IN 1951, Domenico DeFazio purchased the land that would be the site for his personal dream - a dream that was to be realised in the construction of what is now known as The Savoy Club.

Domenico came to Australia as a 13 year old and worked with his family on their tobacco farming property in Whalley's Lane.

During his initial years in the country that was to become his permanent home, he came to realise how lonely it could be for people who spoke a foreign language, had different customs and different attitudes.

He saw a need to provide a place, particularly in the early '50s when the influx of immigration brought many Italian people to the Myrtleford area, where they could sit and talk, play a game of cards or billiards in asocial atmosphere which lacked strangeness.

Rosa and Domenico Defazio

Mr. DeFazio spent considerable time and effort planning the club, including visiting other Italian clubs in the country to get ideas.

Mr. DeFazio, with his wife, Rosa, eventually had enough funds in 1955 to build what was then known as Continental House.

It was a building of 60 feet by 60 feet and included a hall, a coffee bar, kitchen, billiard room, card room and toilets - on the site now occupied by The Savoy Club.

It took two years and 20,000 pounds to complete with principal contractors being Watson and Smith of Myrtleford.

In 1956, the first committee was formed with the president the late Luigi Roso.

It is unknown when the name Savoy was first used but it is believed to be early in the club's development, around 1960, and named after a former king of Italy.

In 1964 a liquor licence was applied for and granted. The club was the first Victorian club to receive a licence. The club struggled financially for some years, but in 1978 purchased the building from the Defazios for $80,000.

The facilities then included a Bocce indoor area with four courts.

The money for its construction was also raised by Domenico DeFazio and a small committee.

Mr. DeFazio's vision started out as basically providing a place for members of the Italian community to congregate. But it has been a multiracial Club since the beginning with members from the Spanish, Yugoslav and traditional Australian communities.

In 1982 the club committee decided to expand the facility and asked for an $80,000 interest free loan from its members. They gave the money which allowed the completion of the first stage of the works.

The second stage involved the construction of a hall, new dining room, foyer and toilets, cost $220,000, and was finished in 1986-87.

The club has been utilised by various sections of the community throughout the years with the largest function being the Vicentini convention in late 1993 when 700 people were hosted to a barbecue.

The club has since traded well and in September 1993 the club was granted approval to install poker machines in a additional new building. The borrowing for the project was estimated at $300,000. Bright architect, Rob Wesley, designed the plans and Town and Country Dwellings from Myrtleford constructed the building. The official opening took place on Thursday March 10th 1994. The Tabaret Gaming Room was officially opened by the Myrtleford Shire President, Cr. Henry Brewer.

The Club currently has 545 Full Members and 263 Gaming and Social Members.

Past Presidents of the Club have been:
Marcello Dondio, Lucio Frizzo, Con Leita (who is the longest serving president), M Vaccaro, M Niovanni, P Peterno, A Leita, R D'Agostino, E Boscutti, J Piazza and L Roso.

The Club is also fortunate enough to have a mural painted by Paola Demanicor in the foyer and a Sun Dial painted by Andrea Tomaselli in 1995 and officially opened by the Hon Lou Liberman MP in January of that year.