There are many reasons why people leave their homelands and travel beyond their known territories. In centuries past there were few maps or charts, but men have always wanted to extend their horizons.Italian migration accelerated in the middle of the 19th century when there were disastrous crop failures which, socially and economically, inhibited the country’s development. But there 
were opportunities in the New World and great numbers of Italians travelled to and settled in, the United States.Those migrants and their fellow countrymen who came to New Zealand shores had one goal – the search for the “bella fortuna” – a better life for themselves and their families.The first Italians who sailed into Wellington harbour were mostly “passing through” and until the 1890s Italian settlement was spasmodic. Gradually those who sailed around Wellington’s bays, were enticed by their beauty and by the realisation that here, perhaps, they could continue to make their lives from the sea.Born in Stromboli in 1866, Bartolo Russo was the first Italian to settle in Eastbourne and largely through his influence the migration from that island to New Zealand began. He brought his family to Eastbourne in 1895 where he built a home for his wife, Italia, and 
their children. Conditions for Italia, as for all pioneers, were not easy. Although well provided with milk, fruit and vegetables, tap water was not available to her and she had a large family to care for.Other families soon followed, almost literally in the wake of the Russos. The two Della Barca brothers, Luigi and Antonio from Massalubrense sailed into Wellington harbour, saw “the bounty of the sea”, returned to Italy briefly, then having married, eventually settled in Eastbourne.
were opportunities in the New World and great numbers of Italians travelled to and settled in, the United States.Those migrants and their fellow countrymen who came to New Zealand shores had one goal – the search for the “bella fortuna” – a better life for themselves and their families.The first Italians who sailed into Wellington harbour were mostly “passing through” and until the 1890s Italian settlement was spasmodic. Gradually those who sailed around Wellington’s bays, were enticed by their beauty and by the realisation that here, perhaps, they could continue to make their lives from the sea.Born in Stromboli in 1866, Bartolo Russo was the first Italian to settle in Eastbourne and largely through his influence the migration from that island to New Zealand began. He brought his family to Eastbourne in 1895 where he built a home for his wife, Italia, and 
their children. Conditions for Italia, as for all pioneers, were not easy. Although well provided with milk, fruit and vegetables, tap water was not available to her and she had a large family to care for.Other families soon followed, almost literally in the wake of the Russos. The two Della Barca brothers, Luigi and Antonio from Massalubrense sailed into Wellington harbour, saw “the bounty of the sea”, returned to Italy briefly, then having married, eventually settled in Eastbourne.
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