Stathi Raftopoulos is pictured with a group of friends his home cinema which was located in the basement of his home in North Balwyn. The basement area also contained film and cinema memorabilia collected by Stathi over the decades. The seating is from an old cinema. Pictured is Stathi Raftopoulos (standing) and seated to the right is Michael Black and Paul Connell. Others are unidentified.Stathis Raftopoulos was a pioneer in promoting and screening Greek movies in Melbourne.Black & White photograph ( enlarged) with white border, slightly faded of group of 10 men in two rows at Stathis Raftopoulos's house in his basement theater in Nortth Balwyn.

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

This nightshirt was made by Vasiliki Raftopoulos for her husband Panayioti around 1890. Both natives of Ithaca, the couple and their children were living in the village of Brila in Romania at the time. They emigrated to Australia around 1920, following their daughter Toula, who had settled in Melbourne with her husband Constantine Mavrokefalos in 1914. Toula and Constantine's daughter, Olga Black, is a longtime Brighton resident. BHS holds a collection of garments and textiles made by the women of Olga's family, spanning four generations.Men's white cotton nightshirt with red and black cross stitch embroidery. Fastened with red tassels (one missing).vasiliki raftopoulos, panayioti raftopoulos, olga black, migration, embroidery

Back row L-R: John Raftopoulos (Patakia), Anastasia Raftopoulos (nee Karantgis) and Theodora Raftopoulos, Peter Karantgis, Michael Raftopoulos. Front row L-R: Dennis Raftopoulos, John Karantgis and Ekaterini Karantgis.A black ands white studio photograph of a family group of three men, two ladies, an older and little boy and a girl. The older couple and little boy are seated in front of the rest of the family members. A draped curtain is behind the group.family photograph

The wedding of Nicholas Kavadeas and Marigo Raftopoulos at Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church, East Melbourne in 1934. Wedding party pictured from left Andrew Moraites, Stathi Kavadeas, Tom Gabriel, the bride and groom Nicholas Spiro Kavadeas and Marigo (Maria) Raftopoulos Kavadeas, John Michael Raftopoulos, Gerasimos John Raftopoulos, Peter John Raftopoulos, front left Barbara Moraites Kavadeas, William (Billy) Black (Koutsouvelis), Aspasia Paxinos, Nina Black.Black and white studio portrait seven gentlemen including groom in tuxedos all with boutonnieres, bride in wedding dress and veil with wedding bouquet, one lady in evening attire, one bridesmaid with bouquet, flower girl with posy and one page boy

Nakis (Nick) Raftopoulos is the man photographed standing beside his car in a street in Abbotsford. He is the brother of Stathi Raftopoulos.A black and white photograph of a man standing next to a car in a suburban street.raftopoulos, nakis.

The young girl whose name is Helen Raftopoulos, daughter of a Theofani, was bridesmaid at the wedding of Dimitri and Kalypso (nee Raftopoulos) Sofianos.A small scanned black and white photograph of a bridesmaid. She is dressed in a long frock and carrying a large bunch of flowers with a ribbon trim. She has a small band of flowers in her long curly hair.Bridesmaid to Kalypso and Dimitri Sofianos Eleni (Theofani's daughter) HELEN ?

Pictured are Anastasios Papadopoulos, Spiro Paizis, the groom Peter Raftopoulos (Kapnisis) and bride Yiannoula Raftopoulos (Pelicanou), unknown and Rita Paizis (Varigos).A sepia studio photograph of a wedding group of the bride and groom, two other men and a flower girl and page boy. The group are standing in front of a large curtain.

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 bridal couple in the photograph are Arthur Koutsouvelis and Aspasia Raftopoulos on their weeding day in Melbourne in February 1954. Aspasia was the daughter of George and Ioulia Raftopoulos (nee Sicotis). A black and white studio photograph of a bride and groom.

Angelica Raftopoulos at an Ithacan Ball.A photograph of a young lady in evening attire sitting on a settee in the foyer of a reception centre.

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

Arthur Koutsouvelis and Aspasia Raftopoulos are the couple in the photograph which was taken. Arthur arrived in Australia from Ithaca in 1952. He and Aspasia were married in February 1954. Aspasia was the younger daughter of George and Ioulia Raftopoulos. Marriage between Ithacans was encouraged by parents, however many many second generation Ithacans married Greeks from other parts of Greece - Ithacans in the day considered that this was marrying a 'xeno', (a foreigner). Some also married non Greeks, although at the time this was the exception. Today, like the rest of Australia, Melbourne's Ithacan community has become diverse. A black and white head and shoulders photograph of a well-dressed lady and man photographed in a shopping strip in a city street.

The two ladies are Poppy Vasilopoulos and Adriana Raftopoulos.A black and white scanned photograph of two ladies standing in front of a wooden building.

