The Spot Cafe was in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne and owned by Athanasios Raftopoulos, Michalis Mavrokefalos and Anastasios Flocas. It was one of the many cafes owned and run by Ithacans in Melbourne's CBD in the 1930s and 1940s. Arthur Raftopoulos and Hector Andrews are standing 2nd and 3rd left in the photograph. Many Ithacans established businesses throughout the CBD and inner suburbs. These establishments also provided employment for other family members and friends as during the first half of the twentieth century migrants from Southern Europe were often unable to find employment in the wider Australian community.A black and white photograph mounted on grey board with a darker grey border of the interior of a restaurant. Tables set out with white tablecloths are in the foreground with four men standing behind them and a man and two ladies are standing in curtained cubicles in the background.ithacan businesses.

The Spot Cafe at 281 Elizabeth Street was established in 1912 and was owned by Athanasios Raftopoulos, Michalis Mavrokefalos ands Anastasios Flocas. The waiter standing second from the left is Hector Andrews. It was one of the many cafes owned and operated by Ithacans in the Melbourne CBD during the first half of the twentieth century.A black and white photograph mounted on grey board with a darker grey border.Three men and a lady, who are employees, are standing outside a cafe. Two of the men are waiters, the lady is in a white uniform and the other man is wearing a white apron over his trousers and shirt.restaurants, ithacan businesses

A sepia photograph mounted on a board of the interior of a restaurant. The tables are all laid in preparation to serve customers. There are three waitresses, the cook and the hostess standing in the restaurant. restaurants, ithacan businesses

Some Ithacans who settled in Melbourne became retail fruit vendors in the local markets in Melbourne such as the Queen Victoria Market or the South Melbourne, Prahan or Camberwell Markets.A sepia photograph of a lady standing behind a well stocked fruit stall in a market.fruit stalls, ithacan businesses

One of the men pictured outside the South Yarra Fruit Palace is Nick Sikiotis. Located at 600 Chapel Street in South Yarra, Sikiotis established the business in 1922. He also established a shop at 345 Toorak Road, on the corner of Rockley Road which was leased to a florist. His business was one of many owned and operated by Ithacans in both the Melbourne CBD and surrounding suburbs during the first decade of the twentieth century. Nick Sikiotis arrived in Melbourne from Greece in the early 1920s. A black and white photograph of two men standing in the doorway of a fruit shop. ithacan businesses

Anthi Chilianis is standing outside the fruit shop 'South Melbourne Fruit Palace' which her husband, George along with Panayioti (Peter) and Theofilos Kouvalias opened at 288 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne in the 1930s. The photograph was taken in 1994 and surprisingly the shop's signage and façade had not changed. A coloured photograph of lady standing outside a fruit shop which has fruit and flowers attractively displayed across the front. The name of the business is painted on a large board across the wide entrance to the shop. ithacan businesses, fruit shops

Anthi Chilianis is standing to the right of the building, located in Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, which her family occupied and operated as a fruit shop from 1935 to 1945. When the photograph was taken in 1994 the building functioned as a Commonwealth Bank. The verandah across the front is an original structure. There was an upstairs residence where the Chilianis family lived from 1939 to 1945. It was the ninth house that Anthi had lived in since she arrived in Melbourne. A coloured photograph of a cream building occupied by the Commonwealth Bank in a shopping centre with a lady standing on the extreme right.ithacan businesses

The Chevrolet truck belonged to John Black who had a fruit stall in the Camberwell Market. As well as a number of Ithacans running food vending businesses in the CBD, others had retail businesses ion the surrounding suburbs and markets such as Camberwell and South Melbourne. A non-digital scanned black and white photograph of five children sitting on the back of a Chevrolet truck and with another in the cabin.ithacan businesses, john black, camberwell market

The gentleman in the photograph is John Black, who with his brother Andrew arrived in Australia from the Greek island of Ithaca some time between 1927 - 28. On arriving in Australia, John was a fruit stall holder at the Camberwell Market.Many Ithacan who arrived in Australia during the first half of the twentieth century established their own food retail businesses in Melbourne's markets, Melbourn's CBD or surrounding suburbs. A black and white non-digital photograph of a head and shoulders photograph of a smartly dressed man preparing to toast someone at a function.john black, fruit vendor, fruit stalls, camberwell market, ithacan businesses

