The tall monument, constructed by Stathi Raftopoulos, and known as the 'Pyramides' or the 'Obelisk' is located in Kolieri, Ithaca, overlooking Afales Bay. Constructed from the stones that were used to press the olives, the monument is a tribute to the making of the olive oil, a staple of the island. A coloured photograph of a tall monument and other items located next to the Raftopoulos (Levendi) home in the village of Kolieri, Ithaca. Kolieri located below the village of Exoghi overlooking Afales Bay. The property is located on the road which ends at Kalamos where a natural water spring flows. kalamos

The architecture of Ithaca has been influenced by various cultures in particular by the Venetian and British periods of rule. The house pictured is typical of many of the dwellings found on Ithaca built of stone which is sourced locally. Stone buildings are ideal for the climate of the island, retaining the heat in winter and cooler in summer. Sadly the catastrophic earthquakes of 1953 resulted in the widespread destruction on the many of the island's old buildings. Being one of the smaller and less accessible islands of Greece Ithaca fortunately has been spared inappropriate development and thus able to retain its authenticity and beautiful character. A coloured photograph of a double storey stone house with a tiled roof. A flight of stairs leads from the road to the elevated front door. At the bottom of the stairway there is a single storey stone building. Three trees are growing at the street level across the front of the house. architecture, houses

The photograph is an aerial view of the village of Platrithia in northern Ithaca, overlooking Afales Bay. The Taxiarchi Church is located at the top of the hill, around which the village is located.A discoloured landscape of an aerial view of Aphales Bay and Platrithia with the church of Taxiarches and the road which leads to Marmaka located on the other side of the mountain.aphales, villages

A view of Vathi taken in the 1970s. Vathi is the main town of Ithaca and is located in the south of the island. A coloured photograph taken in the 1970s overlooking the harbour of Vathi, the main village of Ithaca. The buildings are spread out from the water's edge to the lower slopes of the mountains, which form a backdrop to the town. Some boats are moored in the harbour.harbour, ports

The photo is taken in Vathi Ithaca at the Apokries carnival. It is the tradition to dress up and have fun. The Agios Prebezis and Papadia signs on the back of the two people in the foreground are satirising the church and relate to a scandal during the 1970s involving the Metropolitan of Prebesa (Prevesa) and a local priest's wife. The Apokries festival period traditionally begins ten weeks before Greek Orthodox Easter and culminates with fancy dress and masquerade parties on the weekend before Ash Monday, the first day of Lent. The name Apokries means abstention from meat, as during lent no meat is eaten. The Apokries festival dates back to Dionysos, the ancient Greek god of wine, fun and fertility. A coloured photograph of a crowd celebrating at a carnival. Two people with their backs to the camera are in fancy dress and are wearing hand written signs on their backs. The corners of the photograph are rounded.

The photo is of the Vrettos boys, Odysseas, Nondas, Spiros, from the village of Kollieri on the island of Ithaca. .A black and white copy of a studio photograph of the three young boys. The boys have been photographed from the waist up and are dressed in outfits from the early twentieth century. A curtain is hanging behind the group.families, brothers

The band is wearing naval uniform. Ithaca has a strong naval tradition with many young Ithacan men becoming naval officers or sea captains. The secondary school in Vathi was formally a Naval College and still incorporates a vocational stream for those seeking to embark on a naval career. Brass bands such as this march and play at national day parades.Such ceremonious pomp is part of the Ionian tradition.A coloured photograph of members of a brass band dressed in white naval suits playing for the townspeople who are pictured on the RHS of the photograph.

The photo is taken in Ithaca in the 1950s or 60s.A black and white photograph of three ladies and a man in front of a harbour where boats are moored. In the background there are mountains and some the faint outline of buildings along the foreshore can be seen on the left hand side.LF 7734 M 10unknown

The photo is taken at Marmaka beach, located in northern Ithaca near the seaside village of Frikes. Marmaka is known for its crystal clear waters and white pebbles. It was a favourite spot for locals to picnic and was usually reached by boat. A marsh located behind the beach was in the past used for mud bathing. Pictured in the third and fourth in top right are Stathi and Kassiani Raftopoulos.A black and white photograph of a group of villagers gathered around a man playing a guitar. They are singing and are having a picnic.unknown

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

View of the Ithaca's capital town Vathi and its harbour, located in south of the island.A discoloured photograph and aerial view of the port of Vathi and surrounding settlement, with the mountains in the background.ports, harbours

The local 'philharmonic orchestra/band' playing at a civic/national day function in the 1950s in Vathi, Ithaca. Music plays an important role in many aspects of life, both civic and social, on the island. During the summer months locals and tourists enjoy a variety of musical and cultural events.Founded in 1904, the Ithaki Philharmonic Orchestra is the oldest musical group on the island. The band is a private, non-profit entity and its goal is to offer free musical training to the young of the region and provide them with a broader musical education. The philharmonic orchestra performs concerts and participates in a range of educational, municipal, religious and national day events. A black & white photograph of a brass band of men dressed in dark uniforms and flat hats and women wearing dark skirts and white blouses. In the second row are males in civilian suits. The conductor is standing in the front on the extreme right hand side holding a baton.

