Eamon Donnelly – illustrator, historian, founder of The Island Continent and obsessive milk bar fanatic – has a new project, and he needs the help of the Greek community. His collection of milk bar photographs, released earlier this year in paperback form, has been such a hit that he’s decided to write a comprehensive coffee table book on milk bars. With the Greek community’s influence on milk bars – and the first ever milk bar opened in Australia run by Greek migrant Joachim Tavlaridis after he set up the Black and White 4d. Milk Bar in Sydney’s Martin Place in November 1932 – he will be needing the community’s help.
Donnelly describes his latest project as “three hundred pages chock-a-block full of milk bar photography of my own, plus stories of owners past and present”.
“There will be a chapter dedicated to a selection of the best milk bars from the past and those from today featuring family recollections, photos from the albums, interesting experiences, customer memories and photography of the milk bar today, open or closed.”
If you or a family member ever ran a milk bar and would like to get involved, email info@eamondonnelly.com, snail mail Eamon Donnelly, PO Box 99, Brunswick VIC 3056 or get in touch via The Island Continent, info@islandcontinent.com.au.