Effy Alexakis and Leonard Janiszewski are continuing on their mission to preserve the legacy of the Greek cafés and milk bars of Australia with a new exhibition.

As part of the 36th Greek Festival of Sydney, ‘Café Dreaming: Greek Café & Milk Bar Style’ was launched on Monday at Macquarie University by Consul General of Greece, Christos Karras.

Curated by Alexakis and Janiszewski in partnership with the Australian History Museum with the assistance of Rosanna Luca, the collection delves into the aesthetics and style of the period, which was an essential element of Australia’s Greek cafés and milk bars.

Greek Consul-General Christos Karras addressing the audience attending the exhibition’s launch. Photo: Effy Alexakis from the ‘In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians’ National Project Archives, Macquarie University

It highlights how style-wise British tastes dominated, but by the 1930s it was American style, namely through Art Deco design, that started to filter through and dominate. Introduced by the Greeks, it gave Australians a taste of the American Dream; a lifestyle perceived to be better, richer, and fuller with multi-coloured etched mirrors, badged silver-plated and ceramic tableware, flashing neon lights, gleaming soda fountain counters, and exotic marble-topped tables.

Drawing from the In Their Own Image: Greek Australians project, the curators have gathered rare, unique and diverse objects from the period, featuring tableware, décor and original uniforms that span from the 1920s right through to the 1960s.

(L-R) Curators Leonard Janiszewski and Effy Alexakis with Greek Consul General Christos Karras, Macquarie University Associate Librarian Susan Vickery, and Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney Nia Karteris. Photo: Pamela Proestos/Greek Festival of Sydney

Included among the exhibits are a restored 1950s espresso machine, over 100 silverware and crockery items, along with original signage designed by Leonard French.

Giving the collection even greater depth are photographic images, menus and advertising graphics from the time, accompanied by insightful explanatory texts.

‘Café Dreaming: Greek Café & Milk Bar Style’ is on at the Macquarie University Library Exhibition Space (Macquarie University Library Building C3C, cnr of Macquarie Walk & Central Ave, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park) now until 30 May (Mon-Fri: 8.00 am – 10.00 pm; Sat-Sun: 10.00 am – 6.00 pm).