The Greek Australian Community: 1900-1954

Event Details

La Trobe University's Honorary Research Associate, Dr Christos Fifis, will give a lecture on the development of the Greek Australian Community from 1900 to 1954 on Thursday, May 4th, 2023, at 7 pm. The event will take place at the Mezzanine Level of The Greek Centre as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars presented by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

Titled "The Greek Australian Community 1900-1954," the seminar will examine the growth of the Greek community in Australia during that period. The lecture will analyze the community's structure, the number of Greek immigrants per period, social stratification, class differences, social and political conflicts, the establishment of community institutions and organizations, and their role in shaping the community. 1954 was a crucial year in the history of the Greek Australian community. The Greek-Australian Immigration Agreement was signed in 1952, followed by the agreement to exchange ambassadors between Greece and Australia. In 1953, the first Greek Ambassador, Dimitrios Lambros, was posted to Canberra, and the first significant migration from Greece to Australia began. The Australian census taken in 1954 revealed the first significant increase in the Greek Australian community, signaling the changes that would occur in the next two decades.

Dr Christos N. Fifis is an Honorary Research Associate at La Trobe University's Department of Languages and Cultures. He has been teaching Greek Studies at RMIT, Victoria College, University of Melbourne, La Trobe, and Monash for 33 years. Dr Fifis earned his M.A. from Melbourne University in 1982 and his Ph.D. from the University of La Trobe in 2009. His Ph.D. thesis, "Navigating through the Generations: A History of the Greek Orthodox Community, 1897-2008," was a research study of the history of the "Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria" organization from its inception in 1897 to 2008. Dr Fifis' research interests include the history and literature of the Greek Australian community, and he has published several articles, two monographs, and a volume of essays on the subject. The book "Greek Australian Issues. Articles and Discussions" was awarded first prize in the 2019 book competition in the category of history, and social issues organized by the Greek Australian Cultural League of Melbourne. He also has a strong interest in literature and has published several articles and collections of poetry and short stories. In 2021, he published a theatrical play, "Το σπίτι της Βασίλως" (Vasslo's home), based on Greek-Australian historical and social migration experiences.

When: Thursday 4 May 2023, 7pm

Where: Greek Centre ( Mezzanine, 168 Lonsdale St, Melbourne)

Entry: Free