The Town Hall Cafe was opened by A.J. Lucas in 1894 in Swanston Street on the Capitol Theatre site. Lucas later opened the exclusive Paris Cafe on Collins Street (1904) and the famous Cafe Australia (1916) which was designed by Walter Burleigh Griffin. He became a highly successful businessman and was the founding president of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. A.J. Lucas who was born in the village of Exoghi migrated to Australia from Ithaca in 1886.In 1920 Lucas formed a joint venture to redevelop the site of the Town Hall Cafe into Capitol House and Capitol Theatre. Lucas once again commissioned Walter Burley Griffin and wife Marion Mahony Griffin as architects for the project. The Chicago-Gothic-style theatre is considered their greatest interior design work. The Capitol was the first extravagant ‘picture palace’ to be built in Victoria. It originally seated over 2137 people. Renowned Australian architect Robyn Boyd described The Capitol as "The best cinema that was ever built or ever likely to be built.” Information about the refurbished Capitol http://thecapitol.tv/about/A sepia photograph of the exterior of a three storey Victorian style building including veranda. It was a cafe owned by A.J. Lucas. The words 'Lucas Town Hall Cafe' are formed in raised lettering across the top storey of the building. Two cars are parked in front of the building. town hall cafe, cafes, a.j. lucas, capitol theatre

This is a photograph of early members of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. Back from L-R: Andreas Zavitsanos, Nikiforos Lekatsas Front from L-R: Dimitri Paxinos, Panagiotis Lekatsas. A.J. Lucas, Panayiotis Lokaris The Society was formed in October 1916 to support and assist Ithacan Greeks, at the time mainly men, who settled in Melbourne in the early years of the twentieth century. The Ithacan Philanthropic Society was a home away from home for the early Ithacan migrants who in the early years were predominantly men. As many worked in the city area in cafes, the market or as fruit vendors they would regularly go to the club rooms at lunch times and after work where they would catch up with fellow Ithacans and learn news from back home. A black and white photograph of six men photographed in front of a brick wall. Two of the men are standing behind the other four who are seated on a wooden bench.Stamped on the back: PROPERTY OF / STATHI RAFTOPOULOS / POET

Large Black & white photograph in glass fronted wooden frame mountd on buff coloured boardRingwood Technical School Inaugural School Council 1959. H.W. Hopkins, L.D. White, A.H. McPherson, P.D. Jarman, F.R. Lucas, Major General L.E. Beavis, G.M. Veitch, A.J. Aird.

Black and white photograph"Written on front of photograph" Back Row: T.R.G. Williams, C.V. Ward, F.R. Lucas, F. Clota, A.J. Dwight, H.A. Aldag, R.G. Wilkins. Front Row: O.J. Pratt, W.W. Cook, A. Blood, A.M. Ibbotson, H. Pump, N.H. Cooper. Presented by A. Blood Esq. Opening Day 10/10/31 as a Memento of the Inaugural Committee.

Black and white photograph (3 copies- 2 in photograph studio embossed presentation folder)Ringwood Borough Council. Councillors, officers and architect and builder of Town Hall. Left to right - Front Row. A.F.B. Long, Cr. A.T. Miles, J.B. McAlpin. Second Row. J. K. McCaskill, R.G., Wilkins, F.R. Lucas, Eng. Third row. M. J. Jenkins (rate collector), A.C. Leith, architect, A.J. Roberts (builder), Mr. Taylor, Health Inspector. Taken on steps of new town hall, August 1927".