1909
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Bocce Balls
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Object TypeObjectDescriptionBocce Ball set consists of 4 metal balls with incised concentric circles. One pair has three sets of three concentric mm circles and one pair with three sets of mm narrow concentric circles. 1 small wooden red pallina.Date madec.1952
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MaterialWood and metalProvenance and SignificanceThe general concept of the game of Bocce has existed since ancient times. Evidence shows that early versions of the game were played by the Ancient Egyptians, Greek and Romans. Bocce as we know it today grew to become such a popular sport in Europe during the early 20th century and formal clubs were established in Italy during the mid 1940’s. Bocce was introduced into Australia by Italian migrants in the early 1900’s, most probably due to the growing trend of Italian migration into Australia. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship tells us that the 1911 census showed 6,719 Italian-born were living in Australia, with a significant increase by 1933 when figures jumped to 26,756 (3,325 of the total number of immigrants residing in the Sydney area). By 1954 there were approximately 119,897 Italian-born immigrants living in Australia, making the Italian population the fourth largest overseas born group at the time. By the 1930s Fairfield’s growing Italian population was centred in the western region of the district. Many migrants Italian families cleared land and run market gardens.
The traditional game of Bocce was originally played by men on a flat surfaced level of sand. Balls (or bowls) were hollow inside and produced from a brass composition. The general size of a bocce ball is 10cm in diameter, and they weigh approximately 1 kilogram each. The sand court itself is approximately 27.5 metres long and 3-4 metres in width.
A traditional game involved two or more players (divided into two equal teams). The aim of the game was to beat the opposing team by throwing or tossing the ball across the court and landing it the closest to the pallina (or jack). The ball could be rolled across the surface or thrown underarm. The game begins when the first team tosses the pallina from the foot line.The pallina must land in a designated rectangular area at the other end of the court. If the first team cannot place the pallina within the rectangular area after 2 attempts then the second team is allowed to throw the pallina in. If they are successful they then proceed with the first bowl, followed by the first bowl of the opposing team.
Whichever team is at a disadvantage will proceed with the next bowl. Once a team has delivered all of its bowls the other team proceeds with theirs. When all bowls have been delivered, the team that holds the advantage scores 1 point for each of the balls that are closest to the pallina than any of the opposition’s balls.
The next round is conducted, and the first team to score 13 points becomes the winner of the game.
Throughout the years, other modified versions of Bocce have been created. These include the Progressive Throw, Precision Throw and the Bowl-Throw game, according to the Bocce Federation of Australia.
The Progressive Throw is a continuous game whereby players have to throw from the foot line aiming at six targets placed behind each other in a line on locating maps.
The player must hit the closest target first in a ‘fair hit’, followed by the preceding 5 targets in order to move to the other side of the court for the next round of targets.
Points are scored for each of the successfully hit targets. The game is played with 2 people on the court at a time for a period of 5 minutes. The winner is decided on who has scored the most points at the end of the time period. A variation of this game is played by doubles, women and children.
The Precision Throw game involves 11 targets set in a particular order, at a range of 13-18 metres from the initial foot line. There are also obstacles among the targets (they can be a red ball or pallina/ jacks). Targets are white balls or pallina/ jacks. All balls are spread out on the mat, and points are awarded for a successful hit according to where the target has been placed on the mat (different points for the different distances). Variations are made for women and children.
The Bowl Throw game sees 8 rounds, and each player in each round tosses all their balls. You can either bowl or throw the ball into the designated circle that has been marked . If bowled, the ball needs to remain within the circle (1.4 metre diameter). Two points are awarded if the ball is within 5mm of the pallina/ jack. If thrown, the player aims to ‘knock’ the opponent’s ball out of the circle and is awarded points for whoever’s ball remains within the circle. The winner is the person who has the most points at the end of the 8 rounds.
