Melocco family papers and photographs, 1856-1977

MLMSS 3276

fonds

1856-1977

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs

422796

Microfilm : colour microfiche copy (2 fiche: 79 frames) of David Melocco's 'The Melocco Brothers, 1908-1961': refer to Microforms Libn.

1 box of textual material
1 photographic print (postcard) - 8.5 x 13.5 cm
12 photographs - gelatin silver - 23.5 x 17 cm or smaller

Melocco Brothers, Pietro Olivo (1883-1961), Antonio Nicholas (1886-1946) and Galliano Eugenio (1897-1971), mosaic manufacturers, were born at Toppo, Udine, Friuli, in northern Italy. The brothers came to Australia from Italy and founded Melocco Bros. Pty. Ltd. The firm later became a subsidiary of Blue Metal Industries.

The 1920s were a boom time for the Meloccos, whose work was included in many of Sydney's picture theatres, including the Capitol. Melocco Bros Ltd was registered in 1925, becoming Melocco Bros Pty Ltd in 1927; the firm had moved to Annandale the previous year and employed up to two hundred people. The brothers' mother and sisters migrated from Italy and settled in a residence at Annandale.

It has been estimated that about 90 per cent of the marble, scagliola and terrazzo work in Sydney between 1910 and 1965 was undertaken by the Meloccos and their studio. They designed and crafted the interior of Boomerang, Elizabeth Bay, and were responsible for the mosaic work in the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park. The frieze and mosaic in the ticket office at Central Station, the Tasman map mosaic floor in the vestibule of the State Library of New South Wales and decorations in the State Theatre are some of their other best-known surviving work.

Reference: Australian Dictionary of Biography. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/melocco-galliano-13274 (Accessed 10 September 2012)

Papers re business as paviors and marble workers and family history including a company diary with a history of the company 1908-1958 and a family history, 1200-1725 by G. Guelp; 1905, continued to 1948 by Peter Melocco

Copy photographs of Aboriginal Australians and Sydney city views, copied ca. 1977:

Includes photograph of Gwoya Jungarai (known as 'One Pound Jimmy') photographed by Roy Dunstan; Copies of Charles Kerry photographs; Photograph of Arana woman, Central Australia;
Photograph of 'Dangar's Family Hotel', George Street North; Copy of 'City Railway Terminus' by S. T. Gill [18]56; Copy print of the first of the new locomotives from the Atlas Engineering Works; Group portrait including Peter (top right), Tony (3rd from right) Galliano (1st seated on left), ca. 1925; Factory in Booth St., Annandale, ca. 1930

Copyright status:: In copyright - Photographs created after 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Photographs collected by the Melocco family
Several acquired from 'Tyrrell's Pty. Ltd., 281 George Street, Sydney'
For an article on Gwoya Jungarai see: 'Faces of Australia stamp their place in society', Sydney Morning Herald, 29 June 2002.

Two original photographs identified in note from Field Librarian

Available for reference:
See also MAV/FM6/638 (2 colour microfiche: 79 frames): David Melocco, 'The Melocco Brothers, 1908-1961' (UNSW: B. Arch. 1987; lent for copying): refer to Microforms Libn.

Pic.Acc.Upgrade Project - Pictorial material transferred from Pic.Acc.3973 as part of the eRecords Project 2012-13