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

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

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 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 five men are members of the Greek Returned Soldiers. They are from L-R: J. Panagiotopoulos, D. Elefantis, P. Christou and Spiro E. Raftopoulos (Levendis). Spiros Raftopoulos who was president of the organisation from 1944 - 1968.A sepia photograph of five men, who are all dressed in suits and wearing hats. They are standing on a bridge.

Spiros E. Raftopoulos (Levendis)is seated third from the right at this family gathering. His brother-in-law Demetrios Vlassopoulos (Kopela) is seated first on the left. The photograph may have been taken in Mildura where the Raftopoulos and Vlassopoulos families had businesses.A black and white photograph mounted on cardboard of six men and three ladies at a social gathering seated around a table with food set out in front of them and drinks on the table as well as what looks like a photograph of a woman.

The photograph was taken at a gathering at the premises of the Greek Returned Soldiers at 142 Russell Street in Melbourne some time in the early 1950s. Spiro Raftopoulos (Levendi), president of the organisation, is seated on the left at the head of the table; his son Stathi Raftopoulos is seated on the right, sixth down. The solicitor, Mr. Zilores, is sitting next to Spiros.A black and white photograph of a group of men sitting around a long table in a meeting room which has been set out for refreshments. A photograph of a man is hanging on the back wall and an honour board is on the RHS.Stamped in black on the back: 192

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

The photograph features members of the Vlassopoulos (Vlass) family (Kopela) many of whom settled in the Mildura area. It was following the wedding day of Peter (Pano) Vlass and Joyce Mason. Pictured from L-R: Costa Vlass, Ida Mason (Joyce's sister), Peter (Pano) Vlass, Joyce Mason, Stathy Vlass, Bill (Vasilis) Florence (Floria) and Angelos (Agathangelos) Vrettos. Front from L-R: George Mason, Joyce's father; and Demetrios Vlassopoulos, father of Costa, Pano and Stathy. The photo was taken in Red Cliffs in the backyard of the Golden Key Cafe which was opened by Demetrios Vlassopoulos together with his brother-in-law Spiros Raftopoulos (Levendis). Demetrios Vlassopoulos (Kopela) arrived in Australia circa 1922-23 and settled in Red Cliffs where his brothers-in-law, John and Efthimios Raftopoulos, (Fiakas) had established themselves in a range of business enterprises in Mildura district. Demetrios' three sons, Stathy, Pano and Costa migrated to Australia during the 1930s. His wife, Eugenia (nee Raftopoulos) did not arrive in Australia till 1950 accompanied by her son Nikos. Like many women, Eugenia was left to raise her children whilst her husband migrated for work and to support the family back home. They had been separated for almost 30 years.A print of a photograph of a family group of six men and two ladies. The group are standing and seated in front of a house which has a water tank in the background.kopella

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

Stathi Raftopoulos and his son Spiros are pictured outside shops in Merbein which were once owned by Stathi's family. The Merbein shops were owned by Efstathios Raftopoulos (Levendi) and his son Spiros Raftopoulos, grandfather and father of Stathi Raftopoulos. The family were from the village of Kolieri on the Island of Ithaca, Greece and migrated for Australia at different stages. Efstathios arrivied in 1895, son Spiros in 1922, and the younger Stathi (accompanied by his father Spiro who had returned to Ithaca to see his family) in 1933. Stathis' mother Hariklia and siblings Nakis and Loula arrived soon after. The family settled in Merbein, west of Mildura, where they ran a business until the late 1930s prior to settling in Melbourne.A coloured photograph of the exterior of a corner shop. Written on the back of the photograph: MY FATHER'S SHOPS/ IN MERBEIN VIC/ 15.4.93/ STATHI & SPIRO RAFTOPOULOSraftopoulos stathi levendi, merbein

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.