The game of Bocce holds a strong significance within Fairfield City’s Italian community. It is one of the primary reasons for the establishment and formation of the Club Marconi in Bossley Park. The local Italian community wanted a social centre where the community could meet and form cultural connections in the Fairfield area. One of the key cultural events was the game of Bocce and the need to establish a central place for the Italian community to play. Mr Felice Zadro, one of the founding members of Club Marconi, can still remember the idea for the club’s formation:
“We were playing at the bocce courts in Horsley Park and we got a little thirsty so we brought along some beer. The police confiscated the beer because we didn’t have a licence…So we thought, why don’t we build a place where we can meet socially.”
The club was officially opened in Bossley Park on 2 August 1958, and now has over 25,000 members in its community, representing some 18 different nationalities. Over the years the club has tried to incorporate all nationalities within the Fairfield community and not be exclusively for the Italian community.
Today, Club Marconi holds the annual ‘Marconi Cup’ that has been played every year since 1959. It is an inter-club match whereby local clubs and other clubs around NSW such as the Griffith bocce club compete to win the trophy. The bocce courts continue to be a centre for the Italian community to meet and play their sport.
The first National Bocce championship was held in Australia in 1970. Originally comprising of only Gent’s bocce competitions, 1977 saw the introduction of Ladies’ bocce into the club and women’s national championships began in 1995. Mixed competitions are also played. Junior Bocce competitions have been held in the effort to keep the game alive within the younger generations. The junior championships began in 1982. Australia has been competing in the World Championships since 1974.
This particular set of Bocce balls, owned by Frank Scaglione, originally came from Torino, in northern Italy where the Scaglione family lived prior to migrating to Australia. The Scaglione family migrated to Australia with their two year old son Luigi in 1952. This set of bocce balls was brought out by a friend whom also migrated to Australia in the same year. Frank used to play Bocce in the local park around Wetherill Park until the opening of the Marconi Club. He then participated in competitions and social play within the club. Frank’ story replicates the experience of many Italian migrants in Fairfield, who were searching for a legal centre to play bocce and came to rely on the Marconi Club.
Fairfield City Museum currently holds a set of Bocce balls in their collection on loan from a private donor from the Club Marconi. This set (loan number IL002.97) comprises of four bocce balls plus a white jack. The Bocce balls belonged to Arturo Colusso and also appear to be made from metal. Frank Scaglione’s bocce ball set is a permanent part of the museum’s collection and a classic representation of cultural traditions brought to Fairfield by Italian migrants.NotesOrigin: ItalyCopyrightYou are free to use this image without permission. Please acknowledge Fairfield City Council.RightsFairfield City Council
The traditional game of Bocce was originally played by men on a flat surfaced level of sand. Balls (or bowls) were hollow inside and produced from a brass composition. The general size of a bocce ball is 10cm in diameter, and they weigh approximately 1 kilogram each. The sand court itself is approximately 27.5 metres long and 3-4 metres in width.
A traditional game involved two or more players (divided into two equal teams). The aim of the game was to beat the opposing team by throwing or tossing the ball across the court and landing it the closest to the pallina (or jack). The ball could be rolled across the surface or thrown underarm. The game begins when the first team tosses the pallina from the foot line.The pallina must land in a designated rectangular area at the other end of the court. If the first team cannot place the pallina within the rectangular area after 2 attempts then the second team is allowed to throw the pallina in. If they are successful they then proceed with the first bowl, followed by the first bowl of the opposing team.
Whichever team is at a disadvantage will proceed with the next bowl. Once a team has delivered all of its bowls the other team proceeds with theirs. When all bowls have been delivered, the team that holds the advantage scores 1 point for each of the balls that are closest to the pallina than any of the opposition’s balls.
The next round is conducted, and the first team to score 13 points becomes the winner of the game.
Throughout the years, other modified versions of Bocce have been created. These include the Progressive Throw, Precision Throw and the Bowl-Throw game, according to the Bocce Federation of Australia.
The Progressive Throw is a continuous game whereby players have to throw from the foot line aiming at six targets placed behind each other in a line on locating maps.
