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.

In the 1930s Stathi Raftopoulos' family settled in Merbein where he is pictured on his horse together with his young sister Loula. A scanned black and white photograph of a young boy on a horse holding a little child.stathi raftopoulos, loula raftopoulos

Among his collection of film and historical memorabilia housed in the 'katoi' (basement) of his North Balwyn home, Stathi Raftopoulos had a reproduction copy of the painting of 'Chloe'. A black and white photograph of man holding a beer bottle in one hand and a beer mug in the other while toasting the portrait of 'Chloe' of Young and Jacksons fame. The following dedication in French is on the base of the frame: IL VISITE SOUVENT VOS PLAISIBLE RIVAGES SOUVENT J'ECOUTE ET L'AIR QUI GEMIT DANS VOS BOIS A MON OREILLE OU LOIN VEINT APPORTER SA VOIX.

Stathi Raftopoulos was a promoter and enthusiast of Greek and English cinema and entertained many guests screening films at his home cinema. He was also an avid collector of film memorabilia. A coloured photograph of a man standing behind a film projector in his home cinema. Posters are on the wall in the background.Written on the back: 520/28Afilm projectors

Stathi Raftopoulos is pictured working at his computer. Stathi initiated the Ithacan Philanthropic Society's 'Odysseus' newspaper in the 1970s and was editor for more than 20 years. Developing computer skills in the 1980s greatly assisted him in the production of the newspaper. A coloured photograph of a man working at his computer.

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

Stathi Raftopoulos was passionate about film and often showed movies to family and friends in his home cinema. He was a keen promoter of Greek film which he screened to the wider public as a travelling picture show man and later through the chain of Greek cinemas he was a partner in.A coloured photograph of a man standing next to a film projector in his home cinema. Two Greek film posters are on the wall behind him.

Stathis Raftopoulos and family. From left to right: Leah (Koutsounis), Spiro, Stathi, Zaharenia Stamelatos (Kassiani's mother), Kassiani, Rena (Varigos) and Angela (Tsolakis). Kassiani's mother Zaharenia lived most of her life on Ithaca and came to Australia in her twilight years to be with her daughter. A black and white family group photograph featuring parents and their four children and the elderly grandmother. The photograph has a double lined dark blue border around it. The photographer's details are in the bottom RH corner. Printed in blue in the corner: HIONI PHOTO STUDIOS/988 LYGON ST., NORTH CARLTON/PHONE: 38-9824family photographs

Stathi Raftopoulos is pictured at his home cinema at his residence in Sylvander Street North Balwyn. In 1949 Stathi Raftopoulos imported the first Greek film into Australia, entitled 'Voice of the Heart'. It was screened at Nicholas Hall in Lonsdale Street. Stathis went on to become a travelling picture show man showing Greek films to the Greeks in regional centres around Australia. He later established a film distribution and exhibition company, The Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures, in partnership with Mr Panayioti (Peter) Giannoudis. With the advent of television in the 1950, former suburban picture theatres were being closed down. Stathi and Peter took over many of these cinemas to show imported Greek films to the post WWII burgeoning Greek community.A coloured photograph of a man seated on a red theatre seat in a home cinema. Posters, photographs and film memorabilia are displayed on the three surrounding wallsWritten on the back : 520/BAhome theatres, greek movies

Stathi Raftopoulos was an avid collector of different objects, including artwork and film memorabilia which he stored and displayed in a basement room below his home in North Balwyn . The room became known as 'Stathi's katoi'. 'Katoi' is an Ithacan term for the storage area or room under the main house.A coloured photograph of a long narrow room with many framed pictures, posters and paintings hanging on the walls. Items of furniture are used to display a variety of objects. A pull-down screen is hanging from the end wall and a man is seated on a chair in front of it. The floor is covered with an off-white carpet length.Written on the back in black biro: 520/24/7

Stathi Raftopoulos as a young man developed an interest in performing magic tricks. He performed, under the name of Rafto the Magician, with the Glad Eye Review Company and the National Follies. The companies performed in venues around Melbourne including the Tivoli and Kings Theatres. He also regularly entertained children at the annual Ithacan Christmas tree party.A coloured photograph featuring a magician on the stage at the Melbourne Town Hall performing tricks for an audience. He is holding a top hat in his hand and is standing in front of a small table which is covered with a patterned cloth.melbourne town hall, entertainment

Stathi Raftopoulos (middle) and Angelo Petalas (left) and a Mr Palaris are pictured filming at Madden Grove Kew. Both Stathi and Angelo were passionate about cinema. Stathi brought Greek cinema to Melbourne and Angelo ran the Melbourne University Cinema. Angelo's son Kim Petalas has carried on his father's passion and is the National Programming Director for Palace Cinemas.Black & white photograph with white crinkled border of 3 men with a movie camera.

