For a long time, many migrants from Italy and southern Europe were men. Young men could migrate more easily to Australia as fit and able to work the manual jobs that were in supply. Marriages by proxy were a common practice as many men that migrated to Australia were single. To many Italian men living in Australia it was important to marry someone from their own culture or village. Proxy marriages allowed a man and a woman to be married while living in different countries. For such a wedding to occur, the ceremony would include representatives to stand in the place of the absent partner. Once married, the brides would be shipped to Australia to start their new life with their husbands.

A deck of Italian cards consists of 40 cards, divided into four suits. Neapolitan, Piacentine, Triestine, and Sicilian cards are divided into Coppe (Cups), Ori or Denari (Golds or Coins), Spade (Swords) and Bastoni (Clubs), while Piemontesi, Milanesi and Toscane cards use the 'French' suits, that is Cuori (Hearts), Quadri (Diamonds), Fiori (Flowers) and Picche (Spades).

Since the seven of coins / diamonds are important in winning an additional point they are commonly nicknamed "settebella” or “settebello”.

Bonegilla was the largest post-war migration reception camp in Australia with more than 300,000 migrants passing through its doors from 1947-1971. It operated as a community which had churches, banks, ovals, a cinema, a hospital, a police station and a train station.

There are plants that work well together and plants that should be kept apart. It is recommended that tomatoes be planted with basil, marigold, cucumber, garlic and mint to name a few. But they should also be kept away from cabbage, peas, fennel and rosemary for best results.

At Italian Weddings it is tradition to give guests five sugared almonds as a Bomboniere (‘favours’). They are often wrapped in tulle or put in a box and placed at table settings. The five sugared almonds represent health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. Odd numbers like five are chosen because they cannot be divided, which represents the unity of the bride and groom. The almonds are sugar coated to symbolise the bitterness of life and sweetness of love.

Domenico Modugno’s song "Nel blu dipinto di blu" did not win the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest but went on after the contest (under the title "Volare") to become a huge worldwide hit. These days it is considered, along with ABBA’s “Waterloo” as the most successful and recognisable Eurovision hit.

Founded in 1954 by the Pellegrini brothers Leo and Vildo, Pelligrini’s was the first Australian restaurant to have an espresso machine launching Melbourne’s famous café culture.

Spaghetti carbonara is traditionally made with Guanciale, egg and Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano. The creamy texture is created by emulsifying the pasta with the egg, cheese and pasta water in the pan before serving.