Stories

The Vitocco Kitchen

Powerhouse Parramatta Leadership Partner – The Vitocco Charitable Foundation
Two figures are cooking at a long silver kitchen island. An audience are watching, sitting in theatre seating.

As Abraham Lincoln said, “the best way to predict the future is to create it”. Our family’s investment into Powerhouse Parramatta is an opportunity to create a legacy that celebrates the contributions of cultural migrants to Western Sydney and showcase them to the world. Powerhouse Parramatta will set a new benchmark for innovative learning experiences for students and generations of the future
Arnold and Irene Vitocco, Vitocco Enterprises and Vitocco Charitable Foundation.

The Vitocco Charitable Foundation’s investment in Powerhouse Parramatta will help the museum showcase histories and cutting-edge thinking about the culture and production of food through two foundational programs: the Vitocco Family Kitchen and the Vitocco Legacy Project.

The Vitocco Family Kitchen will bring together leading chefs and food producers from across Australia and around the world to educate and inspire communities and audiences. It will feature a large-scale demonstration kitchen, seating for audiences of up to 200 people and high-end technology to support digital content creation.

The Vitocco Legacy Project is a multi-year commitment to research and programming which is engaging communities across the disciplines of agriculture, manufacturing, changing land use, cultural diversity and food production. It has established a full-time curator at Powerhouse Parramatta devoted to researching, collecting and sharing the histories, innovations and entrepreneurial spirit of Western Sydney. The Vitocco Legacy Project is integrating with and expanding the Powerhouse Australian Culinary Archive, which is working closely with industry to collect the histories of the great chefs and producers of Australia.

The Vitocco family has a remarkable story of innovation and resilience which is indelibly woven into the cultural fabric and history of South Western Sydney. The Vitocco story in Australia began in 1955 when Domenic Vitocco Senior migrated from Italy and started his business in Bringelly, South Western Sydney. For more than 70 years the Vitocco family has continued to make significant contributions to the communities of Sydney and NSW. This generous gift will expand the Vitocco family legacy by ensuring the histories and stories of Western Sydney are embedded into national and international stories of innovation and change at Powerhouse Parramatta
Lisa Havilah, Chief Executive, Powerhouse
two humans stand side by side for the camera

The Vitocco family’s generous $5 million investment in the future of Powerhouse Parramatta will establish innovative and engaging programs centred on food – and uplift the inspiring contributions of Western Sydney communities in Australia’s culinary history.

The Vitocco Family Kitchen will be central to the vibrant and dynamic programming visitors will experience at Powerhouse Parramatta. The Kitchen will engage audiences with innovative food science programs that will inspire our community and enrich industry practice. I thank the Vitoccos for their generous support and partnership
President, Powerhouse Trust, The Hon. Peter Collins AM KC

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Powerhouse Parramatta is being realised through the generosity, support and collaboration of the NSW Government, foundations, agencies, businesses and individuals for the community.

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