Joint Member/Media Release
WA Italian Club and Perth Soccer Club
Date: 18 February 2025
The WA Italian Club (WAIC) and Perth Soccer Club (PSC) (“The Clubs”) have welcomed a $30 million election commitment from WA Labor to support our bold vision to bring the football club back to its spiritual home, as part of a broader plan to develop an Italian Precinct in West Perth.
The Clubs, supported by the Italo-Australian Welfare and Cultural Centre (IAWCC) and the City of Vincent, made a joint submission in 2024 to the Federal and State governments to fund new club facilities.
The submission included the development of a spectacular Italian Piazza as the centrepiece of the Italian Precinct Development, to reflect on the importance of and respect for, the cultural footprints and history of the Precinct, through the presence of the three key Italian Groups (namely WAIC/PSC/IAWCC).
This reflects a collective history and legacy encompassing 235 years of community presence on proposed Italian Precinct Development site. The Hon. Roger Cook MLA, Premier of WA, together with The Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA, Deputy Premier and a number of Ministers, attended a presentation tonight, where the Premier unveiled an election commitment of $30M toward this exciting Precinct Development.
This is a monumental commitment to one of the oldest migrant communities in Western Australia. The Italian Community will now have a place of cultural significance where their enormous sacrifice and contribution to this fine State of Western Australia can now be honoured.
The Proposed Italian Precinct Development (Stage 1) will include:
- A new 700-seat grandstand on the eastern side of Dorrien Gardens, which include modern corporate and VIP viewing and a connection to a newly constructed WA Italian Club – bringing the two clubs back together again.
- Two full-sized pitches at Dorrien Gardens.
- A state-of the-art gymnasium and training and changing rooms.
- Brand new facilities at the WA Italian Club, including a ballroom, function rooms, a co- working commercial space, new kitchen and bar facilities.
- A new home for the Azzurri Bocce Club with brand new competition facilities.
- A beautiful new Italian Piazza to be enjoyed by the wider Western Australian community, which will include Italian retail and hospitality offerings, whilst hosting community and cultural events with an Italian theme, such as markets and cultural activities.
- A new multi-storey public carpark with 160 bays.
It will complement existing and future services (Stage 2 Development) planned to be delivered by the IAWCC, including an Italian Language and Resource Centre, welfare and aged care services and other complementary cultural services and events that will engage and integrate with the proposed Italian Piazza. Funding was raised by the Italian community to develop the initial concept and funding submission.
WA Italian Club President Sal Vallelonga said “this desired place of significance which recognises the Italian sacrifice in Western Australia is long overdue. It will reflect the value, legacy and 235 years of commitment to Western Australia by so many generations of Italians, not to mention honour the enormous contribution Italian Migrants and their descendants have made in Western Australia.”
The co-location of the two clubs strongly reflects the history of the past, with the first Italian Soccer Club, Perth Azzurri, founded by the Italian migrants at the WAIC, to enter the WA State Soccer League. A significant moment, during a difficult time in our cultural history. With the added value of our important neighbours, the IAWCC, we can deliver a prestigious Italian Precinct and Italian Piazza which will pay homage to the past, present and future contributions of Italian migrants and their descendants in Western Australia”. Perth Soccer Club President Jason Marocchi said “the future of both clubs was stronger together”.
“It is time to bring the Azzurri back home,” Marocchi said. “Working together, we can develop a sustainable future for both clubs which honours the traditions and sacrifices of the Italian community and the significant role it has played in the economic, cultural and sporting development of Western Australia. This will be a precinct all people of Italian heritage will be proud of and a space which can be enjoyed by all Western Australians who love Italian food and culture. For Perth SC, we will have a state-of-the-art football facility in the heart of Little Italy – providing a first-class sporting and cultural experience for our members.”
Enquiries:
Sal Vallelonga, President WA Italian Club – 0417 939 671
Jason Marocchi, President Perth Soccer Club – 0421 005 765