The player must hit the closest target first in a ‘fair hit’, followed by the preceding 5 targets in order to move to the other side of the court for the next round of targets.
Points are scored for each of the successfully hit targets. The game is played with 2 people on the court at a time for a period of 5 minutes. The winner is decided on who has scored the most points at the end of the time period. A variation of this game is played by doubles, women and children.
The Precision Throw game involves 11 targets set in a particular order, at a range of 13-18 metres from the initial foot line. There are also obstacles among the targets (they can be a red ball or pallina/ jacks). Targets are white balls or pallina/ jacks. All balls are spread out on the mat, and points are awarded for a successful hit according to where the target has been placed on the mat (different points for the different distances). Variations are made for women and children.
The Bowl Throw game sees 8 rounds, and each player in each round tosses all their balls. You can either bowl or throw the ball into the designated circle that has been marked . If bowled, the ball needs to remain within the circle (1.4 metre diameter). Two points are awarded if the ball is within 5mm of the pallina/ jack. If thrown, the player aims to ‘knock’ the opponent’s ball out of the circle and is awarded points for whoever’s ball remains within the circle. The winner is the person who has the most points at the end of the 8 rounds.
The game of Bocce holds a strong significance within Fairfield City’s Italian community. It is one of the primary reasons for the establishment and formation of the Club Marconi in Bossley Park. The local Italian community wanted a social centre where the community could meet and form cultural connections in the Fairfield area. One of the key cultural events was the game of Bocce and the need to establish a central place for the Italian community to play. Mr Felice Zadro, one of the founding members of Club Marconi, can still remember the idea for the club’s formation:
“We were playing at the bocce courts in Horsley Park and we got a little thirsty so we brought along some beer. The police confiscated the beer because we didn’t have a licence…So we thought, why don’t we build a place where we can meet socially.”
The club was officially opened in Bossley Park on 2 August 1958, and now has over 25,000 members in its community, representing some 18 different nationalities. Over the years the club has tried to incorporate all nationalities within the Fairfield community and not be exclusively for the Italian community.
Today, Club Marconi holds the annual ‘Marconi Cup’ that has been played every year since 1959. It is an inter-club match whereby local clubs and other clubs around NSW such as the Griffith bocce club compete to win the trophy. The bocce courts continue to be a centre for the Italian community to meet and play their sport.
The first National Bocce championship was held in Australia in 1970. Originally comprising of only Gent’s bocce competitions, 1977 saw the introduction of Ladies’ bocce into the club and women’s national championships began in 1995. Mixed competitions are also played. Junior Bocce competitions have been held in the effort to keep the game alive within the younger generations. The junior championships began in 1982. Australia has been competing in the World Championships since 1974.
This particular set of Bocce balls, owned by Frank Scaglione, originally came from Torino, in northern Italy where the Scaglione family lived prior to migrating to Australia. The Scaglione family migrated to Australia with their two year old son Luigi in 1952. This set of bocce balls was brought out by a friend whom also migrated to Australia in the same year. Frank used to play Bocce in the local park around Wetherill Park until the opening of the Marconi Club. He then participated in competitions and social play within the club. Frank’ story replicates the experience of many Italian migrants in Fairfield, who were searching for a legal centre to play bocce and came to rely on the Marconi Club.
Fairfield City Museum currently holds a set of Bocce balls in their collection on loan from a private donor from the Club Marconi. This set (loan number IL002.97) comprises of four bocce balls plus a white jack. The Bocce balls belonged to Arturo Colusso and also appear to be made from metal. Frank Scaglione’s bocce ball set is a permanent part of the museum’s collection and a classic representation of cultural traditions brought to Fairfield by Italian migrants.NotesOrigin: ItalyCopyrightYou are free to use this image without permission. Please acknowledge Fairfield City Council.RightsFairfield City Council
Connections
Bocce Balls. Fairfield City Heritage Collection, accessed 14/02/2026, https://heritagecollection.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1909