Mourners gathered at St Alphonsus Catholic Church in Millicent on Thursday to farewell prominent local builder Raffaele (“Ralph”) Zanello.

He had died on February 6 at the age of 93.

Mr Zanello had lived the closing years of his life at Boneham Aged Care Services in Millicent

Originally from Italy, Mr Zanello emigrated to Australia after World War II.

He was well-known for the eponymous Millicent building firm which he established in the 1950s with fellow post-war migrant Tony Buffon.

They built hundreds of domestic, public and commercial buildings across the South East.

With partners, they also established the Pineview and high school housing sub-divisions in Millicent as well as the motel now called Sandpipers.

Their firm built the original workshop and storeroom at the KCA Millicent Mill in 1960 and it was the first structure on this greenfield site.

Mr Zanello planted the Kangaroo Hill Vineyard Robe in the 1990s and was proud of the wine it produced.