The ocean liner 'SS Queen Frederica', owned by the Greek shipping company Chandris Lines during the 1960s and 1970s, carried many Greek emigrants from their homeland to other countries across the world.

A coloured post card of the liner 'Queen Fredirica' in full sail entering New York harbour with the Statue of Liberty in the background.

QUEEN FREDERICA/ 21.000

View across the picturesque Ithacan village of Kioni taken by Thalia Paizis (Papadopoulos) when she returned to Greece in 1921. Thalia later returned to Australia where she married Anastasios Papadopoulos.

Many Ithacans from the village of Kioni migrated to Australia and settled in Melbourne. These days Kioni is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Ithaca and for yachts cruising the Ionian islands in the some months.

A black and white photograph of a view of a village on a hillside by the sea.

The young Paizis children dressed in various Greek traditional costumes as part of the 25th March celebration of Greek Independence. From l-r: Thalia (Papadopoulos), Diamanto (Raftopoulos), Maria (Kezos).

Young children attending Greek school often dressed in traditional costumes for concerts and celebrations of Greek national days.

A black and white photograph of three young girls in various Greek costumes - Grecian style and traditional.

The photograph was taken outside the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church East Melbourne following a celebratory eulogy marking the unification of the Heptanese (seven islands) with Greece in 1864. The Heptanese are located in Western Greece in the Ionian Sea. They include Kerkira, Zakinthos, Lefkada, Ithaca, Paxos, Kefallonia, and Kythera. The celebration is organised each year by Melbourne's Heptanesean Federation and commences with a celebratory church eulogy followed by afternoon tea and cultural activities at the host clubrooms. The women are dressed in traditional dress of each island .

Ithaca (and the other islands of the Heptanese) were unified with Greece in 1864. From approx 1500 Ithaca was under centuries-long Venetian rule, which largely preserved it from becoming part of the Ottoman Empire, thus creating a distinct cultural identity with Venetian influences. Following a brief period in 1797 of French rule, Ithaca became a British protectorate from 1809 until 1864 followng which the island was reunified with the modern Greek state. Although Ithacans made up the largest number of Greek migrants who settled in Melbourne in the first half of the twentieth century, other Greeks from the neighbouring Ionian Islands also migrated to Australia during those years. In particular from Lefkada, and also from Kythera most of whom settled in regional towns in New South Wales and Queensland.

A newspaper cutting mounted on white cardboard which includes a photograph taken in front of a brick building with a caption below in Greek. The photograph is of a celebration and features eight ladies dressed in Greek traditional dress in front of a group of people.

The celebrations by the Heptanesian Federation of Melbourne for the 135th anniversary of the unification of the the seven Ionian islands with mother Greece, commence tomorrow with a celebratory eulogy at the The Holy Temple of the Evangelismos Church East Melbourne. The afternoon of the same day at the Lefkadian Brotherhood Hall, 12A Bell St; Coburg, the Federation has organised a cultural and musical afternoon dedicated to 'The Seven Diamonds of the Ionian'. The program will feature a talk, 'Angelos Sikelianos, an environmentalist, before his time', by Mr. N.Sofokleos; recitations from Stathis Raftopoulos and Thanasis Makrigeorgos; and Heptanesian melodies and songs from the choir and orchestra of the Educational Group of Florina, Melbourne. At the conclusion , savoury snacks, coffee and sweets will be served. Entry is free. In the photo, a snapshot of last year's event.

eptanesian

The photograph is of Phillipos Varvarigos (Regos), taken in the 1920s. He arrived in Australia from Ithaca during the early decades of the twentieth century. He was married to Olympia and they had two sons, Nick and Nonda Regos.

Many of the early Greek immigrants anglicized their surnames after settling Australia. 'Varvarigos' was often changed to 'Regos', 'Rigos' or 'Varigos'.

A sepia studio photograph of a head and shoulders view of well-dressed man wearing a tweed suit and bows tie. The photograph is in post card format.

rigos, varvarigos

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.

"Town and Harbour Bathi. Ithaca" (Vathi) engraved by J. Tingle from artwork by C.Bentley, was published in The Shores and Islands of The Mediterranean ..., about 1840.

A reproduction of a black and white etching of the Ithacan port of Vathi. A fishing boat is being brought in to the port and the crew are preparing to unload the catch. There are some buildings around the harbour's edge and smaller boats are also in the harbour.

