Betty Pisconeri

Faith will keep you going – no matter what.

A popular pastime in Perth – Betty poses for a street photographer outside the GPO.
Credit: Kathy de Leo

Betty was a woman of quiet strength, deep faith and strong values. One of eight children, she grew up working alongside her family in their market garden – fondly nicknamed ‘the swamp’ –before they went on to establish a winery in 1948. At home, she helped her mother Rosa with cooking and cleaning, learning early the importance of hard work, family and hospitality.

It was through the vineyard that Betty met Nicola Pisconeri, a regular visitor. Nicola had migrated from Italy after serving as a quartermaster in the 1936 Italian–Ethiopian war, where one of his unusual duties was harvesting and roasting wild Arabica coffee beans in the Ethiopian highlands. In Perth, he found steady work as a mechanic and welder with Wesfarmers – a job that spared him internment during the Second World War. His parents and brothers later followed him to Australia, and together they began building a new life.

Nicola was instantly taken with Betty. He courted her respectfully, making repeated visits to her parents to show his sincerity. Though her parents were at first hesitant about the age difference, they were eventually won over by his persistence and genuine affection. Betty and Nicola were married at St Mary’s Cathedral on 22 January 1950.

Betty and Nicola’s wedding day. From left: Nicola’s brother Giuseppe, Betty’s sister-in-law Mary, husband Nicola, Betty, Nicola’s brother Domenico, Domenico’s wife Angie and Nicola’s father Francesco.
Credit: Kathy de Leo

In 1951, Nicola and his brothers Giuseppe and Domenico opened Pisconeri Fine Foods & Wines, a delicatessen that soon became a cornerstone of Perth’s Italian–Australian community. They imported specialty goods such as fragrant Reggiano cheese and aged balsamic vinegar in wooden casks, later adding coffee-roasting and ice-cream making equipment. Before long, the shop was a lively hub – especially on Sundays after Mass, when crowds gathered to enjoy espresso, granita, cakes and gelato.

Pisconeri's on Lake Street, Northbridge, 1950s.
Credit: Pisconeri’s Fine Foods & Wines

Pisconeri's on Lake Street, Northbridge, 1950s.
Credit: Pisconeri’s Fine Foods & Wines

Betty’s brother-in-law Guiseppe Pisconeri with the coffee roasting machine. 
Credit: Pisconeri’s Fine Foods & Wines

Pisconeri’s sourced specialty produce from Italy and the world, offering unique, quality ingredients. 
Credit: Kathy de Leo

Betty’s nephew, Albert, enjoying an ice cream in the early days. Today, he is Director of Pisconeri Fine Foods & Wines.
Credit: Pisconeri’s Fine Foods & Wines

Alongside their husbands, Betty and her sister-in-law Mary worked side by side each day, sharing dreams, burdens and laughter like true sisters. Together, they managed the demands of business and family life, creating a place filled with warmth and belonging.

Betty was central to the success of Pisconeri’s Fine Foods, often working from 6am to 11pm in the grocery and delicatessen, then continuing in the coffee lounge until 1am. Despite the long hours, she remained devoted to her family, balancing it all with grace, resilience and unwavering dedication.

Betty with daughter Kathy, aged 6, on Hay Street during an outing to the city.
Credit: Kathy de Leo

Amid the cafe’s regular buzz, Mary and Betty pause for a well-earned coffee break.
Credit: Kathy de Leo

Betty behind the counter at Pisconeri’s, where her welcome made everyone feel at home. 
Credit: Kathy de Leo

Betty and her sister-in-law Mary shared a strong sisterly bond.  
Credit: Kathy de Leo

The postwar influx of Italian and Greek migrants created strong demand for familiar European products. Among Pisconeri’s first customers were also Australian ex-servicemen who had acquired a taste for espresso during wartime campaigns in North African and Italy. The shop soon became a cosmopolitan hub – a place to see and be seen, and above all, a place to belong.

Credit: Kathy de Leo

A 6IX radio broadcast at Pisconeri’s in  the early 1960s, with the Pisconeri brothers and radio personality John Fryer. 
Credit: Kathy de Leo

In retirement, Betty enjoyed simple pleasures –playing cards, aqua classes and outings with her daughters, grandchildren and best friend Mary. She loved spoiling her grandchildren, babysitting whenever she could, and cooking their favourite dishes. Her daughters Kathy and Rose have carried on that love of cooking, keeping Betty’s favourite dishes – especially lasagna, arancini and trifle – alive for future generations. At every family gathering, her legacy is remembered in the meals lovingly prepared and shared.