Pictured l-r are Bill Florence (Vasilis Florias) playing violin, Peter (Pano) Vlass, Joyce Mason and Stathis Raftopoulos playing banjo. They are continuing the celebrations the day after Pano's and Joyce's wedding. The photo is taken in the back garden of the Golden Key Cafe in Red Cliffs which was operated by Pano's father Demetrios Vlassopoulos (Kopela). Stathi, Bill and Pano were all first cousins.The photograph reflects maintenance of family traditions and celebrations in their adopted country and the love of music. A black and white photograph of a lady and men relaxing outside a weatherboard house. The lady is seated in front of the men. A man on the LHS is playing a violin and the other on the RHS is playing the banjo. A corrugated iron water tank is behind the group. The photograph has been scanned from an original photograph. kopella, mildura

Pictured left are Pano and Joyce Vlass (Vlassopoulos, Kopela) who are entertaining Nick Lucas (Lekatsas Spiliatsos) from Melbourne and another guest on the terrace of their Ithacan home at Akrovoulia/Krouvoulia. Pano and Joyce returned to live in Greece in the 1970s and built their family home on the island in a stunning location overlooking Frikes Bay. Many Australian Ithacans visiting the island in the summer months enjoyed Pano and Joyce's generous hospitality.A number of Ithacans, although relatively not many, made the decision to return to Greece in their retirement years. For the Vlassopoulos (Kopela) family it was common. Parents Dimitri and Eugenia returned in the late 1950s and all their children, Stathi, Pano, Niko and Erigoni all eventually retired in Athens and Ithaca. Costa was the only sibling who did not return permanently.A square coloured photograph with rounded edges of four people sitting at a table on a terrace enjoying a meal under a pergola with grape vines. kopella, peter

Photograph is at the wedding of Costas Defteros and Anastasis(Tasista) Raftopoulos. From left: Argiris Deftereos, Nina Chalkiades, Marika Deftereos (groom's mother), Costas and Tasista Defteros, the best man Marinos and Eutichia (nee Vlassopoulos, Kiourkiouris) Drakopoulos, Agathi Drakopoulos (Marino's mother, nee Deftereos Dellis). Flower girls from left: Chrissa Kandiliotis and Christine Kandiliotis. Young boy is Jim Drakopoulos. Kostas and Tasia settled in Brisbane.The photograph was taken at Hioni Photo Studios which was located opposite the Evangelismos Church in Victoria Parade. Many of the post war Greek immigrants of the 50s and 60s had their wedding studio photos taken at Hioni's. A black and white studio photograph of a wedding group of three men, five ladies, two flower girls and a little boy. The group are standing behind a curtained window.Hioni Photo Studios

The family photograph was taken at the wedding of Nick and Plousia Kandiliotis. Standing at the back from L-R: Kleomenis (Clem) and Jean Kandiliotis, Jim Vlassopoulos (Kiourkiouris), Stathi Kandiliotis, Niko and Plousia Kandiliotis, Socrates Kouvaras, Toula and Jim Kandiliotis, Vicky and Orpheus Kandiliotis. Seated front from L-R: Chrisostomi Kandiliotis and Fotini Kouvaras, Flowergirls/page boy: Chrissa, Clem Jr, Christine and Joanne Kandiliotis. Bridesmaids: Beba Lucas (Pappas), Danae KandiliotisA black and white photograph of a wedding group. There are seven men, six women,m two bridesmaids, three flower girls and a page boy.

The stall holder, Andrew Vlassopoulos (Kiourkiouris), was one of four brothers who operated three fruit stalls in the Queen Victoria market from the early 1920s to the late 1950s. They were from the village of Lahos on Ithaca and migrated in the early years of the twentieth century. Andrew left the retail side of the fruit market when he bought a market garden and continued to work in the wholesale market where he sold his produce to other fruit stalls and shop owners.A black and white photograph of a fruit stall in the Queen Victoria market on a market day. The large banner with the heading 'Southern and Tropical Fruits' hangs above a well stocked stall. The fruiterer and his wife are behind the stall and a customer is standing at the side-front of the tall. Other market stalls are visible in the distance.Written on the back: 335vlassopoulos, edna nee norbury.

The photo is taken at a Grecian Ball held in 1947 at the St Kilda town Hall. Grecian balls were organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne. Pictured is a large party of Ithacans in attendance: Anastasia Kostopulos and her daughter Katina pictured in the foreground; and behind left to right - lady in white unknown, Nathalia Vlassopoulos (Laoretis), Thalia Lekatsas, Angelos Lekatsas (Kalfas), Nina Ventouras (Sikiotis), Nick Ventouras, Sophia Kostopoulos (her son Leo Kostos behind her), Helen Fatouros (Vlass ) Panagioti Paxinos, Rita Paxinos (nee Fatouros), A black and white photograph of a group of people at a social function