In Italian: Citta e porto di Bathi (Itaca)

The print, a reproduction of an etching of the port of Vathi in Ithaca as it would have appeared in the nineteenth century, when the island was a British protectorate. A variety of sea vessels are depicted in the print, including the large sailing ship. The smaller boat could be a caique used for fishing or transporting people and goods between the islands. The soldiers appear to be in the British uniform worn during the 1800s.

A reproduction print of a black and white etching of a harbour scene. Four larger sailing ships are in a bay with a smaller craft in the foreground near the shore. At the water's edge there are soldiers and other people looking out to the ships in the harbour. Mountains loom up in the background.

The reproduction print is of artwork depicting 'old' Vathi. Vathi is the main town and the largest settlement on the island of Ithaca in Greece, possibly established during the period of Venetian rule. The town resembles an amphitheatre, built around the coastline of one of the most natural ports of Greece. Many of the old buildings were destroyed in the catastrophic earthquakes of 1953. The length of the port is 926 m. with an entrance of 300 m. in width. It was once the main port for ferries transporting goods and people to and from the mainland. Ferries now dock at Piso Aetos. In the summer the harbour of Vathi is filled with sailing boats and yachts.

During the periods of Venetian (c1500 - 1797) and English (1809 - 1864) rule, the population of Vathi grew significantly, reaching a total of 5,000 residents. During this period Vathi became an important centre for trade and commerce, political activities and legal proceedings.

A black and white drawing of the harbour of Vathi . The drawing has a white surround.

Printed in Italian across the top of the drawing: LUDRO LITTORICO Printed in Italian underneath the drawing: VISTA DE VATHI IN ITACA

littoricio, luadro

This photograph was taken when Bill Florence (Vasilis Florias) arrived in Melbourne in 1922.

Many migrants on their arrival in Australia were photographed within this backdrop. Copies of these photos were often sent to their families back in their homeland.

A sepia photograph of a portrait view of a man framed within a map of Australia with the words 'Welcome To' across the top of the map. Around the map are sketches of Australian bush scenes, animals and the sea.

immigration

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.

Ithaca House located at 329 Elizabeth Street Melbourne has been the site of the clubrooms of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society since 1958. Over the decades the club rooms have served as a meeting place and a venue for many social, cultural and fundraising activities. Prior to the building of Ithaca House, the clubrooms been located at Michael's Building, corner Lonsdale and Elizabeth Streets since 1917.

In 1956, the Ithacans of Melbourne purchased a site, formerly two shops, at 329-335 Elizabeth Street for £35,000, with a view to building their own club rooms. A three storey building, a stone's throw from the old Michael's clubrooms, was finally erected in 1958 at a cost of £25,000. This was achieved by capital raising from the membership in the form of non-redeemable £10 and £50 debentures (1957-58). Plans were drawn up by the Australian born and newly qualified Ithacan architect, Nicholas Sofarnos (Sofianos). The then President Eustathios (Stathis) Vlassopoulos was key driver of the project.

A colour photograph of the front upper stories of Ithaca House

The Greek Orthodox Community with the support of the Ithacan Community in Melbourne established a Greek Language School in the early 1930s.

The teaching of the Greek language to the Australian born children of Greek parents ensured that the language and culture was maintained within the Greek community.

A sepia photograph mounted on grey board of the children and teachers at the Greek language school. The people are standing and seated in five rows in front of a stage.

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.

1950s Annual Ithacan picnic at Bacchus Marsh. Standing Nicholas Stratos, foreground L- R seated Zacharoula Mavrokefalos, Anna Stratos and Royal Stratos; back l-r: Nicholas Stratos, Mary Mavrokefalos, Stathoula (surname unknown), Denis Black, Gery Rigos, Agapi (Connie) Rigos.

The annual Ithacan picnic is one of the oldest and most enduring social events for Melbourne's Ithacan community. First, second, even up to fifth generation Australian Ithacans reunite at this event. In the early days people travelled to the picnic grounds in furniture vans.

A black and white photograph with a thin white border of a family group sitting on the ground around a picnic meal spread out in front of them. A partial view of a sedan car is visible on the LHS of the photograph. The names of the people in the photograph have been written on the back.

