ARMANASCO, William Stefano

Biography:

Born in Auckland 10 June 1894, Armanasco lived in Avondale South with his parents Stefano and Marie Armanasco. He worked as a carpenter for C Sellars of Auckland, when he enlisted. He served with the Otago Infantry regiments. William S Armanasco, reported wounded (NZH 20 Sept 1918) He discharged May 1919, and died in 1978, aged 84. (military file)

Stefano Armanasco purchased Lot 388 at Avondale South in 1886. (NZH 29 September 1886, p. 6) Not much is known about him or his travels before he reached Blockhouse Bay, apparently working in America after leaving his home village of St Agata in Northern Italy, then going to Australia for a time (1880s). Armanasco House as the first family home dates from c.1890, according to the Blockhouse Bay Historical Society, but the family were there only until c.1895, returning in 1906 after leasing it out in the interim. Stefano disappeared on 6 June 1918, somewhere near Huia, and was never found.

See also Western Leader, 21 October 2014 p. 2

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