Words Christian Thompson

Anyone who follows the Port Noarlunga Facebook Page (facebook.com/portnoarlunga.net.au), will have seen the incredible photos by local Port Noarlunga historian and author Lita Martella.

Lita and her husband Frank moved to Port Noarlunga in 1962 and have seen a lot of change over the years.

Previously located in Norwood, Lita and Frank took over the Port Noarlunga General Store, The Terminus.

“It’s a vacant block of land now,” Frank says. “The building was demolished about 18 months ago.”

The couple had also run a store in Norwood, selling Italian groceries.

“Back then you couldn’t get much Italian stuff,” Frank says. “ If you wanted olive oil, you’d have to get it from the chemist in tiny bottles! We also had a greengrocery in Marden Shopping Centre.

Lita has taken many of the photos for her book, Port Noarlunga, an Endearing Coastal Town.

Frank says she got into photography by accident. “When we took over the shop, we used to sell Kodak film. And the previous owners had left a lot of film where the use-by date had expired. We couldn’t sell it, so we went all around Port Noarlunga taking photos just to use up the stock.”

Lita adds: “And the chap that built the Terminus that had it before us, he was a photographer and also a printer and he produced a lot of postcards that we would sell. Then when we sold the shop – I still had a lot of his photos and I thought I would start putting them all together.

“I also had all the photos I’d taken that showed how the places had changed over time, so I thought I’ll put a book together. And when I started asking other locals for photos, I started to learn a lot more about the history of the area and that’s when I started to put together the first book.”

Frank says: “At the time that came out we had gotten to know a lot of the Port Noarlunga locals because we used to deliver papers and every fortnight we would go to their homes and collect the paper money so we got to know people fairly well.”

“It really was a small country town back then earlier on,” Lita adds.

“Researching it took me ten years. When I first started, I went to the State Library, Noarlunga Library, Mortlock Library and I thought how am I going to put all this information together – so I looked at books that other people had written about their towns, and some of them were a bit boring. Too much text. So I went with more photos.”

Frank says: “And so many people said to us thank God Lita did this because nobody has put together a history about Port Noarlunga, and if Lita hadn’t done it, so much history, so many photos would be lost forever. They should name a street after her in her honour for keeping the history alive.”

The couple is now regarded at Port Noarlunga royalty, but Lita says when they first moved there, people didn’t like them.

“New Australians. We were the first Italians to move to the area. There were a lot of Dutch and German people. Very different now we’re treated like and King and Queen!”

Lita and Frank recently celebrated their 69^th wedding anniversary and reflect fondly on their decades in the Port.

Lita says the 60s and 70s were the best. “It was still a small country town and everybody knew everyone.”

Frank says the first year here was the hardest. “Leaving Norwood – all my relatives and friends and I came here and as Lita said – we were seen as ‘New Australians’, but I became involved with the local cricket club and the local footy club and got to know people and they got to know us. For me apart from that first year, every year has been the best time.

Lita’s book Port Noarlunga, an Endearing Coastal Town sells for $30 and can be purchased from the printer - allBIZ at Lonsdale.

She has kindly donated a signed copy for one lucky reader to win.

Head to the Fleurieu App's WIN Button to enter Or head to Fleurieu News Web App's WIN page.