The Western Australian Museum acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners of their ancestral lands, waters and skies.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this digital guide may include images, sounds, and names of now deceased persons.

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Two women holding small children walk down a gangway from a ship

From Nonna with Love: Stories of Tradition and Triumph

Celebrate the stories of Italian migrant women who helped shape Western Australia’s cultural identity. ​

From Nonna with Love: Stories of Tradition and Triumph brings to life the inspiring journeys of numerous Italian women who made Western Australia their home.

Leaving Italy in search of a better future, these beloved women made lasting contributions to Western Australia's culinary landscape, arts scene and community life. ​

Discover powerful personal stories told through treasured photographs, meaningful objects, and heartfelt memories. Trace the early migration journeys, the strength of community connections, and the enduring role of faith, music, and food in preserving cultural identity. ​

Take a seat at Nonna’s kitchen table—an immersive experience where the sights, sounds, and aromas of traditional home-cooked meals embrace the warmth of the family table.

While the exhibition highlights the journeys of nonnas, their experiences represent those of countless Italian women whose resilience and cultural legacy have helped shape life in Western Australia.

From Nonna with Love is more than a tribute to the past—it’s a celebration of legacy, resilience, and the enduring bonds that continue to shape our communities today.​

From Nonna with Love: Stories of Tradition and Triumph is presented by the WA Maritime Museum in partnership with Nella Fitzgerald Events.

Hero Objects

Two women holding small children walk down a gangway from a ship

Nonna profiles

A colourful medley of cooked vegetables including eggplant, potatoes and tomoatos in an earthenware dish

A Recipe from Nonna with Love

Two women holding small children walk down a gangway from a ship

Vittoria Melia Disembarking the ship in Fremantle with her daughter
Source: From Nonna With Love Exhibition