▁where ▁they ▁had ▁established ▁themselves . ▁A ▁ ▁substantial ▁Br ut al ist ▁style ▁building ▁was ▁ere cted ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 2 - 7 3 , ▁to ▁the ▁design ▁of ▁the ▁Italian ▁é migr é ▁architect ▁Er min ▁Sm re kar . ▁ ▁Loc ated ▁at ▁ 1 9 1 ▁Bul le en ▁Road ▁ ▁Bul le en , ▁the ▁Ven eto ▁Club ▁has ▁its ▁orig ins ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 0 s ▁during ▁inform al ▁gather ings ▁of ▁some ▁Melbourne - based ▁‘ V en eti ’ ▁gathered ▁for ▁social ▁activities ▁including ▁B oc ce ▁games . ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 9 ▁a ▁group ▁of ▁Italian ▁business men ▁purchased ▁▁ 1 6 ▁acres ▁of ▁land ▁in ▁Bul le en ▁and ▁ere cted ▁a ▁small ▁shed , ▁known ▁as ▁‘ la ▁Bar ac ca ’ , ▁as ▁a ▁shelter ▁and ▁inform al ▁‘ club house ’ . ▁On ▁December ▁ 8 , ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁the ▁new ▁Sm re kar - des igned ▁building , ▁was ▁opened ▁by ▁The ▁Hon . ▁Billy ▁S ned den , ▁in ▁front ▁of ▁a ▁crowd ▁of ▁ 3 0 0 0 ▁people . ▁The ▁Italian ▁Amb assador ▁to ▁Australia ▁attended ▁the ▁opening . ▁ ▁The ▁site ▁includes ▁extensive ▁grounds ▁and ▁playing ▁fields ▁including ▁the ▁David ▁Bar ro ▁Stadium , ▁home ▁of ▁Victor ian ▁Premier ▁League , ▁tier ▁ 2 ▁football ▁( s occer ) ▁club ▁FC ▁Bul le en ▁L ions . ▁The ▁Ven eto ▁Club ▁has ▁also ▁been