The photograph was taken at an Ithacan picnic held at Mentone Racecourse in 1935. Members of the IPS Committee are pictured with their families together with two official guests, Father Theophylaktos Papathanasopoulos from the Melbourne Orthodox Parish, and Father Timotheos Evangelimides, the Archbishop of the Greek Church in Australia, both pictured standing in the centre of the group. Vicki Raftopoulos(Black) is seated 3rd from the left and Arthur Raftopoulos is standing 3rd from right and Stathi Trohoulas is standing far right.

Melbourne's first Greek Orthodox Church 'Evangelismos' in Victoria Parade East Melbourne was consecrated in 1901. Ithacans, as members of the Greek Orthodox Community, were directly involved in its establishment. A.J.Lucas the founding president of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society was one of a number of prominent Greeks who advanced funds to help with the purchase of the East Melbourne site upon which the church was built. The building of the church was financed through the contributions of funds from the local Greek community.

A black and white photograph mounted on grey board of a picnic group sitting and standing around a table set out with food and drinks under trees. A bus is parked and just visible behind the group.

Detail of the people in the photograph and other information is written in Greek on the back of the pghotograph.

The photo is taken of the Northern Ithaca Platrethia school in 1932.

Compulsory school education was introduced to Ithaca and the other Ionian Islands during the second half of the nineteenth century resulting in children gaining a basic education in literacy and numeracy. This is indicative of the value Greeks have placed on education.

A black and white school photograph of a group of girls and boys of various ages standing in five rows. The boys are wearing striped shirts which seems to suggest they are wearing a school uniform while thew girls are not dressed in uniform.

The photograph was taken at the Ithacan Philanthropic Society's16th annual picnic. All who attended the picnic on that day were included in the photograph.

The first picnic took place in 1918 at South Morang where 200 people attended. The picnics continue to be a popular social event on the club's social calendar attracting large numbers of the generations of Ithacan Australians in Melbourne.

A mounted sepia photograph of a large group of men women and children gathered together in a large sports ground. There are two buildings behind them with trees growing in the background.

The photograph is taken at an annual Ithacan picnic, c1940s. Several of the individuals in the photograph are wearing the medallion badges which were given to all attendees on arrival at the picnic. L-R: Dionysus Lecatsas, ----- , -----, Andreas Paizis, Georgia Raftopoulos, Katerina Lucas (Spot Cafe), -----, Athanasis Raftopoulos (Klapatzoura). The annual picnic organized by the Ithacan Philanthropic Society continues to be a popular event on the club's social calendar.

A mounted sepia photograph of a group standing in a picnic ground. There are six men dressed in suits and two smartly dressed ladies. There is a small shed in the background in an open playing field.

The photograph was taken at an annual picnic organized by the Ithacan Philanthropic Society some time during the 1940s.

Taking place annually for over 100 years, the picnic is one of the oldest and most enduring events on the Ithacan Philanthropic Society's social calendar. It continues to attract large numbers and is an opportunity for the generations of Ithacans to reunite.

A mounted black and white photograph of a group of men at a picnic.

The first official dance was held on April 23 1918, two years after the establishment of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. The celebration depicted may have been a New Years Eve function. New Year's Eve celebrations were a very popular event through to the 1990s.

Dances were popular social events for the Ithacan community and an opportunity for Ithacans to socialise and enjoy Greek music and dancing.

A mounted sepia photograph of a crowd of people gathered for a celebration in a dance hall which has balloons hanging from the decorative ceiling.

Many young men, both Ithacan born and Australian born of Ithacan descent joined the Australian Defence Forces in various capacities during World War 2. Pictured is a group of army recruits to the Civilian Military Forces with a young Stathi Raftopoulos seated in the centre - he is the only one not wearing a cap.

Ithacans who were not naturalised were recruited to the Civilian Military Forces as 'Allied Aliens'.

A black and white photograph of thirteen men inn army uniform sitting and relaxing in a shed.

The photograph was taken after the massive earthquakes of 1953 which caused widespread destruction across Ithaca and other Ionian Islands. Many of the buildings destroyed in the earthquake could not be rebuilt and some parts of the villages became uninhabitable.

This event brought about the largest mass migration from the island and a further wave of Ithacan migration to countries, such as Australia and South Africa, where relatives had already settled. The Ithacan Philanthropic Society established an Earthquake Appeal to assist their compatriots.

