The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, was among the more than 140,000 people who turned out for the Norton Street Italian Festa in Leichhardt, to celebrate one of the oldest Italian communities in Australia. The Norton Street Italian Festa showcases the strong and diverse community we have here in the Inner West. This event demonstrates the importance and resilience of local business and the support of the community, with a record number of attendance after two years of cancellations due to the devastating pandemic.

Festival goers enjoyed the warm weather, along with the best Italian food, gelato, coffee, activities, and live music. Anthony helped serve pasta and gelato at the famous Bar Italia, which was celebrating its 70th birthday in Leichhardt’s ‘Little Italy’.

It was wonderful to see the Italian Bilingual School’s Choir singing the Australian National Anthem in both English and Italian. A special thanks to the Inner West Council and to Co.As.It for supporting the Norton Street Italian Festa, and for their tireless work in assisting the Italian community in Inner West and across Australia.