In the last few months, we’ve spotlighted some of Australia’s biggest movers and shakers, zeroing in on the sets with the most prominent society figures.
From Melbourne to Sydney, from Byron Bay to the Gold Coast, we’ve left no stone – or socialite – unturned.
Yet, Australia’s vibrant and accomplished Italian community deserves recognition too.
These hard-working trailblazers are some of the most diverse players Down Under, with thriving enterprises spanning food, fashion, coffee, wine and hospitality, all rooted in the traditions and specialties of their native Italy.
So who are the Italian-Australians living la dolce vita?
Let’s begin with the A-list…
The biggest name in Sydney’s Italian community is Salvatore ‘Sam’ Tarascio (centre), the billionaire owner of Salta Properties
THE A-LIST
The undisputed heavyweight of Sydney’s Italian community is Salvatore ‘Sam’ Tarascio, the billionaire owner of Salta Properties.
After migrating from Italy, Tarascio launched his property empire in the 1960s. He’s now worth $11billion and is a recent addition to the Australian Forbes Rich List.
Today, his son Sam helms the business.
Salvatore is followed by the Valmorbida family, who made their fortune in the 1950s importing Italian goods such as Lavazza coffee, La Gina tomatoes and Sirena tuna.
Their wealth was initially built by brothers Carlo, Mariano, Tarcisio and Saverio.
They bought the Mitchelton winery in 1980, and Carlo’s son John developed it into a highly successful business.
By the early 2000s, the Valmorbidas’ estimated net worth was $500million.
Joining them on the A-list is the Valmorbida family, who rose to prominence in the 1950s by importing Italian goods to Australia, like Lavazza coffee, La Gina tomatoes and Sirena tuna
Construction giant Bruno Grollo (pictured with brother Rino) also makes the Italian A-list
Developer titan Bruno Grollo also makes the Italian A-list. His company Grocon, now controlled by his son Daniel, is behind many of Melbourne’s most iconic landmarks, including Crown Towers, Eureka Tower, and the Rialto.
In May 2021, Grocon narrowly avoided liquidation when the ATO and other creditors of 88 collapsed subsidiaries backed a settlement under a Deed of Company Arrangement, ensuring employees and small creditors were paid ahead of larger claims.
Completing our top tier – and this may be controversial – is the wife of rapper Kanye West, Bianca Censori, and her family of Italian Melburnians.
Bianca’s father, Leo, operates a legitimate arcade machine business and happens to be the brother of Eris Censori, a figure once dubbed ‘Melbourne’s Al Capone’.
Bianca’s mother, Alexandra, is also a notable presence on Melbourne’s social scene.
Rounding out the top tier is Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori and her family. (Pictured left to right is Bianca’s mother Alexandra, Bianca, her sister Alyssia and her other sister Angelina)
THE B-LIST
Topping the B-list is the Menegazzo family, whose fortune was valued at $499million in 2015.
The family’s intensely private patriarch Peter Menegazzo made a fortune as a potato grower and, later, a cattle baron after his grocer father emigrated from Italy to Victoria in the 1920s.
When he and wife Angela Menegazzo died in a light plane crash in NSW in 2005, they left their estate equally to their four children.
A bitter legal dispute erupted later, when son Mark Menegazzo claimed he was short-changed, having received $64million as his quarter share after opting out of the family business.
Bianca and Bridgett Roccisano have also earned their place in the middle tier.
Sisters Bianca and Bridgett Roccisano have also earned their place in the middle tier
The sisters are co-founders of the eponymous clothing label Bianca and Bridgett, as well as Booby Tape, which has been described as a ‘breast lift in a box’.
Worn by the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Booby Tape products are sold in more than 35 countries. In 2023, they won the Emerging Exporter Award for Victoria.
Lastly, there are the daughters of late fashion designer Carla Zampatti: Bianca and Allegra Spender.
Born in Italy in 1942, Zampatti migrated to Australia with her parents when she was nine, and set up her eponymous famous label at 24.
Her designs have been worn by the likes of Queen Mary of Denmark, former prime minister Julia Gillard and Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman.
Lastly, there’s late fashion designer Carla Zampatti’s daughters Bianca and Allegra Spender
Born in Italy in 1942, Zampatti migrated to Australia with her parents when she was nine
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Karl Stefanovic is famously of Serbian heritage, but few know that his less famous brother Tom married into quite a prominent Italian family when he tied the knot with former publicist Jenna Dinicola.
Jenna and Tom, a former TV cameraman, prefer to lead their lives out of the spotlight, running the Mandolé Orchard almond farm in Griffith.
Italian-Australian fashion designer Bettina Liano and her sister, barrister-turned-reality-star Gina Liano, are also honourable mentions.
At its height, Bettina’s store Sempre L’Unico had eight stores in Australia but the business went into administration in 2013.
Gina was a star on The Real Housewives of Melbourne, but left the show in 2021.
Tom Stefanovic’s (far left) wife Jenna Dinicola (second from left) is said to be from a prominent Italian family. They are pictured with Tom’s brothers Peter (centre right) and Karl (second from right) and their respective wives Sylvia Jeffreys (centre left) and Jasmine Yarbrough (far right)
Italian-Australian fashion designer Bettina Liano (left) and her sister, barrister-turned-reality-star Gina Liano (right), are also honourable mentions
Mick Gatto’s daughter Sarah Gatto (pictured with her husband Danny Awad) rounds out our list
Mick Gatto‘s daughter Sarah Gatto rounds out our list.
Mick was once a member of Melbourne’s inner-city Carlton Crew along with Alphonse Gangitano, Mario Condello and Graham Kinniburgh, all of whom were killed in the city’s last gangland war.
In 2019, Sarah’s husband Danny Awad was sentenced to a non-parole period of 10 years in jail after being found guilty of trying to take possession of $10million worth of cocaine.
He was released in 2022 after the High Court set aside his conviction, and later reportedly celebrated his newfound freedom with a holiday in Queensland.
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