Discover the changing face of Footscray as seen through the eyes of one of the area’s most colourful personalities.
Tony Cavallaro, of popular pasticceria T. Cavallaro & Sons, will shed light on the rich history of the city during a free Footscray Historical Society talk this Sunday.
Footscray born and bred, Mr Cavallaro will share stories about his family, business and the community, discussing the many changes he has witnessed over the decades.
“We feel the biggest changes to happen in Footscray are happening right now,” he said.
Mr Cavallaro is well placed to judge, having watched Footscray evolve from behind the counter of the Hopkins Street pasticceria he runs with his brother and family.
“I grew up living in Footscray, to me it is home,” he said.
“I was born here and I’ve lived here my whole life, some of my first memories are going to St Monica’s and playing in a Footscray jumper.”
Mr Cavallaro’s mother Sarina and father Tommaso migrated from Sicily in 1949, gravitating towards Footscray where some of Tommaso’s relatives had settled.
In 1956, they opened the pasticceria now run by Tony and his brother Carmelo.
The store’s cannoli, made to the same recipe passed down from their grandparents, is famous Melbourne-wide and considered by many to be the city’s best.
Mr Cavallaro’s talk will also explore the changing food culture of Melbourne and the west.
The talk is at Ercildoune, 66 Napier Street, Footscray, at 2pm on Sunday.
For more details, phone 9689 3820.
