Brisbane’s First Italian Restaurant Under Threat From Revised Development Plan

A slice of Brisbane’s history could soon disappear from Spring Hill if a controversial development gets the green light.

The iconic Mama Luigi’s is regarded as the first restaurant in the city to serve Italian food. It opened in 1942, when Australian and Italian troops were doing battle in Africa during World War II. The venue, in a protected pre-1911 house at 240 St Paul’s Terrace, went on to become a feature of the Brisbane dining scene for more than four decades, closing in the 1980s.

But earlier this year the site came under threat when Berson Properties applied to have the building demolished. It amended its application in August following concerns from Brisbane City Council (BCC) and the wider community.

Berson Properties is now trying to keep the Mama Luigi’s house but relocate it to Toowong.

“The applicant maintains the view that the pre-1911 building has undergone significant alterations with less than five per cent of the building comprising original fabric,” it wrote in its submission. “However, the application acknowledges council’s and the community’s desire for the dwelling not to be demolished.”

BCC’s opposition city planning spokesman Jared Cassidy says the building should be kept where it is. He argues part of its significance is its location.

“[If it is relocated] it loses not only its historic connection, but there’s that cultural connection as well,” he says. “Not only is it the first place in Brisbane to serve Italian food, it’s also arguably the first place in Brisbane to serve ‘foreign’ food.”

In addition to being popular with locals, Cassidy says big names like American General Douglas MacArthur and singer Nat King Cole also dined at Mama Luigi’s.

“Whenever [former prime minister] Gough Whitlam was in town he used to eat there,” he says.

“It’s more than just a building, it’s a significant site.” Cassidy argues the building is in good condition considering it’s more than 100 years old. “If it’s good enough to move over to Toowong, it should be good enough to stay there,” he says.

BCC requested more information from Berson Properties on September 29. Cassidy says it will then need to go out for public consultation again before a final decision is made.

He urged Brisbane residents to use their voice to fight to keep Mama Luigi’s in Spring Hill. “If they’re passionate about it they need to let people know they’re sick of seeing pieces of cultural history being torn apart,” he says.

The development application for 240 St Paul’s Terrace can be found here.