Peter Prineas’ new book ‘Wild Colonial Greeks’ takes deep look into early Greek Australian history

·

In his recently published book, ‘Wild Colonial Greeks’, Sydney writer and historian Peter Prineas attempts to explore the true origins of Greek history in Australia.

The book takes readers on a journey through colonial Australian history as the author looks to uncover the first Greek arrival to Australia.

One candidate, who is referenced multiple times throughout the book, is a Greek from Corfu named George Manuel, who was living in Australia in 1823. This was six years before the arrival of the seven pirate-convicts currently considered to be Australia’s first Greeks.

The book also shows how Greeks were viewed by the mainstream press and chronicles at the time, bringing to life the goldfields doctor Spiridion Candiottis, who clashed resoundingly with newspapermen in Victoria and Queensland.

See below for a small extract from the book, Wild Colonial Greeks:

It seems to have been generally accepted that apart from the seven pirates, the only other person of Greek origin to come to Australia as a convict, was a man named Joseph Simmons or Simmonds. He is recorded in convict archives as a seaman aged 40, a single man, an illiterate, and in religion a Protestant, who gave his ‘native place’ as Greece. Gilchrist, however, describes him as an Ionian Islander and, ‘in fact a Greek Jew who landed in Sydney from the convict ship Isabella IV in March 1832’, after having been ‘convicted at the Dorsett Assizes and sentenced to transportation for life for stealing a handkerchief’.

It is surprising that another convict with the decidedly Greek name of Timoleon Vlasto has been overlooked by historians. It is even more surprising when one considers the infamy that Vlasto acquired in 1849 for stealing ancient Greek coins worth a small fortune from the British Museum in London. His trial was widely reported in the British press and ended with a sentence of transportation for a term of seven years to Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania), where he arrived near the end of May 1851. Timoleon Vlasto’s crime and his Greek identity – albeit that of a diaspora Greek – was also reported in Australian newspapers.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Konstantinos Argiros meets NSW Premier after sold-out Opera House performances

At NSW Parliament on Friday, Premier Chris Minns and Ministers Courtney Houssos and Sophie Cotsis welcomed Konstantinos Argiros.

Accused Easey St killer Perry Kouroumblis previously gave police an alibi, court hears

Accused Easey Street killer Perry Kouroumblis has told police he was with a friend on the night two women were brutally stabbed in 1977.

Snowtown killer James Vlassakis’ parole review to be heard in private

The parole review of Snowtown murderer James Spyridon Vlassakis will be conducted in private. Read more here.

Australian Championship, Movember launch $500k fundraising initiative for men’s health

The Australian Championship and Movember have launched a new fundraising initiative to change the face of men’s health.

Greece launches €2.5 billion plan to secure water supply amid drought threat

Greece has unveiled a €2.5 billion national plan to confront growing water scarcity and safeguard supplies for the coming decades.

You May Also Like

Labor pledges $200,000 to restore Hermis-Ilion Hall and launch Greek library in Sydney

A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will deliver $200,000 in funding for the Hermis-Ilion Hall and Library restoration at Bexley, Sydney.

Cyprus reintroduces overnight curfew as cases surge

President Nicos Anastasiades warned in a televised address that the spread of the coronavirus is on the verge of getting out of hand.

Markos Botsaris: Greek Revolution hero from Souli

On this day in 1790, Markos Botsaris, who is a Greek General and hero of the Greek Revolution from Souli, was born.