In the photograph, Dennis Varigos is photographed in his Richmond pharmacy with his grandson. At the start of the Second World War, he enlisted in the Australian Army and then transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force where he served from 1940 - 1946. Upon his return, Dennis was granted entry into the Pharmacy College under the Returned Soldiers Repatriation Educational Scheme. He completed his degree and started a successful pharmacy career with businesses in Collins Street, and other pharmacies in Richmond and Prahran. A coloured photograph of a man holding a little child in a pharmacy shop.

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.

Some Ithacans after arriving in Australia settled in and around Mildura and opened businesses there. The people in this image were Greeks who had settled in that area in the early decades of the twentieth century.A black and white photograph of a group of people standing in a suburban street with three weatherboard cottages in the background. Some of the people are seated in two horse- drawn carriages. There is a white frame around the photograph.Written in white on the image: 18/4/1920

The photograph is taken following the baptism of Marietta Paizis, the daughter of Gerasimos and Penelope Paizes, took place in an Anglican Church in Mildura with the Orthodox priest conducting the service. This was common practice amongst the Greek community in Mildura during the first half of the twentieth century as there was no Orthodox Church in the town. The priest travelled from Melbourne to conduct special family services for the Greek community in Mildura and other regional towns in Victoria. It is possible that there was more than one baptism during the service to take advantage of the priest attendance in Mildura. Marietta was the daughter of Maintaining traditional customs and ceremonies has always been important amongst the Greek immigrants who settled in Australia. Although the majority of Ithacans and other Greeks settled and established businesses in Melbourne during the first half of the twentieth century, some settled in regional towns throughout Victoria. Ithacan settlement in Mildura dates back to the early 1900s. A black and white photograph of a group of people standing outside a church. Three adults holding their babies are standing in the front of the group. Everyone in the group is smartly dressed suggesting that the photograph was taken to celebrate a special occasion.

The Classic Restaurant, located in Swanson Street next to Young and Jacksons Hotel, was one of the many businesses owned by Ithacans in Melbourne's CBD. Nakis Raftopoulos ran the business during the 70 & 80s up until the property was sold and became a fast food chain outlet. The building has since been demolished as part of Melbourne's Metro Tunnel project. Many Ithacans who settled in Melbourne in the early years of the twentieth century opened restaurants In the CBD. From the 1950s onwards the number of these Ithacan owned businesses gradually declined and by the 1970s very few remained. The Classic Restaurant was one of the last remaining establishments in the CBD owned and operated by an Ithacan. A black and white photograph of the Classic Restaurant. It is a two storey building large printed letters spelling out the name of the business on the first floor of the building. Three sedans are in front of the building and two people are standing at the tram stop opposite the building.Painted on the second storey of the building: CLASSIC RESTAURANT/ GROUND FLOOR/ COFFEE LOUNGE.

The Majestic Confectionery and Fruit Palace, located at 600 Chapel Street at the corner of Toorak Road and Chapel Street South Yarra was owned by Spiros D. Kallinikos. His sister Chrisoula is pictured outside the shop. It was situated at The family lived there until 1943. Spiro was married to Evriklia (nee Kolaitou) and they had three daughters Nina (Katerini), Kali (Kaliope) and Poppy (Penelope). As well as opening cafes, fruit shops and fruit stalls in the Melbourne's central business district, Ithacans also ran businesses in the suburbs, initially just beyond the CBD in areas such as South Melbourne, South Yarra, Carlton and Richmond. During the 50s and beyond, as newer suburbs grew, many opened businesses beyond the inner suburbs to areas such as Balwyn, North Balwyn, Camberwell, Burwood, Caulfield, Ivanhoe, Kew.A sepia print of a lady standing outside a double fronted shop.south yarra

Bill Florence (Florias) is standing behind the counter of his Quality Lunch Service located at 3 Manchester Lane off Collins Street which he ran from 1937 - 1970. This is an example of the type of businesses, mainly food related, which Ithacan Greeks owned and ran in Melbourne's CBD from the early 1900s through to the early 1970s. They ranged from restaurants, cafes, milk bars, fruit shops and fruit barrows, flower shops, as well as fruit stalls in the Queen Victoria Market. A black and white photograph of a man dressed in a white dust coat standing behind a counter in a small sandwich bar. Behind him are the cash register and various food items and on the wall are printed cards listing the sandwiches and other snacks available. The prices are in the old imperial currency of pounds shillings and pence.