The man in the photograph is Andrew Black, who with his brother John, arrived in Australia from the Greek island of Ithaca during the late 1920s and establishing shoe repair business in a shop in Swanston Street, Carlton.As well as establishing food retail businesses in and around Melbourne, there were also some Ithacan who were very good shoe makers, who also ran their businesses in and around the city. A non-digital black and white scanned photograph of a head and shoulders image of a smartly dressed man who is wearing Stetson Hat.alexandra black, shoe repairs, swanston street, carlton, ithacan businesses

The two men are Steve Black and his father John at the family fruit stall in Camberwell Market. John Black established his business in the Camberwell Market after he arrived in Melbourne from the Greek island of Ithaca in the 1920s.Ithacan Greeks established businesses in the food retail area in the Melbourne CBD and surrounding suburbs in the first half of the twentieth century.A non-digital scanned black and white photograph of two men standing behind a fruit stall.steve black, john black, camberwell market, fruit stalls, ithacan businesses

The fruit shop photographed was owned and run by Spiros Kallinikos and was one of the many similar businesses that Ithacans, who had settled in Melbourne during the first half of the twentieth century, operated within the CBD and surrounding suburbs. Pictured us Spiro's wife Evrilikia holding her daughter Calliope together with her Spiro's sister Chrisoula Sikiotis (nee Kallinikos). A black and white photograph of two ladies standing in the doorway of a suburban fruit shop. One of the ladies is holding a little child. The display window is attractively stocked with a variety of fruit and vegetables. There are also cauliflowers stacked on the right side of the doorway, and fruit in boxes on the left.

Pictured is Stathi Raftopoulos at Raft's Cafe which was located at 301 Swanston Street, Melbourne and was typical of many such businesses owned and operated by Greek migrants from Ithaca who had arrived in Australia before World War II. Stathi's family owned a business in Merbein in north-west Victoria before moving to Melbourne. Stathi eventually went into partnership and established the Cosmopolitan Picture Company which brought Greek films to Melbourne's Greek community during the 1960s through to the early 1980s. Ithacan Greeks who arrived in Australia during the first half of the twentieth century honed their entrepreneurial skills and found employment opportunities in various areas of the food service industry. Before the end of the Second World War many of the eating places in Melbourne, which included fish and grill rooms, tea rooms and milk bars, were owned by Ithacan Greeks. A black and white photograph with a white surround. A young man is standing behind a counter in a milk bar. There is a poster advertising a Greek film as well as crates of coca cola stacked in the background. The counter is finished in wood veneer. Boxes of assorted lollies are on the shelves behind. On the counter there is a container of straws .

The Merbein shops were originally owned by Spiros Raftopoulos (Levendi) who migrated from Kolieri, Ithaca, Greece. The family conducted a business in Merbein during the 1930s before relocating to Melbourne.Some Greeks who migrated to Australia during the first half of the twentieth century settled in larger country towns throughout regional Victoria.A coloured photograph of the exterior view of a group of single storey shops with a verandah across the front of the buildings. The words 'Beauty Salon' and 'The Family Shoe Store' are written across the top of the verandah awnings. A white sedan is angle-parked outside one of the shops.

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.

Demonsthenes (Bavias) and the young Dimitris Florias were examples of the numerous families from Ithaca Greece that migrated to South Africa in the latter years of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Many settled in Johannesburg. Like their compatriots who migrated to Australia many became successful business people in their adopted country. UnknownA sepia photograph on a cream board of an elderly well-dressed man wearing a suit and seated on a wooden seat with a young boy wearing a knickerbocker suit standing next to him. They are both wearing floral buttonholes in their lapels. The elderly man has a groomed moustache and goatee beard and is holding a pen in his right hand.Embossed on the cream board: J.A.SIMPSON/THE ARCADE. J'BURG. The Ithacan Historical Society stamp is on the back of the board. The names of the two people are on a typed label which has been pasted under the photograph. Written on the back: ER 7.ithacan diaspora