A black and white photograph showing widespread damage done in the aftermath of an earthquake. Many houses are in ruins and there are two heaps of rubble comprising timber and metal and concrete in the foreground. Two men are walking along a track looking at the destruction in the village.

Ithaca along with other Ionian Islands experienced catastrophic earthquakes in 1953 resulting in widespread devastation across the island. After the damage was assessed many of the island's residents emigrated to join family in Australia, which brought about another wave of Ithacan migration.

The damage on Ithaca as a result of the earthquake caused the largest ever wave of immigration from the island which resulted in the most significant decline in the island's population.

A black and white photograph showing the damage caused by the earthquake which occurred across the Ionian Islands in 1953. The interior of an entire building along with an exterior wall has collapsed. There is a tent partly visible on the LHS of the photograph and three chairs are scattered around in front of the wrecked building.

Ithaca House, the home of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society, is located at 329 - 335 Elizabeth Street. The site was purchased in the mid 1950s to build the club rooms. The money for the venture was raised by the issue of non-redeemable 10 and 50 pound debentures to members. Nicholas Sofarnos, a young Ithacan architecture graduate, designed the building. Construction was completed in 1958. Up until 2020 Yamaha were long standing ground floor tenants. Prior to the building of Ithaca House, from 1917 up until 1958, the club rooms were located on the top floor of Michael's Building on the corner of Lonsdale and Elizabeth Streets.

The Ithacan Philanthropic Society has been a focal point initially for expatriate Ithacans and as the years have passed it holds many happy memories for Australian born Ithacans through the generations.

A coloured photograph of a three storey grey building in a city street with two cars being driven along the road. The Yamaha Motor Bicycle company occupies the ground floor, and in the adjacent building Honda motorbikes are sold. There are curtained windows across the width of the second floor and signage on the top floor windows indicates this level is used for social events such as receptions and dances.

Young Greek born men who had migrated to Australia were recruited to the defence forces during World War 2. Pictured is a group belonging to Civilian Military Forces. Standing, second from the right, is Nakis (Nick) Raftopoulos.

During the period of the second world war, 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 nine men in army uniform at a camp. Five men are standing behind the other four who are sitting in front.

The violinist is Bill Florence (Florias), performing at a concert for Ithacan Club members.

Along with the mandolin and the guitar, the violin was also a popular musical instrument with many Ithacans. Those instruments leant themselves to the melodic style of music from the Eptanesian island.

A coloured photograph of a man, standing in front of a microphone and playing a violin. There is a red and white striped curtain behind him.

The annual picnic organised by the Ithacan Philanthropic Society has been a popular event on the club's calendar every year since its inception in 1916. It was a chance for families and friends to meet together in a relaxed atmosphere where races were also organised for all age groups. The picnics were held at recreation grounds on Melbourne's rural fringe and for many years Bacchus Marsh was a popular venue.

A black and white photograph of eight men, seven ladies and three children sitting around a picnic table laid out for a meal in a large outdoor area. There are large trees in the background.

In 1953 an major earthquake caused catastrophic damage across the islands of Ithaca and Cephalonia, which are part of Greece's Heptanesian group of islands located in the Ionian Sea. Many towns and villages were left uninhabitable and resulted in another wave of Ithacan migration to Australia.

The Ithacan Philanthropic Society initiated an Earthquake Appeal which was generously supported by Melbourne's Ithacan community, all of whom were affected by the earthquakes in one way or another.

A black and white photograph of damage caused by an earthquake. The buildings which were built along the edge of a harbour have been ruined. There are mountains in the background.

The Ithacan Philanthropic Society Executive Committee 1991. Pictured L-R: Back row - Dennis Katsamas, George Coutsouvelis, Anthony Drakopoulos, John Tscoucalas, Christos Lourantos. Front row - Antoni Razos, Maria Dellas, Sia Andrews (President), Helen Vlass, Nick Lourantos

Although women played a very active role in the organisation of social functions and fund raising activities, they were not eligible to become full members until 1985 after which they could also be elected to the executive committee. Prior to this there was a Ladies' Committee formed in 1944 which organised social events. Sia Andrews, Maria Dellas and Helen Vlass were the first women to be elected to the executive committee in 1985. In 1991, in the Society's 75th year, Sia Andrews became the first female president.

A coloured photograph of the executive committee of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society photographed standing in front of an honour board. Five men are standing behind three women and two men who are seated.