Antonio Azzopardi

Who is Antonio Azzopardi?

Antonio Azzopardi was the first Maltese free settler in Australia

He was born in Zejtun, Malta to Angelo Azzopardi and Euphemia Cachia and emigrated to Victoria on board the Mary Hay in 1839. He was a seaman for the first few years after his arrival. He married Margaret Hannah Sandeman 1818-1912 a Scottish woman from Perth in Perthshire, Scotland on 23 October 1845 at the Collins Street Melbourne Independent Congregational Church. He worked as a mail contractor and then a canvasser for the Melbourne Herald. Later he bought a printing press and became a printer. He died in 1881 at his residence 5 Erin Street, North Richmond. Notable descendants include Australian Ambassador - Noel St Clair Deschamps, World War Two Australian Army Captain - Paul Warnford Deschamps 1915-1976 Awarded the Military Cross for War in the Pacific and Australian Artists - Angelo James Azzopardi 1846-1896 and Marguerite Henriette Mahood née Callaway 1901-1989.

Azzopardi is included in the photographic montage published by Thomas Foster Chuck in 1872 entitled “The Explorers and Early Colonists of Victoria”. He is number 84 in the montage and is listed as “A. Azzopardi”.