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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pictured are brothers, on the left, Yiannis (Soufis) and on the right Anastasios (Stravolemis) Papadopoulos. Unknown man in centre. Anastasios migrated to Western Australia from Ithaca in 1912 and Yiannis (John) followed in 1913. They found work in Kalgoorlie where they experienced the race riots of 1916. In that same year they left W.A. and hitchhiked across the Nullarbor travelling by camel train, van and on foot to reach Melbourne where they both settled. John operated a fruit business in South Melbourne; Anastasios a fish and chips shop in Chapel Street South Yarra.A studio sepia photograph of an old torn photograph of two young men with an older man.pappas

Andrew Black ran his successful shoe repair business in a shop in Swanston Street, Carlton situated just around the corner from Queensberry Street. The terrace of shops are no longer there but the hotel which stood on the corner of Swanston and Queensberry Streets is still there.Andrew Black's shoe repair business was one of many businesses that Ithacan successfully operated in the Melbourne CBD during the first half of the twentieth century.A non-digital scanned sepia photograph of a terrace of three double storey inner city shops. The businesses are from L-R: Newsagency, Shoe Repair and Hairdresser and Tobacconist. shoe repairs, greek businesses, swanston street, andrew black

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