The area is renowned for its wineries, natural hot springs and picturesque beaches.
Italians have long been drawn to the peninsula, which is often reminiscent of the rolling hills and sea breeze they left behind in their homeland.
Every year for decades, the start of the school holidays has marked a mass exodus of families from the suburbs to Mornington, Sorrento, Dromana, Rosebud and Rye.
Born in Melbourne to Italian migrants from Trieste, Gabriella Favretto still remembers the days when only Italian was spoken at Safety Beach.
“The most extraordinary aspect was the chaotic mix of all of the regional dialects,” she said.
Back then Favretto’s parents, Mino and Ilaria, went in with three other families and bought a plot “of very dark and extremely fertile land” near Dromana.
After a few years, the other families gave up their share and the couple found themselves with an entire home to enjoy with their five children – Robert, Frank, Gabriella, Sandra and David.
“The house wasn’t very big, but my father built a bungalow in the garden to create space; unfortunately it was destroyed in a fire,” Favretto said.
“We always spent Christmas at our home in Reservoir and then we’d go to the Mornington Peninsula for the summer holidays, just like families do in Italy.
“Every time was an adventure.
“I remember one time coming back to Melbourne, we happened to get a flat tire; it took us hours to empty the car so that our father could replace the tire!”
While on the coast, the Italians spent their days fishing, chatting on the beach or playing cards in the gardens of their homes.
“We’d go fishing and then eat the fish and the fresh clams that we’d collect by putting our hands in the sand,” Favretto said.
“In the evening, we’d walk along the seafront, while our father would try to teach us the words of dozens of Italian songs, such as La barchetta in mezzo al mare, or we’d go to the Dromana Drive-In.
“We’d also play tombola, and I remember using the shells we’d collected on the beach to cover the numbers on the playing cards; we still have them at home in a small container.”
Though many years have passed, the Favretto family continues to honour their summer tradition and reunite at the beloved beach house in the holidays.
“Ours is a family of sailors and fishermen so it’s essential for us to be by the sea,” Favretto concluded.
“My brother Robert moved to Mornington, as did many of our friends.
“Even if it’s harder to find some space on the beach these days, it’s always nice to come back and appreciate the place where we made so many fond childhood memories.”
