The expedition had been organised by the Marquis de Ray Charles Marie du Breil, a young Frenchman of noble descent who was unhappy with the changes that the French Revolution had made to his position.

To those living close to starvation and seeing only a grim future for their children in a climate of economic, social and political hardship, this venture was the opportunity for a new life.

The passengers were essentially paying immigrants who had either paid in francs or who had agreed to work for the administrators of the new colony for five years before qualifying to own their own house and land.

A deputation approached the British Consul who forwarded the immigrant's request to come to Sydney to Sir Henry Parkes, then Colonial Secretary of NSW and the Governor of New South Wales, Lord Loftus.

There was no hesitation by Parkes to bring the immigrants to Australia as shipwrecked mariners but he was undecided whether they could stay as he feared their destitution would leave them without means of subsistence.

The French administration advanced the funds necessary to allow the Australasian Steam Navigation Company ship the "James Patterson" to transport the people and in return the "India" and her cargo were sold.

He knew of their desire to remain together and while in Northern NSW noticed that there was land still being offered and believed it a place that may allow the new settlers to live in close proximity.

He and Antonio Pezzutti investigated the region in April and applied for a selection close to a creek on the South Woodburn - Chatsworth island coach route.

Wells were dug 2.43 to 3.65 metres (8 to 12 feet) deep as there was no natural water source, ovens were built close to homes and later cellars to store the wine the settlement produced.

[1] A travelling correspondent for the Sydney newspaper Tribune visited the settlement and found hospitable, amiable and interesting people growing fruits and vegetables including grape vines, melons, lemons and pumpkin.

In 1890 the Inspector General of Forests J. E. Brown accompanied Champ to New Italy to give his opinion on the suitability of the site for intensive silk worm breeding.

He was impressed by the expertise and enthusiasm in the settlement and the district and recommended government assistance building a filature where silk reeling could be more professionally carried out.

A local priest recommended a school be made available under the Public Instruction Act aimed at giving equal opportunity in access to education.

The Public Instruction Act made it compulsory for school attendance which decreased the available labour at settlement, forcing some families to move away as they could not survive without this help.

The Antoniolli's, Bazzo's, Bertoli's, Buoro's, Capelin's, Gava's Mellare's, Pellizer's, Pezzutti's, Roder's, Spinaze's, Ras' Rosolens, Tome's, Scarabelotti's, Morandini's and Picoli's were joined by the Fava's, Pedrini's and Serone's.

In 1936 Giacomo Picoli established a Park of Peace on his property where a tree was planted every year on 7 April to celebrate the immigrant's arrival in Sydney.

[1] Today many of the houses and buildings have disintegrated though evidence of their existence can be found in the form of wells, footings, and other artefacts scattered throughout the settlement site.

Money was raised and on 8 April 1961 the Richmond River Historical Society erected a monument to commemorate the pride, courage and strength of the Italian settlers and their contribution to the community.

[1] In April 1980 the ABC filmed the New Italy story through enactments and interviews for its A Big Country series and large centenary celebrations were held at the Lismore showground in August.

[1] The land was purchased in 1983 and in 1984 the Italian Consul General Dr Alvise Memmo laid the first stone at the entrance of the proposed new Peace Park and planted a tree, continuing Picoli's tradition.

The initial reason for the committee's work was to celebrate the centenary of the arrival and achievements of the settlers and their descendants in Australia but it was not until 1989 that the Bicentennial Museum, restaurant and mud brick house were opened, the key buildings in the New Italy complex.

At this opening it was announced by Brian Pezzutti, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, that a $5000 grant had been made to the New Italy Committee to help complete a new complex to tell the story of 200 years of Italian immigration to Australia.

In the north west corner of the site is the new park of Peace containing trees planted by various dignitaries commemorating significant events and celebrations.

Floriano also hand painted many of the signs around the complex including the panels that tell the story of the de Rays expedition and the immigrants eventual arrival in Sydney.

This building contains paintings, produced by Floriano Volpato, information on the 20 Regions of Italy and a collection of photographs showing Italian migrants on the North Coast of New South Wales.

It is also significant to those displaced Italian migrants who were allowed assisted passage to Australia by Sir Henry Parkes after the ill-fated Marquis de Rays expedition of 1881.

[1] Linked to this surviving archaeological heritage both by location and trust management by descendants of these early settlers is the current New Italy Museum Complex.

This museum complex stands as a vibrant and living monument to the important contributions made by these (and other) Italian migrants to the past and present cultural and social identity of the North Coast region and the whole state of NSW.

The remaining evidence on the sites together with the broader cultural landscape of New Italy is evocative of the former settlement, particularly its isolation and the sense of hardwood scrub blocks from which these pioneers made an existence.

The school and museum sites as a portion of the larger settlement landscape which includes drainage, wells, church building, tree plantings (incl.