The Furlan Club was built in 1957, brick by brick, by the hardworking hands of a wave of Friulians who emigrated to Melbourne. It was one of the first Italian clubs in Australia and found itself on Matisi Street, in the heart of Thornbury.
After nearly seventy years of history, that fogolâr - the traditional Friulian fireplace around which hundreds of families have gathered for generations - now risks disappearing forever.
In 2015, part of the club’s land had been sold to deal with financial issues. But it didn’t let temporary difficulties get in the way of it continuing to organise events for the community.
In 2020, the executive committee envisioned a new chapter that would involve renovating the building and constructing a concert hall and sports facility. The hope was that this would attract new members and help the club relaunch its activities.
Unfortunately, forced closures due to the pandemic made it impossible for the club to keep up with its rent payments, but eviction was avoided thanks to a new rental agreement.
However, that truce was short-lived. On February 22, 2024, a suspected arson attack damaged some of the building. Less than ten per cent of the structure was damaged, but it was enough to force another closure.
Then, just as the committee and loyal club members were preparing to rebuild, ready to repurchase the property in the years ahead, a new blow struck the Furlan Club. The building had been sold months earlier without anyone being informed, despite a prior agreement that granted the club the right of first refusal.
The new owner then declared the building “unsafe”, blocked access to it and turned the parking lot into a construction site.
Now, they are pushing for total demolition, even though the committee still has thirteen years remaining on a 25-year lease.
“The Furlan Club must not become a silent monument of the past. It must continue to survive, bridging memory and future,” said Peter Muzzolin, the club’s vice president.
Will Musig, the son of one of the club’s founders who, along with his brother, built the iconic bar inside, has also joined the growing chorus opposing the demolition plans.
“I speak on behalf of many,” he said firmly, “This place must be saved for us and for future generations.”
This isn’t a mere battle over a building; it’s the defence of a piece of Victoria’s multicultural history, an identity built through decades of sacrifice, songs and laughter.
The Furlan Club is a living symbol of the Italian contribution to Australian society.
A petition has already been launched on Change.org called Protect Furlan Club: A living legacy of Italian-Australian History so that the building does not vanish from Melbourne’s urban landscape.
The initiative has also received support from Kat Theophanous, state Labor member for Northcote, who appeared in a video shared on social media alongside Trish Corelli, president of the Furlan Club.
Next Monday, May 26, at 6 p.m. at Preston City Hall, the Darebin City Council will discuss the possibility of adding the building to the Victorian Heritage Register. This decision is crucial.
The community is called to mobilise, sign the petition, attend the meeting and make their voice heard.
A fogolâr only goes out when no one gathers around it anymore, and the Furlan Club still boasts a passionate community unwilling to let go of their social and cultural haven.
