Greeks were the first to have a god of commerce: he was Hermes.
For millennia, enterprising Greeks have put out their shingle, notifying the public of their trade anywhere in the world they set up shop.
Neos Kosmos spotted two old business signs written in Greek, in Oakleigh and Richmond on Sunday.
Oakleigh, in Melbourne’s south-east , boasts having the city’s largest Greek population, while the inner-city suburb of Richmond used to hold that mantel.
At 184 Warrigal Rd, Oakleigh, near the corner of North Rd, there used to be a Greek travel agency.
All you can see now are the faded blue painted words, “EΛΛΗΝΙΚΟΝ” TRAVEL, because covering the name is half a plastic sign for a more recent business that offered three months warranty for some product. Both businesses don’t exist anymore and the empty shop is for lease. But, that side of Warrigal Rd always had a bit of the Grecian about it as nine doors down, at number 174, was the famous Spiro’s Souvlaki restaurant which is now a bakery.
READ MORE: Kemal Ataturk statues cast shadow over his dark legacy
Closer to the city, at 1/162 Bridge Rd, Richmond, is the imposing purple and yellow sign, “EΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΓΡΑΦΕΙΑ” ASTORIA, Real Estate, Travel Agency , hanging in the street. The sign looks like it used to be lit up. The local Yarra Council likes to document its history and has installed plaques outside shops from Church St to Punt Rd, naming the businesses that used to occupy the same sites years ago. At the site of the Greek offices of Astoria, some 163-years-ago, confectioner James Morton, ran a shop, in 1857. Hopefully, Hermes was kind to both traders.
Have you got a picture of an old business sign written in Greek? If so, we’d love to print it. Please send your photos to mary@neoskosmos.com.au
