By Alberto Macchione
Since the early 1930’s a remarkable hand made sandstone cottage has been standing quietly in the heat, the cold, the wind and in the face of modern high rise buildings of Macquarie University encroaching the site.
No-one seemed to be aware of what this cottage represented until research began to document a forgotten era of history for the
City of Ryde, that of the predominant Italian settlement to the districts and the agricultural era with a multitude of Italian market gardens dominating the district in the era of 1860-1960.
It was found, that just as the cottage stood quietly and unassuming, so lived its owner builder. Bortolo Ricetti an Italian migrant with origins were from far northern Italian town of Tirano, in the
Province of Sondria. Bortolo migrated to Australia in1900.
Bortolo brought with him farming skills from Tirano. This area of Italy has produced wine for over 2,000 and is well known for terraced vineyards. From 1930 Bortolo purchased 5 1/2 acres of land on Waterloo Road (now Gymnasium Drive, Macquarie University) and established a vineyard and olive grove.
It is believed Bortolo built this cottage “the Ruin” to accommodate his nephew and he also set up a distillery. The sandstone was sourced locally. He used a building method called dry stone walling, a technique often found in Lombardy and wider Italian regions.
In 1934 the Sydney Morning Herald published an article concerning Bortolo Ricetti reporting on the operation of an illicit still on the property (the Ruin) and was fined having illicit spirits in his possession. Wine making and distilling would have come natural to Bortolo as this stemmed from his origins and traditions. He had a passion for producing grappa and Italian spirit and sauterne, a sweet white dessert wine.
The cottage has deteriorated over time, neglected, unmarked and left to the elements. Alongside of the “Ruin” remain 7 olive trees and a persimmon tree also in need of care.
The humble man with origins so far away from Marsfield, left his jewel in the crown of Ryde City, Marking a former agricultural history and Italian migration past which uniquely stands, in vast contrast to the other side of Mars Creek where newly built high-rise buildings of Macquarie University are impinging the site.
Ninety four years later, the construction has been finally acknowledged through the history research documentation for A One-Way Ticket Anthology publication Curated by Angelina Bonifacio. Macquarie University has installed signage and new cyclone fencing around the site.
City of Ryde Mayor, Trenton Brown attended the unveiling of the acknowledgement and praised Angelina on her dedication and commitment to research and document not only the history of this site but many of the Macquarie University’s sitès former market gardens. The Mayor added that he lives locally and as a child recalls walking through the grounds of the University puzzled as to what the structure was. Angelina, travelled to Tirano, and met with the towns Mayor, Franco Spada. She mentioned she was surprised to learn from the mayor of a dedication to the migrants who left the village in search of a better life.
In a medieval style, small piazza, signage bears the dedication wording “Largo delle Immigranti” Place of the Migrants “and a sculpture of 4 migrants titled “Monumento agli Emigranti”, A monument to the Migrants.” A direct connection to the “Ruin” and to all those who left Tirano in search of a better life.
Far from Tirano, in Marsfield on the grounds of Macquarie University, a mystery no more. The ruins of Ricetti’s cottage represents a rare, tangible, local historical jewel, of past Italian heritage and cultural significance in the City of Ryde of a by gone era. Finally acknowledged for future generations to learn from.
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