The photograph is of Stathi Raftopoulos and unknown young man. Stathi erected a number of statues and sculptures, creating an open space 'museum' adjoining the family home in Kollieri, Ithaca. Included was an obelisk made from the stones that pressed the olives. The urns featured in the photo are known as 'plitharia' and are used to store the olive oil. Stathi also arranged for other statues to be displayed at various significant sites on Ithaca. A coloured photograph of man and a younger man standing on a terrace outside a house in a village in Ithaca. The man is unveiling a statue of a mermaid. In the background there is a statue of a horse, three large pottery urns and a two wheeled cart.symbols, gardens

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

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

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

Stathi and Kassiana Raftopoulos pictured disembarking from the M/V Romantica on their arrival in Israel. They travelled annually to Greece and extensively to other parts of the world.A coloured photograph of a couple disembarking from the ship M/V Romantica at Israel.

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

The photo is of Stathi and Kassiani Raftopoulos arriving at the at 33rd Festival International du Film Cannes in 1980. Stathi was passionate about the motion picture industry and was instrumental in bringing Greek cinema to Australia. At one stage the Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures company, in which he was a partner, operated 12 picture theatres across inner suburban Melbourne screening Greek films. Because of his active interest in the film industry it is no surprise that he attended film festivals.The screening of Greek films at the Cosmopolitan cinemas provided a key source of entertainment to the large post WWII Greek immigrant population living in inner suburban Melbourne. Stathi's promotion of Greek films in Melbourne helped to establish greater interest in foreign films across the city. Cosmopolitan cinemas were the first to screen Indian films in Melbourne.A coloured photograph of a couple in formal attire arriving at an event.33rd. FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL/ DU FILM CANNES 1980.cannes film festival

Georgos Petalas, Stathis Raftopoulos and Andreas Lekatsas, posing on the tray of a truck at Mornington,1939.Mornington was a popular destination for beach day trips for many Ithacans.Black & white photograph with white frame on the back of a truck. Appears to be enlarged from smaller photo. Handwritten on photo GEORGE, STAN, PETER/1939 Stamped on back PROPERTY OF/STATHIS RAFTOPOULOS/POET Ithacan Historical Society Inc. is stamped on the back.

A film projector, Greek film posters and film reels - all items from Stathi Raftopoulos' collection of cinema memorabilia from the Greek picture theatres he operated as a partner in the Cosmopolitan Motion Picture company. A coloured photograph of a large film projector with a reel of film loaded and a number of other film reels stacked on a shelf under the projector. A sign is propped up against the projector with the following written on it, ' Property of Stathi Raftopoulos, poet . . . , 2/1/2001'. Two posters advertising Greek films are on the wall behind the projector.Written on the back of the photograph: PHOTOS: KOSTAS DEVES/ 11 - 02/0411084320

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

Group of seven men at an Ithacan picnic wearing that badges which were given to all as they arrived at the picnic. From L-R: seated - Spiros Kallinikos (Mirtsonis), Andreas Zavitsanos, Andreas Papadopoulos, Kostas Ventouras; standing - Kostas Trilivas, Gerasimos Raftopoulos (Mourlotos), Sprios Paizis-Danias.Black & White photograph mounted on cardboard of Men's Picnic Group Stamped in bottom right hand corner with the insignia and details of the IHS.Stamped beneath photo: PROPERTY OF/ STATHIS RAFTOPOULOS/ POET

Photo taken at the 1988 Annual Ithacan Picnic at Ferny Creek, Victoria. Picture from left to right are: Marinos Raftopoulos, Andreas Moraitis, Nakis Raftopoulos, Kassiani Raftopoulos, Sotiris Sikiotis. The Annual Ithacan Picnic is one the most enduring of all social events for the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. A black & white photograph, enlarged of four men and a lady sitting in a park with people walking in the distance. The photo has a white border.Stamped on the back: PROPERTY OF/STATHIS RAFTOPOULOS/POET and ITHACAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC.

