Affectionately known as “Papà Luigi”, he was a respected member of the community for more than 30 years.

His contribution to the community in central Australia was recognised in 1979, when he was awarded the MBE. 

Now, this recognition has been taken a step further.

Ruffino Park was officially opened by Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Eva Lawler, alongside The Land Development Corporation and Alice Springs Town Council.

“Preserving the history of influential members of the community is important, and continuing to name new infrastructure after those who contributed to Alice Springs over the years is a great way for the community to remember them and their great contributions,” Lawler said.

Kilgariff Estate is a new housing zone located 9 kilometres south of the Alice Springs CBD and provides affordable land for first home buyers.

Vision for Kilgariff is for a community where housing diversity, affordability and access to Alice Springs town centre are provided within an environment that reflects the unique character of the area.

Hailing from Randazzo, in Sicily, Ruffino came to Alice Springs in 1958, after a short stint in Darwin where he opened his first restaurant in 1955 and met his bride-to-be, Vera.

The newlyweds left Darwin with the intention of travelling to Mount Isa, in Queensland, to feed the miners in the area.

On a stopover in Alice Springs, however, Ruffino ran into a customer from his previous restaurant.

Hungry for more Italian fare, the customer requested that Ruffino set up shop in Alice Springs.

So he stayed, pioneering the restaurant and catering business, and changing the face of Alice Springs in the process. 

His first endeavour was a classic Italian restaurant, followed by a delicatessen.

Ruffino imported Italian delicacies into Alice Springs which had never reached the middle of Australia before!

He was famous for his schnitzels, pasta, risotto, steaks and seafood specialties such as lobster (sold at a very reasonable price of $3).

He eventually became the proprietor of various restaurants, including Il Sorrentino Taverna, Papa Luigi’s Bistro (a fine dining establishment), plus a bakery and supermarkets in both Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

While there were some Italians present in the area since the early 1900s, they worked mainly in mining or making bricks.

Papà Luigi brought to the locals a little bit of Italy amongst the Australian bush.

He was famous for his granita and gelato, the first in town, which was an icy delight in the heat.

According to Sarina Ruffino Damouras, Ruffino’s daughter, granita was especially popular.

“We had three or four granita machines,” she said.

“The granite in Alice Springs were not really thick like the real Sicilian ones. They were a bit slushier, because it was so hot...

“People loved a refreshing drink.

 “We would sell about 100 litres a day; it was a really huge amount.

 “We had orange, lemon and coffee flavours.

“But even before then, in the ‘50s, papà would make it in the old machines and he would make pineapple granita.

“I wasn’t even born when they were doing that,” she laughed.

Papà Luigi was serving barista-made coffee before many Australians knew what a barista was.

The Ruffino family ran their businesses in town for 30 years.

Luigi and Vera made a great team, one had the ideas and the other created the means.

In 1986, the couple retired to the Gold Coast Hinterland, which reminded Ruffino of his homeland.

He died in 1999 survived by Vera, their two daughters, Sarina and Angela and four grandchildren.

Sarina described the opening of Ruffino Park as “a great day”.

“It’s a great tribute to him really, and knowing that everyone there, everyone in town respected him.

“His input in the town was great back then... but it wasn’t only him, there were a lot of people who contributed, the local identities... the new area [Kilgariff Estate] has been named after a local man too,” she said.

The Ruffino family has extended its love of food and business into Sydney, where sisters Sarina and Angela and their families run the extraordinarily popular Bar Italia, in Leichhardt.

In Alice Springs, Italian restaurant Casa Nostra also remains within the family.