The 'Alexandra Bros' London Café at 25 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne (close to Flinders Street Station) was owned by brothers John and George Alexandratos (Alexander) who migrated to Australia from the village of Frikes in Ithaca, Greece in the early years of the twentieth century. As well as selling fruit and confectionery, afternoon teas were served and wedding parties were catered for. The London Café became one of Melbourne's fashionable cafes at the time. George and John Alexandratos were founding members of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society which was formed in October 1916.Many Greeks who migrated from Ithaca during the first half of the twentieth century and settled in Melbourne opened cafes in the city. Many of these cafes employed fellow Ithacans upon their arrival in Melbourne.A non-digital black and white photograph of the interior of the London Cafe at 25 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. Written on the photograph: Interior of/ Alexandra Bros/ London Cafe/ 25 Elizabeth St. Melbourne Fruit, confectionery, afternoon tea /Wedding parties a speciality/Attention and civility assured.london cafe, alexandros bros, cafes, businesses

The seafood and oyster business was owned by a C. Raftopulos, possibly located in NSW. Many Greeks who migrated to Australia from Ithaca during the first half of the twentieth century either established or worked in family owned businesses mostly involved with the food industry, including oyster bars and fish shops. A faded sepia photograph mounted on cardboard. Four men are standing outside the shop, a seafood and oyster business. The signage suggests the oysters were supplied by the New South Wales Oyster Company. The number 195 is above the door. raftopoulos, nsw oyster company

The Russell Collins Restaurant was located in the basement of the T&G Building on the south west corner of the Collins and Russell Streets intersection. It was a popular 'up-market' restaurant from the 1940s until the early 1970s when the T&G building underwent alterations. The restaurant, like its counterpart Elizabeth Collins, was renowned for its large platters of delicious salads. Nick (Naki) Raftopoulos operated the Russell Collins during the early 70s up until its closure.A black and white photograph of the interior of an Art Deco style restaurant fitted out around the walls with wooden 'shoulder high' cubicles which seated four people. Tables and chairs with various settings are arranged in the open areas of the restaurant. The floor is a wooden herringbone parquetry with a carpet on the floor in the reception area. Handwritten across the bottom of the photo: RUSSELL COLLINS RESTAURANT NICK RAFTOPOULOS.art deco, russell collins restaurant, restuarants

The picture is of Angelos Lekatsas (Lucas), his wife and three sons. Angelos was the second president of the Society between 1924.-1926. He was also president of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria for three terms, from 1930-32, 1934-40 and 1949-52. Angelos arrived in Australia around the turn of century shortly after his brothers, Ioannis and Andreas. They owned the Lucas Cafe under the clocks of Flinders Street Station and the business remained in the family till the 1960s. A black and white photograph of a family outdoors. The three boys are sitting on a fallen tree trunk and the parents are standing behind them.

From the outset the Ithacan Philanthropic held at least one family picnic a year. They either took place at a popular seaside locations or at popular picnic sites in the nearby hills around Melbourne. The first annual picnic was held in 1918. The Ithacan Greeks worked long hours in family food and restaurant businesses in Melbourne. On Sundays the shops were closed so it was seen as an opportunity to relax outdoors away from the city. The Ithacan Philanthropic Society continues this tradition holding an annual picnic in late summer.A black and white panoramic photograph of a large picnic group of men, women and children standing in an open area with trees around the perimeter. Eight children are sitting on the ground in front of the adults and a group of ladies are sitting on a bench to the left of the group. Some of the party are holding long walking sticks which must have been used when they went on a hike or walk.families, picnics, leisure time.

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

Photographed are Dionysios (Denis) S. Lekatsas (Lucas) and his wife Ekaterini (nee Paxinos). Dionysios owned D.S. Lucas Wholesale at the Victoria Market. In 1938 Dionysios and Ekaterini opened the Lucas Cafe in Elizabeth Street which was open 24/7 and, like many of the city cafes during the war years, was a booming business.A black and white photograph of a smartly dressed man and woman standing in front of a vintage car. Another car is barely visible in the background. The photograph was taken in a large garden. A large cypress tree is on the LHS of the picture and other trees are in the background. It is a Kodak print with the number 31 stamped on the back in blue. A type label with the words 'MR & MRS KATERINI LEKATSA 1936' on it has been stuck across the bottom of the photograph.katerini

Pictured is Efthimios Raftopoulos and his nephew Stathis Raftopoulos. The Raftopoulos (Levendi) family commenced migration in the late 1890s. Members of the family initially settled in Mildura and Merbein where they operated various business enterprises. Some family members later came to Melbourne. The photograph was taken shortly after Stathi's arrival in Australia in 1934. His Uncle Efthimio arrived in Australia in the early 1900s. A sepia studio photograph of man seated and a young boy standing next to him. Both are wearing suits. A larger scanned copy of this photograph is in the duplicate folder. efthimios raftopoulos, stathis raftopoulos, levendi