This is a panoramic view taken from the top of Mt Neion (sometimes referred to as Mt Exoghi) overlooking Afales Bay, Ithaca and looking across to neighbouring island of Lefkada in the Ionian Sea. Many Australians of Ithacan descent visit the island of their forefathers and enjoy the stunning landscape and views which one can resist photographing. A coloured panoramic photograph of a hilltop view of a bay with mountains across the skyline.aphales

Many Ithacans who migrated and settled in Melbourne came from the picturesque village of Kioni which is one of the ports on the island. The windmills shown on the headland are a point of interest for visitors to the islands.A coloured panoramic view overlooking the village and bay of Kioni on the island of Ithaca. Three windmills are visible on a headland across the middle distance.

Kioni a seaside villages on the island of Ithaca. If one takes the road from Vathi, the main town on the island, and heads north, the road comes to an end at this picturesque village. Kioni is a very popular tourist destination and during the summer months many yachts sail into its harbour. Many Ithacans from the village of Kioni migrated to Melbourne. A coloured panoramic view of the harbour at Kioni showing some of the houses and small boats moored close to the water's edge.

Being the closest port to the mainland, historically Frikes was a trade port supplying produce and merchandise to northern Ithaca. Today Frikes is a popular seaside destination during the summer months, particular in the evenings when seaside restaurants fill with locals and tourists. During summer months there is a ferry connection with Lefkada bringing many day trippers to visit the Ithaca. A coloured panoramic view of the port of Frikes on the island of Ithaca. Buildings have been constructed along the narrow coastal strip and boats are moored in the harbour.

In 1953 massive earthquakes occurred on Ithaca causing widespread damage across the island. The disaster left some parts of the island uninhabitable and caused a lot of people to relocate to other villages. It also brought about another diaspora from Ithaca and many of the survivors of the disaster were reunited with family members in Melbourne. This image shows the damage done to Saint John's Church in the village of Kioni on Ithaca.A black and white photograph showing the extent of damage done as a result of a massive earthquake.

The photograph features Anastasios Vlassopoulos (Kioukiouris) with his three daughters-in-law, Ekaterini, Korina and Elena, and three little grandsons. They are from L-R: Ekaterina (nee Paxinos), Korina (nee Raftopoulos), John, Anastasios, baby Aleko held by his grandfather Anastasios, Elena (nee Raftopoulos) and Peter. The photograph was taken in the village of Lahos shortly before Ekaterina and son Peter emigrated to Australia to be reunited with her husband, John. Elena remained in Ithaca, as did Korina whose son Aleko Vlassopoulos migrated to Australia following World War 2. Ithacan migration to Australia before World War 2 was unassisted. Generally it followed a pattern of chain migration with family members following one another. The men arrived first with the intention of either returning or saving enough money to bring their wives and families out when they had become financially established. Most men did not return. Some families were reunited while some wives and children never saw their husbands and fathers again.A black and white photograph of a family group of seven people - an elderly man, three young women, two little boys and and a baby.chain. migration

Ithaca along with other Ionian Islands experienced catastrophic earthquakes in 1953 resulting in widespread devastation across the island. After the damage was assessed many of the island's residents emigrated to join family in Australia, which brought about another wave of Ithacan migration.The damage on Ithaca as a result of the earthquake caused the largest ever wave of immigration from the island which resulted in the most significant decline in the island's population.A black and white photograph showing the damage caused by the earthquake which occurred across the Ionian Islands in 1953. The interior of an entire building along with an exterior wall has collapsed. There is a tent partly visible on the LHS of the photograph and three chairs are scattered around in front of the wrecked building.

The photograph was taken after the massive earthquakes of 1953 which caused widespread destruction across Ithaca and other Ionian Islands. Many of the buildings destroyed in the earthquake could not be rebuilt and some parts of the villages became uninhabitable. This event brought about the largest mass migration from the island and a further wave of Ithacan migration to countries, such as Australia and South Africa, where relatives had already settled. The Ithacan Philanthropic Society established an Earthquake Appeal to assist their compatriots.A black and white photograph showing widespread damage done in the aftermath of an earthquake. Many houses are in ruins and there are two heaps of rubble comprising timber and metal and concrete in the foreground. Two men are walking along a track looking at the destruction in the village.

