Antonio VALLI
| First name | Antonio |
|---|---|
| Last name | VALLI |
| Country of Origin | ITALY |
| Date of Birth | 1842 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1861 |
| Submitted by | Robyn Mannes |
Story
Antonio VALLI was born in 1842 in Teglio, Lombardy, Northern Italy to his parents Battista & Domenica VALLI (nee CONTE). According to his naturalization records, dated 11h June1894, Antonio arrived in Australia on 29th June 1861, aged 20 years, aboard the ‘Merchant Prince’ leaving from the Port of Liverpool in England. His brother Battista (Baptiste) Valli, born 1832, arrived much later in the same year aboard the sailing ship ‘Hope’ with Giovanni Valli (possibly their Uncle). According to family members, Antonio could only speak in broken English.
On 15th October 1883, Antonio married Bridget CARRIG (born approx 1863) in Bendigo, Victoria. Bridget’s parents were Thomas & Bridget CARRIG (nee LANDERS). She was a native of County Clare, Ireland, who arrived in Victoria when she was 19 years old, the year before her marriage.
About the time of their marriage, 1883, Antonio & Bridget settled on a farm in South Goornong, Victoria (Five Mile Creek) where they planted a vineyard. They had 5 daughters at Goornong, Domenica Bridget born 1885, Mary Ann born 1886, Margaret Victoria born 1887, Catherine Theresa born 1890 and Madeline born 1892.
Around 1903 they moved from the farm to the Fleece Inn Hotel in Bendigo.
Antonio died on 15th July 1904, aged 62 years, soon after they moved to Bendigo, and his wife Bridget took over the Hotel Licence with her young daughters to assist her.
Bridget died in 1911, aged 47 years, some 7 years after moving to the Hotel. Their daughters continued to run the Fleece Inn Hotel for an unknown time after their mother’s death. All of the girls married and many of their descendants still live in the Bendigo area.
Antonio & Bridget Valli are both buried in White Hills Cemetery, Bendigo Victoria, Australia.