From its earliest days, the Ithacan Philanthropic Society has conducted an annual family picnic held at country towns on Melbourne's urban fringe. For many years Bacchus Marsh was a popular venue where this picnic group was photographed. Women would prepare delicious traditional Greek food and families would group together to enjoy a wonderful picnic spread. The annual Ithacan Picnic has been a very important event on the society's social calendar. In the early days, as many of the families ran family businesses such as fruit shops, fish shops and cafes, Sunday was the only break they had away from their work. The picnic gave them a chance to relax and to catch up with extended family and friends. Today the picnic continues to be an extremely popular day for the members where generations of Australian Ithacans get the opportunity to reunite. A black and white photograph of a large group at a picnic standing and sitting around and enjoying a picnic meal which has been spread out on the ground. Three cars are parked in the background under the trees.

Dimitrios Sofianos and Kalypso Sofianos (nee Raftopoulos) ran a small shop at 391 Camberwell Road Hartwell and worked there together for almost thirty years. They sold fish and chips and potato cakes as well as fresh fish and shell fish. Dimitrios Sofianos, sometimes called Jimmy James, is pictured serving a customer. On the counter there are two piles of paper for wrapping the fish and chips. The white greaseproof paper on the LHS was the first wrapper used to wrap the fish and the single sheets of newspaper on the RHS were used for the outer wrappers. The takings went into the embossed metal cash register on the counter and the metal scales on the far RHS weighed the goods to be purchased. The fish and chips were cooked in the metal vats where Dimitri is standing. Potted plants and framed pictures of sailing boats were used to decorate his shop. Many Greeks ran fish and chips shops. Coming from an island Ithacans were often keen fishermen and knew how to cook fish expertly. The Ithacan families who set up their businesses were very conscious of the presentation and attractiveness of their venues and some of the added decorative touches often reflected their interests. A black and white photograph of a man serving a customer in his fish and chip shop.

Dimitrios Sofianos is in his his fish and chip shop at 391 Camberwell Road, Hartwell which he ran with his wife, Kalypso Sofianos. The wire basket which he is holding was used to strain the fat from the chips before they were wrapped in the white greaseproof paper for the customer. Many of the Ithacans who settled in Melbourne between the two World Wars ran retail food businesses such as fish and chip shops, fruit shops and milk bars. Some were located within the CBD area while others were to be found dotted around the suburbs. A black and white photograph of a shop keeper holding a large strainer while standing in front of a curtained window in his shop beside a large stainless steel vat used to strain the fat out of the chip basket. He is wearing a white jacket and a potted plant is behind him.

Efstathia (Toula) Mavrokefalos (Black) is standing on the balcony of the Paris Residential Cafe with her baby daughter Rita. The cafe was in Swanston Street, near Flinders Lane. The photograph was taken in the 1920s.Constantine and Toula Black were of the early Ithacan Greeks to settle in Melbourne in the early years of the twentieth century and to establish themselves in the restaurant business in Melbourne's CBD.A black and white photograph of a lady standing on a city balcony kissing a baby.

Ioannis Mavrokefalos (John Black) (b. Exoghi, Ithaca 1901 - d. Melbourne 1964) arrived in Western Australia in 1913; returned to Greece in 1920; and returned once again to Australia in 1924 settling in Melbourne, never to return to Ithaca again. He commenced work as a fruiterer and subsequently established a stall at the Victoria Market. In 1940 he ventured out of the Queen Victoria Market and established a stall at the Camberwell Market – ‘John Black & Sons’. His children Steve, Galdys and Denis joined the family business which operated until 1968.Black and white photograph mounted on board of fruit stall with lady customer and young person, and stall workers.