The print, a reproduction of an etching of the port of Vathi in Ithaca as it would have appeared in the nineteenth century, when the island was a British protectorate. A variety of sea vessels are depicted in the print, including the large sailing ship. The smaller boat could be a caique used for fishing or transporting people and goods between the islands. The soldiers appear to be in the British uniform worn during the 1800s.A reproduction print of a black and white etching of a harbour scene. Four larger sailing ships are in a bay with a smaller craft in the foreground near the shore. At the water's edge there are soldiers and other people looking out to the ships in the harbour. Mountains loom up in the background.

"Town and Harbour Bathi. Ithaca" (Vathi) engraved by J. Tingle from artwork by C.Bentley, was published in The Shores and Islands of The Mediterranean ..., about 1840. A reproduction of a black and white etching of the Ithacan port of Vathi. A fishing boat is being brought in to the port and the crew are preparing to unload the catch. There are some buildings around the harbour's edge and smaller boats are also in the harbour.In Italian: Citta e porto di Bathi (Itaca)

A view of the village of Kioni was taken by Diamanto (Manto) Raftopoulos in 1972. Kioni is a beautiful harbour village on the island of Ithaca. In the summer months it is a popular destination for tourists and for yachts sailing the Ionian.Man Ithacans from the village of Kioni migrated to Australia and settled in Melbourne. A black and white copy of a photograph of the harbour at Kioni taken from Rahi.

The young couple standing outside the stone cottage in Kioni, Ithaca are Yianni Rafopoulos (Bourlotos) and Diamando (Manto) Raftopoulos nee Paizis. The house is typical of the traditional stone cottages built on Ithaca in times past. Although similar cottage are still standing, some of them lovingly restored, there are also many deserted and in disrepair or ruin as a result of migration over generations and inheritance issues. A black and white photograph of a lady and man photographed on a mound of rocks outside a stone cottage which has a tiled roof.

This photograph was taken when Yianni and Diamando (Manto) Raftopoulos were engaged while they were still living in Ithaca. They later emigrated to join other family member in Melbourne where they settled.A black and white photograph of a man and lady standing in front of a stone wall.

Photographed are Diamando and Yianni Raftopoulos (Bourlotos) and Diamando's sister, Maria Paizis. They are pictured in the village of Kioni in Ithaca.A black and white photograph of two ladies and a man standing under an olive tree.

Members of the Raftopoulos (Bourlotos) family are pictured in a rowing boat on the bay in Kioni Ithaca. Yianni Raftopoulos is rowing and seated closest to him is his wife Diamando (Manto). Seated at the front of the boat is Panoyiannis Raftopoulos. This photo would have been before Panoyiannis migrated to Australia in 1937. Peter was elected Secretary of the IPS only about a year after he came to Melbourne. A black and white photograph of two men and ladies seated towards the stern of a rowing boat near a small port in Ithaca. There are some houses along the shore line. The group are well dressed which seems to indicate that they may have been heading to a celebratory event.

The photograph taken on one of the many mountainous hillsides on Ithaca. Second from the right is Antigone Raftopoulos dressed in dark clothes, together with her son Yianni, and her two nieces Hariklia Raftopoulos and Kalypso Sofianos (nee Raftopoulos). All are from the village of Kioni. A black and white photograph of a man and three ladies standing on a rocky hillside.

Taken in Kioni, Ithaca, the photograph features members of the Raftopoulos ( Bourlotos) family. The two men at the back are Panoyianni Raftopoulos and his brother Vasilios. The older man seated in front of them is Dionysus Raftopoulos. The younger lady is Andriana who was engaged to Gerasimos (Gerry) Raftopoulos.A black and white photograph of four men and two ladies seated in a lounge room. There are two framed pictures on the wall behind them.

Kioni is a small fishing village on Ithaca where caïque boats were used by fishermen and were once an important form of transport for goods and for people prior. The people in the photograph appear to be lined up along the water's edge awaiting a boat to arrive.A caïque (or kaiki) is a traditional handmade wooden fishing boat found among the waters of the Ionian or Aegean Sea and were once the main form of transport for the many Greek islands, moving people and goods across Greece's archipelago. In the 1980s and 1990s many were destroyed as a result of a European Union decision to subsidize fishermen to scrap their boats to tackle overfishing. Hundreds of beautiful and perfectly sound vessels ended up in landfills resulting in the loss of an integral part of Greece's long seafaring tradition and heritage. Sadly Cyclone Ianos which struck the island in September 2020 destroyed many of the remaining caiques on the island.A sepia photograph, which has a partial white border. The image has been affected by light across the bottom LH corner. The visible section shows a group of people lined up along the side of a wharf like structure. There are four two storey houses in the middle distance with a hillside in the background.