The Lygon Street neon icon on track for heritage protection

Lygon Street landmark Borsari’s Corner is on track to forever glow in the heart of Melbourne’s Little Italy, with the iconic neon sign and building recommended for heritage protection. Olympic gold medallist and Italian community leader Nino Borsari installed the distinctive emblem bearing his likeness above the corner emporium he ran with wife, Fanny. Described as the “King” of Italians in Carlton in The Argus newspaper in 1956, Borsari was heavily involved in promoting that year’s Olympic Games in Melbourne to Europe and was awarded an Italian knighthood for his work in Australia.

But he didn’t always intend to end up here. Achieving fame after winning a gold medal at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, Borsari raced in Victoria in the 1930s, returned to Italy and then came back to Melbourne in 1939 just before World War II broke out. He remained in Melbourne as an “enemy alien” and was banned from competitions but spared internment in regional Victoria during the war – a kindness he spent the rest of his life repaying.