Background
Belgiorno-Nettis was born in Cassano delle Murge in the Province of Bari in Apulia, Italy in 1915 and attended the Turin Military Academy before joining the Italian army and serving in North Africa during World World War World War II
Belgiorno-Nettis was born in Cassano delle Murge in the Province of Bari in Apulia, Italy in 1915 and attended the Turin Military Academy before joining the Italian army and serving in North Africa during World World War World War II
He founded the construction and engineering company Transfield and also helped establish the Biennale of Sydney. He spent 3 years at an allied Prisoner Of War camp in India. After the war he returned to Italy to complete his studies in engineering at the University of Turin.
In 1951 he came to Australia as the employee of Italian engineering firm Electric Power Transmission, (an offshoot of Milan-based Societa" Anonima Elettrificazione), which was constructing powerlines.
Belgiorno-Nettis and Amina Cerino-Zegna wed by proxy in 1951. Belgiorno-Nettis" brother represented him at the altar of Turin Cathedral for the marriage.
Belgiorno-Nettis was also prominent as a patron of the arts He also helped to found the Biennale of Sydney in 1973.
Belgiorno-Nettis died aged 91 after a terminal brain stroke, while attending to home maintenance in Italy in 2006.