Gerasimos Galatis is the shopkeeper standing outside his confectionary shop at 225 Bay Street, Port Melbourne. The chocolates were home made and were artistically presented, especially at Easter. He and his wife Ellie ran the business in Port Melbourne for over thirty years and it was a very popular venue especially as it was near the former picture theatre in Port Melbourne.This was yet another example of the various businesses which early Ithacan Greek immigrants owned and ran successfully throughout the first half of the twentieth century.A sepia photograph mounted on board of a man standing outside a confectionary shop. A variety of sweets are displayed attractively in the shop window which has a sign declaring the confectionary are 'Home Sweets'

Anastasia Coutsouvelis is pictured wearing the white apron and standing behind the counter in her shop with her godson, Ilias Raftopoulos. Anastasia ran the successful mixed business in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, opposite the former Fitzroy Football ground from 1951 to c1976. Anastasia is the mother of George Coutsouvelis who was the founding president of the Ithacan Historical Society established in 1993.This business is another example of businesses which some Ithacan Greeks still operated in suburban Melbourne up until the 1970s, around which time this type of business was in gradual decline and fewer and fewer owned by Ithacans. By this time the second and third generation of Australian born Ithacans were working in a variety of industries and professions.A coloured photograph with a surrounding white border of as lady and boy standing behind the counter in a well-stocked mixed business.

A photograph of the milk bar which Anastasia Coutsouvelis owned and ran in Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy from 1951 to c1975.This business is another example of businesses which some Ithacan Greeks still operated in suburban Melbourne up until the 1970s, around which time this type of business was in gradual decline and fewer and fewer owned by Ithacans. By this time the second and third generation of Australian born Ithacans were working in a variety of industries and professions.A coloured photograph with a white surrounding border of a two storey suburban corner shop of red brick construction.

Anastasia Coutsouvelis owned and ran this mixed business at a shop on the corner of Freeman and Brunswick Streets in North Fitzroy. One of the milk bar's window was decorated with the stock for the1969 Easter celebrations. Anastasia took great pride in the presentation and displays in her shop as evident in the window display in this photograph. A coloured photograph with a surrounding white border of two window displays in adjoining shops. One is displaying groceries and the milk bar has an Easter display.

The Hawthorn Oyster Shop was situated on the corner of Power Street and Burwood Road and was owned by Gerasmos (Lekatsas) Lucas in the 1920s. The people in the photograph are from L-R: ..?.., Gerasmos Lucas, Kalliope Lucas, Nina Lucas, Loula Kouvaras and Andrew Lucas.Although many Ithacans opened businesses in Melbourne's CBD, there were others who operated food vending businesses in the inner suburbs. This was one such example.A sepia photograph with a border of two men, a lady and three children standing outside a shop. The photograph has been scanned from an older print.

The photograph is of the Golden Age Café which was opened during the the First World War by Peter and Dennis Flocas. It was situated at the top end of Bourke Street near Spring Street.This would have been one of the earlier businesses which Ithacans owned in the Melbourne CBD. Many more Ithacans ran food vending businesses in the subsequent years.A scanned sepia photograph of two ladies and two men standing outside a fish and grill cafe.

IPS committee members and special guest Spiros Arion (seated with his partner) at an Ithacan dinner dance held a The Acropol. Spiros was a well known wrestler in Australia. The Acropol was a reception business located on the top of floor of Ithaca House (level 2). The IPS club rooms were located on the first floor. Dinner dances were held at the Acropol. From L-R: Jim Kandiliotis, Stathi Raftopoulos, Alkinos Paizis (IPS president), Anastasia (Sia) Fatouros-Beasley (president of the social committee), Evangelos Metaxas?, Kiki Razos, Dennis Lourantos. Spiros arrived in Australia in July 1964 and was know in the wrestling scene under the name of 'The Golden Greek'. He joined f World Championship Wrestling where he wrestled until its end in 1978. He was a favorite among Greek wrestling fans.A black and white photograph with a crinkled edge of seven men and two ladies at a social gathering. A couple are seated at a table and the others are standing behind.

Leah Kandiliotis behind the counter at Trentwood Dry Cleaning, the business which she and her husband Jim operated in North Balwyn.A black and white photograph with a white border of a lady behind a counter in a dry cleaning shop. There are racks of cleaned clothes in plastic covers hanging on racks behind her.

