Essential Questions and Answers

why is lygon street refured to as little Italy? 

Italy came to Melbourne. In the early 1900s many Italians settled in Carlton, and over the years have made Lygon Street their own. Lygon Street has the biggest selection of Italian restaurants and cafes of anywhere in Australia, and was the first suburb in Melbourne to promote eating outdoors and tables and chairs on footpaths.

what do people think of lygon street and how do the feel about it?
the people that use lygon street love it, they think that its

a great family place with a really relaxed atmosphere. the people

of melbourne feel safe in lygon street and they love coming here

how easily accessible is Lygon street

Lygon Street is easily accessible by tram from the city and is only about a 25 minute walk from the Melbourne City Centre. Lygon Street is close to the Melbourne Zoo, Optus Oval, RMIT and Melbourne Museum and Imax complex and the major Children’s and Women hospitals. It is a central point for a lot of very different cultures it used to be an Italian dominated street but now the street is shared amongst different cultures with all these people accessing the same area easily.

what impact did the gang land war have on Lygon street?

Lygon Street was the main headquarters of an Italian Australian criminal organisation called The Carlton Crew. The Carlton Crew consisted of Alphonse Gangitano “Black Prince of Lygon Street”, Graham Kinniburgh, Mick Gatto and Jason Moran. These men often used Lygon Street as a hub to talk, drink and eat. The Carlton Crew was made up of a lot of Italian originated men, who naturally settled in the area of Melbourne known as “Little Italy”. Although none of the shootings of the Gangland war directly affected Lygon Street the Gangsters could often be seen on Lygon Street or in one of the top rooms of a couple of the restaurants and bars.