07 – Salone Battaglia

451 Banna Avenue, Griffith

This distinctive group of Art Deco style shops was built by Francesco (Frank) Battaglia in 1957. He was one of many southern Italians who settled in Griffith in the late 1930s via the canefields of northern Queensland. A Belgian architect temporarily resident in Griffith designed the three shops. The curved glass frontage is characteristic of Belgian cafès. One of the shops was established as a hairdressing salon by Battaglia’s son, Antonio (Tony) and is still owned by the family.