Dimitri (JIm) and Leah (nee Sikiotis) Kandiliotis ran the Trentwood Dry Cleaning business in Doncaster Road, North Balwyn. Jim was very active in the Ithacan Philanthropic Society; he was president from 1965-1966 and is an Honorary Life Member.Leah's parents Costa and Reene (nee Varvarigos) Sikiotis operated Pullars Dry Cleaning in Rathdowne Street Carlton in the 1950s. Jim learnt the trade from his father-in-law and, together with Leah, carried on the family tradition establishing the dry cleaning business in North Balwyn.A coloured polaroid photograph of the exterior views of a Dry Cleaning business in a suburban street. The photograph has a white border with a black square on its reverse side. Printed on the back: 10778121539/ POLAROIDpullards dry cleaning

Speros Defteros is the fruiterer in the photograph. He arrived in Melbourne in 1938 to join his father in a Coburg fruit shop. During his working life he had fruit shops in Toorak Road in South Yarra, Centre Road in Bentleigh and Domain Road in South Yarra. He later supplied fruit to restaurants and hotels in Melbourne. As a result of racial prejudice he experienced on his arrival, Spero took up boxing and later wrestling where he experienced success and was nominated to compete for Greece in the London Olympics of 1948. As he was unnaturalised at the time of the Melbourne Olympics he competed once again for Greece in 1956. Spero is an example of many young Ithacans who left Greece between the war years to join relations in Melbourne and to work in a family business. They later went on to open their own business, mostly in food retailing businesses such as fruit, fish and chips, milk bars and restaurants. A black and white photograph of a man holding a box of cucumbers in his fruit shop.

Eftalia (Leah) Sikiotis, the daughter of Kosta and Ekaterini (nee Varvarigos) Sikiotis. She married Jim Kandiliotis and together they operated a dry cleaning business in Trentwood, North Balwyn.A black and white photograph of a young woman standing in a garden in front of a building.

The letterheads were for Dennis Varigos' various pharmacy business located in Collins Street, Melbourne and Bridge Road, Richmond.A photograph of three letterheads which Dennis Varigos used in his pharmacy business.

The confectionary shop was owned by an Ithacan family who settled in Melbourne between the two world wars.A sepia photograph of three people standing outside a shop which is on a corner of a street.

The man in the photograph is Panayotis Raftopoulos (Politsimanos). He opened, the Leura Café and fish shop in the Victorian town of Camperdown in 1933 with Niko Karadis. Some Ithacans who settled in Australia were fishmongers as they had grown up with a knowledge of fish and fishing in their country of birth. While the majority of early Ithacans had businesses in the inner Melbourne area, a number ventured into regional Victoria. The Greek café is a well know cultural icon in country towns and was often the local gathering place.A black and white photograph of a man wearing a white apron standing in a yard and holding a fish in each hand.

Panayotis Raftopoulos is standing outside his fish shop and café, the Leura Café in Camperdown. He was one of a number of Ithacans who moved into a regional area in that state and opened a retail food business.While a lot of the Ithacans who settled in Victoria established themselves in fruit retailing and/or cafes, some worked in fish wholesale and retail businesses and a number of them moved out into the regional towns in that state and opened shops and cafes in those towns. The Leura Cafe was one example of this. A black and white photograph of a man wearing a white apron stranding outside a fish and chip shop and cafe.

The elderly female, Apostolo Raftopoulos, photographed with with her daughter (Anastasia) Tasia Florias and Tasia's then future daughter-in-law Joyia Raftopoulos. Joyia married Bill Florence (Vasili Florias). The male pictured, Bob Florence, is Bill Florence's brother. They were photographed in the village of Platrithia in 1949. Apostolo was from the Vrettos/Floria family from Kolieri/Exoghi and was married to Efstathios Raftopolous (Levendi). Bill and Joyia Florence are the parents of George Florence who owned and operated the Astor Theatre. George is a descendant of one of the early Ithacan families (Raftopoulos, Levendis) who migrated to Australia in the early years of the twentieth century and settled initially in Mildura. Other members of the family arrived later and eventually settled in Melbourne and opened businesses with in the CBD.A black and white photograph of a family group of a man and two ladies standing behind a seated older lady. There is a small house and trees in the back ground. The names of the people are printed across the bottom of the photograph.TASIA FLORIA, BOB FLORENCE, JOYIA RAFTOPOULOS/ APOSTOLO RAFTOPOULOU (LEVENTI)/ PLATRITHIA CA 1949

Stan Paxinos is behind the counter. A black and white photograph of a man behind a counter in a fruit shop. On the of the photograph there are shelves displaying fruit and on the other side confectionary is displayed.