife Bartolina aboard the ship Achille Lauro.  They headed to Wollongong where Gaetano got his first job at the Fraternity Bowling Club in Fairy Meadow as a cook, in the upstairs restaurant.

Gaetano began cooking in Italy when he was 14 years old at an Albergo restaurant, where he worked for four years.  From ages 7 - 14, on a part time basis, Gaetano helped his father and grandfather who were both fisherman,

The restaurant at The Fraternity Club was run by Lolla Comelli.  Lolla Comelli had extensive experience in the restaurant industry  from running the Capri restaurant, at Port Kembla.  The kitchen at The Fraternity Club was run by head chef Donato, along with French chef Bernard,  Gaetano and other kitchen hands.  

After a few years The Fraternity Club opened a bistro downstairs to cater for club members.  Gaetano ran the bistro and it became very successful.  He stayed at The Fraternity Club for approximately three years before moving on.

In 1972 he did a one week’s trial at The Charcoal Tavern, in Regent Street, Wollongong.  The Charcoal Tavern was situated in a old stately home converted into an upmarket restaurant that was very well visited.  It was in the heart of Wollongong and the CBD making it popular for business lunches as well.

Gaetano had never cooked liked this before, as it was a lot of steaks on an open charcoal grill,  hence the restaurant name, Charcoal Tavern.  Nevertheless Gaetano got the job and would excel at it.

The grill could cook about 30 steaks at once, as steaks were a predominant item on the menu.  They also offered seafood and European cuisine dishes.  The Charcoal Tavern was known for its quality food and it was the premier restaurant in Wollongong at the time.  It was frequented by Doctors, Lawyers, TV Station personalities on the daily, as well as others who wanted to have a wonderful lunch time experience.

The Charcoal Tavern, was open Tues - Sun for lunch and dinner.  12pm - 2pm for lunch and 6pm - 9.30 pm for dinner.  There were five staff in the kitchen including one apprentice.  The women in the kitchen were responsible for entrees and desserts.  They could seat approximately 40 people with the lunch time crowd being up to 25 at once, and they were busy everyday.

The Charcoal Tavern had the same owner for 25 years, who always made a point of tasting the food himself.  The entrance to the restaurant was up a few stairs to the front door, with a car park situated at the back.  On many occasions those who parked at the back and walked up the side to the front of the restaurant, walked passed the kitchen window and often heard Gaetano singing in the kitchen, whilst he was working.  He was becoming well known for it.

Often at night, people would ask for Gaetano to come to the table to sing for a special occasion as he served the dishes.  He was becoming quite the celebrity and earned the moniker of The Singing Chef.  The Charcoal Tavern also had a piano bar that was quite popular.

Around 1987, The Charcoal Tavern had new owners and Gaetano left.  By this stage his wife Bartolina and their son were running a bistro in the Balgownie Hotel.  They had been operating since the mid 80`s.  They moved on from the Balgownie Hotel and opened a bistro called Mumma`s, in the Cabbage Tree Hotel, Fairy Meadow and the three of them ran the bistro for six years.

Gaetano`s ex- boss from the Charcoal Tavern approached him to help run a new kitchen venture at the Downtown Motel in Wollongong.  At the time they only had a small kitchen that catered to the in-house patrons.  The plan was to build a restaurant open to the public as part of the Motel with a band new kitchen being built as well.  The restaurant was called The Downtown Restaurant.  They also had a bar that was extremely popular where people could come in just for a drink.  The restaurant could seat 80 people and Gaetano worked six days per week, with 5 staff in the kitchen.

After a few years the restaurant changed names to Antics Restaurant and it was predominately Italian cuisine in which Gaetano was instrumental in the menu design.  Antics was very successful.  Situated on Crown Street, again it was frequented by the working lunch crowd and popular at night for the bar, the restaurant and the many functions it had.

After six years, Gaetano left Antics and officially retired from cooking, with his wife Bartolina still running the bistro at the Cabbage Tree Hotel.  Soon they retired from Mumma’s bistro as well, after a total of four years.

Thinking he was all finished in the restaurant business, Gaetano found a place at Woonona.  Previously, it had been a fish and chip shop/cafe, that had been gutted.  With a brand new fit out Gaetano`s new restaurant Mumma’s Kitchen was born.  With a totally Italian menu they opened only for dinner.  Specialities of the house included seafood, with the marinara being the most popular.  After four years Gaetano closed Mumma`s Kitchen and this time officially, retired from his chef career.  Gaetano was well known in Wollongong for his contribution to the hospitality industry and was regarded as one of Wollongong’s best chefs whilst working at The Charcoal Tavern.  Gaetano worked for 35 years creating wonderful dishes and leaving lasting memories for the diners of Wollongong.  

Gaetano may have retired but by no means has he slowed down.  Cooking is still so much a part of his life and everywhere he has lived he has always had an outdoor kitchen with a small garden, space permitting.   He enjoys his life, his family, cooking and sharing around the dinner table and singing of course!

 

Gaetano as a young chef in Italy

 Gaetano worked here at the Hotel Carasco in Lipari

  The Hotel is still attracting tourists from all over the work.

 

All images from the collection belonging to Gaetano Costanzo