Della's Dairy

Statement of Significance

Delia's Dairy (fmr) has historic significance as a dairy farm which represents settlement and occupation in the development of Wanneroo.The site and remnant structures have scientific
significance for any information which maybe yielded from an archaelogical survey.

Physical Description

Delia's Dairy (fmr) is located at Lot 60, on the west side of on Wanneroo Road in the Yellagonga
Regional Park Precinct. The dairy comprises three extant buildings, pens and a trough. Building 1
which is closest to Wanneroo Road is a rectangular structure constructed of rendered brick
approximately 6mtres by 2.5 metres. There is a concrete floor and the roof is no longer extant.
Building 2 situated to the south of the group is a timber framed and corrugated iron clad shed with a
hipped roof. The shed is open sided on the east and has an earth floor. Building 3 situated to the
north of the group has concrete walls in situ and a concrete floor over a timber subfloor. The hipped
roof is timber framed and corrugated iron clad, there is also some timber fencing internally. There are
5 milking pens extant which are constructed of concrete and a concrete trough approximately 8
metres long.

History

'Before the 1920s some market gardens were established by Chinese people who had moved from
the Swan River flats to near the lakes in Wanneroo. The other market gardeners were of British
extraction and before 1920 the first of the Italian market gardeners were working in Wanneroo more
southern Europeans particuarly Italians began setteling in the area to cultivate market gardens and a
few established dairy farms. Land was subdivided into larger lots in Wanneroo and this attracted
people into the area, the lakes provided the much needed water to the sandy soils.
Enrico (known as Henry or Harry) Della-Marta arrived in Australia in 1924 (aged 19 years). At first he
stayed with his sister Maria and her husband in Gwalia and worked in an underground mine. It was
there while working with other Italians that he learnt to speak English. In 1925 he worked in Hotham,
felling trees and cutting sleepers, he then took up dairy farming in Osborne Park where he met his
wife to be, Ida. Ida's father was also from Turano in Italy, the same area as Enrico. Enrico Della-Marta
worked his dairy farm in Osborne Park for two to three years and then he shifted his cattle to
Wanneroo. At first he leased what is know known as Delia's Dairy and later purchased approximately
500 acres at a cost of £2,250.
There was a small telephone exchange in the farmhouse which Enrico employed a girl to operate.
During the hay season, Aboriginal workers were employed as casual labourers. The dairy usually kept
about 100 head of cattle, although during an outbreak of Tuberculosis lost 20-30 cows over five years.
Enrico and Ida had a son Alfred born in 1930 who also became a farmer, a daughter Alma Joyce who
later became a nun and another son Ernest, Professor in Organic Chemistry. The children attended
Wanneroo Primary School.
In later years the farm was leased to a Mr Duffy and The Della-Marta's bought a farm in Keysbrook.
(Oral History, Enrico Della-Marta)
The Gava family are also believed to have lived at Delia's Dairy. (CoW nomination form) Giovanni
Gava first arrived from Italy in 1927 having been sponsored by his brother Emilio Gava, Emilo who
was working with the railways was able to also get railway work for Giovanni.
Giovanni went back to Italy in 1937 and returned in 1939. There was an increase of Italians in
Wanneroo at this time as many had left Italy to avoid the war and Mussolini's regime. Following his
return, Giovanni worked at a quarry and early in 1947 went into partnership his brother and purchased
a dairy farm in Wanneroo. (Gava, D.M.)
NOTE: There are images available of E. H. Delia's Dairy dated 1937 on the web site for National
Archives, http://www.pictureaustralia.org/. Information on the site that the dairy used Warren Farmer
milking machines which were made at Sunshine.
BA61/0498

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Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.