The photograph was taken during the Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations at Rousano, Exoghi on the island of Ithaca in 1947. The religious observance of Easter is very important events in the Greek Orthodox calendar and takes precedence over the Christmas observances. Easter Sunday is a day of celebration when the fast is broken and traditionally families come together to enjoy roast lamb usually on the spit.A black and white photograph of people gathered around a picnic in a rural setting. There are trees in the background and mountains in the distance. The photograph is one of a pair and has been backed onto cream board and laminated. A narrow typed label has been stuck across the bottom of the picture. Translated from the Greek: Easter at Rousano, Exoghi 1947. Photograph archives: Stathi Raftopoulos.

The group of family and friends at an Ithacan Picnic are from the village of Kioni, Ithaca. Mounted Black & White photograph of 11 men, 1 lady and 2 children, titled 'Kioni group' standing in a garden. Picnic badges on men denote picnic.On the back: PROPERTY OF/STATHIS RAFTOPOULOS/POET Handwritten GROUP FROM KIONI Stamped ITHACAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC.

The children in the picture were students at the Greek language school which was run by the Greek Community of Melbourne and were attending the '28th October' Greek national day celebration at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne. The two women, Alexandra Vrachna and Nina Black were teachers at the school. The Evangelismos Church was the first Greek orthodox Church to be established in Melbourne. The foundation stone was laid in December 1900 and church services commenced in August 1902. The 28th October is known as 'OHI' DAY', translated meaning NO DAY. It is an important national day celebrated in Greece and the Greek diaspora and commemorates the anniversary when in 1940 the then Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas said “NO” to an ultimatum made by Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini to allow Italian forces to occupy Greece. It marked the beginning of Greece's entry into WW2. The day symbolises values important to the Greek people - freedom, courage and 'filotimo'. The establishment of the Orthodox church in Melbourne in the early years of the twentieth century was was indicative of the number of Greek migrants who came to Australia in those early years of settlement in this country and the desire maintain their religious and cultural traditions. The early Greek migrants were anxious that their Australian born children maintain their language and religion in their adopted country. A black and white photograph of children with three adults standing outside Evangelismos Church in East Melbourne. Three children in the back row are displaying the Greek and Australian flags.Written in red underneath the photograph: 28th OCTOBER 1948. OUTSUDE THE GREEK CHURCH IN EAST MELBOURNE/PHOTO PROPERTY OF STATHI RAFTOPOULOS.wwii

Stathi Raftopoulos is pictured performing as a magician under the name of 'Rafto the Magician'. Stathi Raftopoulos pursued a range of creative interests throughout his lifetime in the Greek and the broader Australian communities. Interests included performing as a magician, acting in Greek theatre productions, poetry writing and reciting, Ithacan family history, film and cinema, and painting. He was also an avid collector of memorabilia. At Ithacan funerals Stathi would be called upon to recite a poem in memory of the deceased which was always so nostalgic and evocative of the Ithacan migrant experience that there would be hardly a dry eye in the church.A black and white photograph of a man dressed in a dinner suit and wearing a top hat. He is holding playing cards in one hand and a walking cane in the other. The photograph has a cream border.

Stathi Raftopoulos together with unknown person viewing a photographic display from Stathi's personal collection. Stathi was an avid collector of memorabilia and photographs. He donated a large part of his collection to LaTrobe University's Greek Archives collection.A coloured photograph of to men standing in front of a display of photgraphs mounted on a board.

Stathi Raftopoulos, pictured third from the left , served in the Civilian Military Forces during WW2.Young Greek and Australian-Greek men joined the Australian Defence Forces during World War 2 and served in various capacities. Ithacans who were unnaturalised were recruited into the Civilian Military Forces as 'Allied Aliens' and served the war effort on the home front. Naturalised Ithacans saw active service.A black and white photograph of four men in army uniform standing against a large piece of machinery.wwii