Launch of A Touch of Greece, the Greek Café Owners of Junction Street, Nowra .

submitted by Shoalhaven Historical Society on 19.06.2006

The publication, A Touch of Greece, the Greek Café Owners of Junction Street, Nowra will be launched at 2:00 pm, on Saturday 19th August 2006 at the Kladis Estate Winery at Wandandian.

Kladis Estate
Princes Highway,
Wandandian, 2540
NSW, Australia

Tel: 612 444 35 606
Fax: 612 444 36 485

Email, <b>Kaldis Estate</b>

http://www.kladisestatewines.com.au

This is an open invitation.

Attendees are asked to be at the winery prior to the launch.

Shoalhaven Historical Society is launching the book, which was written by life member Robyn Florance.

"Research on the Greek Cafes began in 2003 when only two café's were known to exist. Through exhaustive research seven Greek cafes and their owners have been revealed. Steve Castrisos', Aroney Bros., the Nowra Café later known as Paul's Café and Shoalhaven, the New York Café, the Red Rose Café, The Spot and Peter's Café.

The stories of these cafes are one that links Nowra with the little known island of Kythera but is also the story of hundreds of country towns across Australia. The prosperity of the cafes was used to help and support many family members back home in Kythera.

They introduced espresso and cappuccino to the town and the European style art deco was something totally exotic and beyond the experience of many people. The café was the central meeting place, not only for customers but also the suppliers. It was a place where deals were done, and where news was spread.

With the end of 6 o'clock closing the local hotel expanded into an evening meeting place, clubs offered inexpensive dining rooms and the decline in picture patronage with the dawn of television the heyday of the Greek Café was over. Two of these café's survived until 2000 and 2001 respectfully, although a walk along Junction Street will reveal the existence of three Greek cafés by the tiled façade of these buildings.

By publishing this research we will be promoting the existence of the Greek Café owners in our community and the contribution they made to the local economy. It will also highlight the importance of some of the different forms in which our diverse cultural heritage can be experienced".

Robyn Florance

Shoalhaven Historical Society

Phone: 44293564 (BH)

<b>Email Robyn Florance</b>

submitted by
EDWIN CASTRISOS
on 13.07.2006

Dear Robyn, I am the grandson of Steve Castrisos who owned the cafe in Nowra.I came across your bulletin whilst trying to research my greek family history on this website.Steve passed away on 28th Sep 1976.He arrived in Australia alone at the age of 15years from Kythera on a boat called Bremen in December 1910. He initially worked in Sydney in cafes with a relative/family friend, where he learnt English and gained business skills. I am unaware when he moved to Nowra, however unlike other greeks in Australia at the turn of the century he married an Australian lady.After Nowra he moved to St George in Qld where he had another similar business, and then to Surat where he had the main store, cafe, and newsagency business for many years. He passed this business on to my father, and I lived in Surat until 1959 before we moved to Brisbane. My Grandfather retired to live on the Gold Coast until his death. I will be unable to attend this book launch, however would naturally love to obtain a copy of your book, and to find out any other information about my grandfather that your research may have disclosed.Please let me know how I can obtain the book. I have never been to Nowra, however this might stimulate my interest to visit soon( and to check out the Kladis Estate winery).I hope the book launch is successful. Yours faithfully, Dr Ed Castrisos,Brisbane