Work Placement to Industry

The Menzies Hotel one of Melbourne’s finest establishments employed ‘released’ UK Italian internees.

Such was its reputation, it became General Douglas MacArthur's headquarters when he and his staff arrived in Australia in March 1942.

With an acute shortage of qualified cooks in 1944, Major Julian Layton arranged for three Dunera Italians to be released from internment for employment at the Menzies Hotel in June 1944. They were: Ugolino Giovine: Chef from England, Bartolomeo Calderoni: Chef from England and Ermenegildo Guido: Head Waiter from England.

Carlo Barsotti: Restaurant Proprietor from Scotland, Luigi Fulgoni: Café Proprietor from Wales, Arturo Nazzari: Head Waiter from England and Marco Gazzi: Café Manager from Wales would also join the staff at the Menzies.