The photograph taken in 1927 of young Greek men celebrating the 21st birthday of Bill Florence. One of the men is playing the mandolin, a very popular instrument on the island of Ithaca. It is assumed that some of the men worked at the Golden Key Cafe, possibly Bill Florence, as the truck belonged to the business. Bill was nephew of the proprietors of the cafe. The Golden Key Cafe was established in the 1923 by Demetrios Vlassopoulos (Kopela) and brother-in-law Spiros Raftopoulos (Levendis) in the town of Red Cliffs in the Mildura district. Spiros eventually left and established a business in Merbein. The Golden Key was run by Demetri until the mid 1950s, following which his daughter and son-in-law, Nitsa and Kyriakos Kyriakakis took over the business. Although Ithacan Greeks tended to settle in the capital cities and worked in either catering or food retail areas, some ventured further afield into regional towns where they opened cafes, or worked on farms in the surrounding districts. A black and white photograph of five men enjoying themselves at a picnic. One man is playing a mandolin while another man is pouring a drink into a mug. They are sitting on boxes in front of a small truck which has the words 'The Golden Key' printed on the side of the cabin. There are five bottles of beer on the ground in front of the men.Stamped on the back: ITHACAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY INCORPORATED/ A0027411E/329 ELIZABETH STREET MELBOURNE/VICTORIA 3000/AUSTRALIA/PO BOX 611D MELBOURNE 3001/TELEPHONE (03) 670 0230 Stamped in blue O 384

Some Ithacans on arrival in Melbourne moved to the larger regional country towns and opened food vending businesses. John (Ioannis) Raftopoulos (Fiakas) was one such Ithacan who established himself in Mildura. He opened the Sport Cafe in Langtree Avenue. The Spot was an elegant and sophisticated establishment and as well as serving meals, also served the latest sundaes and cool fountain drinks. By the late 1930s he had also opened a milk bar in Mildura’s Astor Theatre. Raftopoulos was a true entrepreneur and ran a number of business in the Mildura and Red Cliffs. John's father, Efstathios Raftopoulos (Levendis) arrived in Australia in 1895 and John soon followed. John's brother-in-law Dimitrios Vlassopoulos arrived from Ithaca in 1922 and opened the Golden Key Café in Red Cliffs. Dimitrios had previously spent about 10 years in America where he gain knowledge and experience in the food and hospitality business. The Golden Key Café shared similarities with the Spot Sundae ‘Parlor’. Ithacan settlement in Mildura area dates back to the early 1900s. A black and white photograph of the interior of a cafe. There are five waitresses and two waiters; three of the women are behind a counter and the other two are standing beside the tables which are lined up on either side of the restaurant. One of the waiters is at the rear is behind a counter while the other is in the background. The restaurant is adorned with Christmas decorations and potted plants.

Donkeys were a standard form of transport and a beast of burden for Ithacans as the island is very mountainous. Stepped tracks designed for donkeys to ascend the mountains can be still be located. The donkey in the photo, 'Rousso' was owned by Achileas Benias and was used to transport the olives and produce form their farming plot. Photographed from L-R back are: Freda Lucas (nee Benia) holding Jenny Kyriakakis, Con and Demetri Vlass on the donkey, Georgos Sombola, Angeliki Lekatsa (Spiliatsos), and Annie Vlass. In the front are Georgia Benia, Michali Kavadeas, unknown.Annie Vlass together with her husband Stathi Vlass and children Demetri and Con spent 6-9 months in Greece in 1952 at the Vlassopoulos (Kopela) family home in Lahos whilst in Ithaca. Although not common prior to the 1960s, some Ithacans, who had settled in Australia prior to the post war era, did travel back to their homeland to visit family and to introduce spouses and children to their place of birth. Today many of Ithacan heritage travel to the island, particularly during the northern summer, to reconnect with their family roots.A sepia photograph of eleven people, eight children and three adults standing in a cleared wooded area around a donkey. Two of the children are on the back of the donkey.kopella

A debutante group presented at a Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne Grecian Ball. The Grecian Ball was a very popular annual event during the 40- 60s with debutantes being a feature. In the late 1960s the Ithacan Philanthropic Society conducted its own debutante balls. Debutante balls fell out of fashion for a period of time but were back in favour in the 80s and 90s. The presentation of debutantes at Greek balls was evidence of the adoption of Anglo traditions within Melbourne's Greek community.A black and white photograph of a debutante group made up of twelve debs and their partners. The photograph has been mounted on white cardboard and the Ithacan Historical Society stamp in printed on the top RH corner of the backing board. vlassopoulos, jim

Ithaca House located at 329 Elizabeth Street Melbourne has been the site of the clubrooms of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society since 1958. Over the decades the club rooms have served as a meeting place and a venue for many social, cultural and fundraising activities. Prior to the building of Ithaca House, the clubrooms been located at Michael's Building, corner Lonsdale and Elizabeth Streets since 1917.In 1956, the Ithacans of Melbourne purchased a site, formerly two shops, at 329-335 Elizabeth Street for £35,000, with a view to building their own club rooms. A three storey building, a stone's throw from the old Michael's clubrooms, was finally erected in 1958 at a cost of £25,000. This was achieved by capital raising from the membership in the form of non-redeemable £10 and £50 debentures (1957-58). Plans were drawn up by the Australian born and newly qualified Ithacan architect, Nicholas Sofarnos (Sofianos). The then President Eustathios (Stathis) Vlassopoulos was key driver of the project. A colour photograph of the front upper stories of Ithaca House