Interior to be remodeled, Londys café, Toowoomba, 1962. This image shows the interior of Londys café which was to be remodeled, with the booths to make way for restaurant seating for 48 people and a bar installed on the far right. This space was re-imagined in the perspective drawing on the accompanying map. The image was taken when the owners were applying for a liquor license to turn the café into a restaurant. Collection of the Queensland State Archives

Queensland State Archives

Interior, Londys café, Toowoomba, 1962. This image shows the timber booths where patrons of Londys café were seated as they enjoyed a cold milk or espresso. The entrance to the kitchen can be seen at the far end of the café (left) below the glass panel. Collection of the Queensland State Archives

Queensland State Archives

Espresso and milk bar, Londys café, Toowoomba, 1962 This image, looking out towards Ruthven Street, Toowoomba, shows the espresso bar (left) and milk bar (right) of Londys café. The image was taken when the owners were applying for a liquor license to turn the café into a restaurant. Collection of the Queensland State Archives

Queensland State Archives

Shopfront Londys cafe, Toowoomba, 1962. This image shows the shopfront of Londys Café on Ruthven Street, Toowoomba. The image was taken when the owners were applying for a liquor license to turn the part of the café into a restaurant. Collection of the Queensland State Archives

Queensland State Archives

Londys cafe, Toowoomba, 1962

Ruthven St
Toowoomba, QLD 4350
Australia
27° 34' 26.6088" S, 151° 57' 3.7944" E
15 March 1962
20 May 2011
20 May 2011

Location

Ruthven St
Toowoomba, QLD 4350
Australia
27° 34' 26.6088" S, 151° 57' 3.7944" E
Toowoomba

Queensland State Archives

Londys cafe, Toowoomba, 1962. This architectural map of Londys Greek café appeared in the application for a restaurant liquor license by the Levonis Brothers who intended to expand operations for their Toowoomba cafe. After lodging the application, notice was posted in the Toowoomba Chronicle on 12 February 1962 asking for public comment. The liquor license file offers interesting insights into the operation of the café, and how some Queenslanders worked. Londys employed one cook, three assistant cooks, six waitresses, one pastry cook, one pastry cook’s apprentice, one bake-house assistant, two snack bar attendants and one milk bar attendant. When the nominee on the license, George Levonis, was asked what experience he had in cafes, he responded: ‘7 years in present establishment as managing partner/ 9 years association with parents’ café business in Maryborough.’ Despite the application being withdrawn on 15 March 1962, Londys café continued to operate. The ‘existing layout’ on the far left of the architectural plan gives an insight into the space inside a Greek café, showing the milk bar and espresso bar as patrons enter and opening into a number of booths. Above the perspective drawing, Londys café is marked in red on Ruthven Street in Toowoomba. Collection of the Queensland State Archives

Sydney Cafe, Ipswich, menu

Ipswich, QLD
Australia
18 November 2010
18 November 2010

Location

Ipswich, QLD
Australia

Menu from the Sydney Cafe, Nicholas Street, Ipswich, home of the mixed grill, displaying the dinner menu and light refreshments. 

Serviette, Elite Cafe, Bundaberg, c1940

Paper serviette, Elite Cafe, Lathouras Bros, Bundaberg, c1940. Collection of the Centre for the Government of Queensland

Location

Bundaberg, QLD
Australia
18 November 2010

Copyright © Centre for the Government of Queensland

Bundaberg, QLD
Australia

Greek proprietors treated local waitresses like members of the family.

Copyright © Maria Kentrotis 

A list of soda fountain flavours can be seen on the sign behind Vera Dawson and Maureen Sheppard, who were waitresses at Londy’s Café in Ipswich in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Milk bars boosted the trade in ice-cream, an American delicacy that was used in freshly-made sundaes, banana splits, waffles, parfaits, jelly, and fruit salad. Many proprietors made their own ice cream until the World War II, when Peters Ice Cream, founded by an American in Sydney in 1907, dominated the market. Hamburgers were introduced through the US military forces in the 1940s and were popular in Greek snack bars. And while Australian lollies like Fantales and Minties were especially popular at cafés near picture theatres, the Candy Bar and American candies such as Cowboy Chews and Texas Chews betray the influence of the American candy store.

Copyright © Maureen Sheppard 

Andrew Tanos who lived above the Sydney Café in Ipswich. Collection of Andrew Tanos

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