This is a family photograph of Spiros Raftopoulos (Levendi), his wife Hariklia and sons Stathi and Naki, and daughter, Apostolo (Loula). The photograph was taken about circa 1937, four years after the family arrived in Australia (1934) and settled in Merbein . Spiro had been to Australia earlier in 1922; his brothers John and Efthimio Raftopoulos (Fiakas) were were well established with businesses in Mildura and surrounding towns.A laminated copy of a family group studio photograph. Three men are standing behind a lady who is seated in front with a little girl.family photograph, mildura, greek businesses

Many Ithacan Greeks who migrated to Australia prior to World War 2 worked with family members or friends in food vending industries such as fish shops, fruit shops and cafes. Many of these businesses were located in the Melbourne CBD or in the surrounding inner suburbs. A sepia photograph mounted on brown board of 2 men standing outside a fish shop in a strip shopping centre. The men are wearing aprons over their work clothes.south melbourne, peter drakopoulos.

Brothers Stathi and Naki Raftopoulos arrived in Australia as young boys in 1934. They first settled in Merbein but eventually moved permanently to Melbourne. Both were involved in various businesses with Stathi eventually involved in Greek cinemas and Naki in the food and hospitality industry.A coloured photograph of a man sitting at his desk talking to another man. Bookshelves are stacked with books behind the two men.brothers, cinemas

On the right is Stathi Raftopoulos and his business partner Pangiotis (Peter) Giannoudis. The photograph, taken in Sydney in 1972, at a meeting of men involved in the Greek theatre/film industry. One of the men is a Mr. Heliopolis, a member of the Greek Heliopolis Theatre visiting Australia. Stathi Raftopoulos was active in promoting Greek film and live performances in Australia from the 1950s through to the 1970s. As a result of the efforts of Stathi Raftopoulos to bring Greek theatre and films to Australia many of the post WW2 Greek immigrants who settled in Australia were able to enjoy entertainment from Greece. Stathi was a partner in the Cosmopolitan Film company which had a number cinemas in the inner suburbs of Melbourne in the 19600s - early 1980s. Although they screened almost exclusively Greek films, they were the first to bring Indian films to Australia.A black and white photograph of seven men sitting around a table in a cafe.

In the photograph a young Nakis Raftopoulos is arranging the fruit display in his father's (Spiro Raftopoulos) shop which was at 250 Johnson Street in Abbotsford. Many Ithacan Greeks who settled in Melbourne opened businesses as it was difficult for non-British immigrants to secure employment in the early years when Ithacans first started arrive. The business were mostly associated with food vending, either cafes, restaurants, oyster bars and sea food shops, or fruit shops, stalls or barrows. They ventured into the food vending business because it was an area the had skills in. Also some of these business didn't require enormous initial capital outlay and provided a springboard for entrepreneurial Ithacans to progress to larger scale businesses. The ownership of businesses by Ithacans assisted the development of chain migration with Ithacan business owners providing employment to relatives who wished to emigrate to Melbourne. A black and white photograph of a young man in a fruit shop. he is arranging apples in a display behind a counter. The photograph has been reproduced and is mounted on board.

The photo is taken of a group of Ithacans, most of whom are related and from the village of Kioni, at an annual Ithacan picnic. Standing l-r: Spiros Papadopoulos (Skiomenos), Calypso Sofianos, Katerini ? (Palaitou), sisters-in-law Thalia, Florence and Dimitra Paapdopoulos, Marika Paizis, Nelly, Ruby Paizis, Spiros Danias (Korokis). Seated l-r: Gerasimos Papadopoulos (Tsinis), Jim Sofianos, John (Yiannis) Papadopoulos (Soufi), Yiannis Raftopoulos (Tsagaris), Alkinoos Paizis (Kaleris), Gerasimos Koutsouvelis, unknown. Children l-r: Nick Papas, Irini Pappas, Tasia Paizis (Alpitsis), Kaleris Paizis.The annual picnic was an important event on the Ithacan Philanthropic Society's calendar as it provided an opportunity for families and friends to get together in a relaxed environment away from work and businesses. A mounted black & white photo of a picnic group. There are 8 ladies, 9 men and 4 children.They are sitting and standing in front of some trees.Written on the back in Greek: Present from Alkinoos Paizis 1936