Diego BernacchiPrint Page 
The monument commemorates entrepeneur Diego Bernacchi (1853 - 1925).
Angelo Guilio Diego Bernacchi was born in Italy, and in 1884 he moved to Darlington, the former convict settlement on Maria Island, with a government lease to establish sericulture and viticulture. By 1888, Darlington (re-named San Diego) was booming, with new buildings and a population of about 250. Bernacchi's plans to produce cement on the island were doomed by the 1890s Depression and a financial crisis. San Diego became a ghost town again, its name reverting to Darlington. Bernacchi became ill and left the island shortly before National Portland Cement Ltd began production. He died in Melbourne of cerebro-vascular disease on 12 March 1925.
Bernacchi's schemes did not bring him prosperity, but he was a colourful and popular personality who built up the island's reputation interstate and overseas through newspaper coverage which termed him 'King Diego' and 'His Most Amiable Majesty'.
Location
| Address: | Hillside, Darlington, Maria Island, 7190 |
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| State: | TAS |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -42.578613 Long: 148.067397 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
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| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Industry |
| Link: | http://adb.anu.edu.au/ |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Sunday 30th October, 1988 |
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[ Inscription in Italian ]
In the Australian Bicentenary the Italian community of Tasmania commemorates the great pioneer and country man, Diego Bernacchi
Born in Italy the 1 - July 1853
Died in Melbourne 12 - March 1925
Hobart 30th October 1988