A family photo of Stathi and Kassiani Raftopoulos with daughters Leah and Rena and granddaughters. Pictured seated Kassiani and Stathi Raftopoulos. Standing left to right: Casey Koutsounis, Rena Varigos, Leah Koutsounis, Cassandra Varigos, Kathy Koutsounis, Margarita VarigosA coloured family photograph at a restaurant. The couple is seated and the younger females are standing behind them. families, daughterts, granddaughters

Hariklia Raftopoulos (nee Moraitis) pictured with her sons, Stathi to the left, and Nakis (Nick) to the right. Her husband Spiros Raftopoulos was in Australia at the time the photo was taken. He returned to Ithaca and by 1934 the family eventually all migrated to Australia and settled in Melbourne.A scanned black and white photograph of a mother with her two sons. The mother is sitting on a chair and the boys are standing on either side of her.immigration

The older lady in the photograph is Ioulia Raftopoulos nee Sicotis. She was born in Ithaca on 26 October1896 and migrated to Australia from South Africa in 1925. Her husband was George Raftopoulos and they had two daughters, Effie and Aspasia. Ioulia died in March 1990. Ioulia and her husband were amongst the early Ithacans who settled in Melbourne during the early decades of the twentieth century.A coloured photograph of an older lady standing in a suburban street with a younger woman and two young boys.

Pictured at a formal function are left, Gregory Koutsouvelis and George Raftopoulos (Patakias).A black and white photograph in post card format of two men dressed in dinner suits at a social function.

The lady in the photograph is Vassiliki Raftopoulos, Nina and Olga Black's maternal grandmother. A photograph of a sepia photograph of a lady dressed in a long dark outfit. Half of the original photograph has been torn off.

Eleni Raftopoulos is sitting on the terrace of house in Ithaca together with a young female.A scanned photograph of two ladies sitting in a garden

This nightgown was made by Vasiliki Raftopoulos around 1900 for her daughter Toula's trousseau. Born in Ithaca, Toula's family migrated to Romania when she was only a baby. In 1914, Toula emigrated to Australia with her husband Constantine Mavrokefalos, where their daughter Olga Black was born in 1930. Olga is a longtime Brighton resident. BHS holds a collection of garments and textiles made by the women of Olga's family, spanning four generations. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Women's white cotton nightgown, long with three quarter sleeves. Cotton lace on front and sleeves. Front fastening buttons. Pintucked with eyelets around neck.nightgown, toula black, toula mavrokefalos, vasiliki raftopoulos, olga black, 1900s, trousseau

Pictured are first cousins Yianni Raftopoulos (Bourlotos) and Kalypso (nee Raftopoulos) Sofianos in Kioni, the village in Ithaca from where they were from. The photo was taken before Kalypso migrated to Australia in 1936 where she married Dimitrios Sofianos in Melbourne on 14 February 1937. A sepia photograph of lady and man standing next to a stone house with a partial view of the surrounding countryside behind them.

Pictured are Anastasia (Tasia) nee Karantgis and John Raftopoulos (Patakias) attending the Grecian Ball.A black and white photograph of a lady and man dressed in evening attire.

Arthur and Aspasia (Sia) Koutsouvelis and Aspasia's mother, Ioulia Raftopoulos along with Helen and Andrew Yiannis, Arthur's sister and brother-in-law pictured outside the Evangelismos Orthodox Church in East Melbourne in 1956. Ioulia Raftopoulos nee Sicotis arrived in Australia from South Africa in 1926. She married George Raftopoulos, who migrated to Australia in 1908 from Frikes and was a founding member of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. He and his brother Arthur worked in the Spot Cafe in the 1940s and 1950s. George and Ioulia had two daughters, Effie and Aspasia (Sia). Family celebrations were a very important part of Ithacan social life especially weddings and baptisms. A black and white photograph of three smartly ladies and two men standing outside a brick building. They are all wearing overcoats.

Helen Vlass and Kassiana Raftopoulos are at an Ithacan function at a Greek tavern. In the background are Leo and Jeanette Kostos.A coloured photograph featuring two women seated at a restaurant table. A waiter is standing on the LHS of the photograph. In the background there is a couple.social events, taverns

Photographed are Effie Cominos and husband Spiro Cominos together with Effie's mother, Ioulia Raftopoulos (nee Sikiotis). A coloured photograph of two ladies and a man standing in the corner of a back yard.sicotis

Nikolaos Sikiotis (Zavedeos) is photographed with his sister, Orianthe Raftopoulos, and her children, Peter and Chrissy (Jackson).A sepia studio photogfraph mounted on a board of a man dressed in a suit and wearing a buttonhole, a young woman, a boy seated and dressed in a sailor's suit and a little girl who is holding a small handbag.family photograph, nicholas

Anastasia (Tasia) and John Raftopoulos (Patakias) are spictured outside the Evangelismos Church East Melbourne with their children Theodora and Dennis.A black and white photograph of a lady and man with a little girl and boy standing outside a church.

Photo of Stathi and Kassiani Raftopoulos dining on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant which was a much loved tourist attraction in Melbourne.The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant which commenced in 1981 is a restaurant operating from a converted fleet of three vintage W class trams in Melbourne, Australia. As of October 2018, the restaurant's operations were suspended indefinitely due to a dispute between the restaurant operator and Yarra Trams, the tram operator.A coloured photograph of a couple enjoying a meal on Melbourne's tram restaurant. Written on the back: ON THE RESTAURANT TRAM/ IN MELBOURNE 1995/TO THE FAMILY OF MRS. DOLLY VASILtrams, restaurants

The couple in the photograph are Nick Sikiotis and Ioulia Raftopoulos. They are attending a ceremony/service at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne.A black and white photograph of a well-dressed man and lady preparing to enter a church for a function through a gate. A little boy in a sailor's suit is standing at the gate and there are people in the background.