Most of them would've arrived during the 50's and started purchasing during the 60's.
Originating from small farming towns, it was very easy for them to buy a few acres to grow veggies and keep a few chickens, cattle, pigs goats etc.
It was no different in Sydney.
At that time Stratfield (Sydney) was the boondocks lol.
And Balmain the industrial wasteland & dump.
Many moved out west & SW as land was cheap and pretty much bushland.
For all of them saving to buy a house was top priority.
Many who would by in the 50's would then rent to new comers and have 10+ people living in a single house.
The then got cheap for a few years until they had enough for a deposit for their own ppor. Of course the LL had plenty income to buy another IP.
By the time the 70's came, they started buying IP's and or bigger farms.
Bayview you'll find that it is more italian immigrant culture than italian culture, because they had to migrate before they could even contemplate buying it.
They lived through WWII, WWI and fascism.
People literally starved to death during and just after WWII. If you did'nt have a plot of land to grow something, or did'nt have a usable trade, things were very tough.
He'll probly go to the next life with a smile knowing he left with much more than what he came with. That's the dream, and it ain't Australian lol.
Probably is not the only one he owns, or the only property he owns, and he may have no reason to sell it, I am sure he has a couple fo $ saved for a rainy day so to speak ...what will I do with the money anyway, I GOT WHAT I WANT ALREADY probably find he is no that interested in every new gadget consumerholic trend either like you Bayview...
Also the bolded bit, probalby also extends to knowing that what he's done will help ensure his kdis and grandkids may not have to go through famine. Not an isolated incident. Not quite so strange to understand either I didn't think