The main street was home to many Greek cafes that were  “changing the face of modern Australia” by importing a mostly American culture of hamburgers, soda fountains and milk bars into Australian life. 

“They were a Trojan Horse for the Americanisation of the eating, social and cultural habits of Australians,” Leonard Janiszewski, co-author (with Effy Alexakis) of Greek Cafes and Milk Bars of Australia said. 

“Certain ideas came to Australia via the great Greek migrations of last century. They quickly realised that food catering would help them assimilate and would provide them access to the wider Australian culture. 

“These cafes were a place to meet and socialise and in many country towns like Goulburn they became a hub of the community where the CWA and other groups would meet,” he said.

“The Greek cafe and milk bar transformed Australian popular culture, because after their arrival we turned more towards America and away from Britain.” 

Mr Janiszewski said a ‘Secret Census of Greeks’ was carried out at various intervals by police in country towns for the Australian Government, who had feared Greece could become allies with Germany in WWI and beyond, due to King Constantine I marrying Kaiser Wilhem’s sister, Sophia.

This census showed in the 1920s there was the Classic Cafe in Auburn Street. This was followed in the 1930s by The Blue and White Milk Bar, The Capitol Cafe, The Lounge Cafe, The Cafe Bon Ton, the White Rose Cafe and The Monaro Cafe.

In the 1940s, Jim Sophios established the Paragon Cafe in partnership with Jack Simos at 150 Auburn Street. Jim was previously operating the Monaro Cafe. In 1948/49 the Paragon was acquired by the Karagis family.

Various Greek families have operated the Paragon through to the present day –Pandelakis, Karkatzis, Nissirios, Ditsas, Ganiatsos, Fatouros. The Kontos family are its present sole owners, having been involved in the business since 1983. In 1987, the Paragon was moved to a larger premises at 174 Auburn Street. 

Other prominent Greek cafes included The Radnor and Danny’s Brasserie. 

The authors will talk at 2.30pm on Saturday, November 12 at the Council Chambers for the Goulburn Reader Writer Festival.