Menu from Toowoomba Refreshment Room, late 1960s. A three course sit-down meal could be purchased for 85 cents.

Copyright © Collection of the Workshops Rail Museum, Ipswich

Service and an elegant table setting were features of this Refreshment Room at Esk, c1920.

Copyright © Collection of the Workshops Rail Museum and Queensland Rail, Ipswich

The Refreshment Room at Bethania Junction, leased by Mrs Eva Lissner from 1913-16.

Copyright © Collection of the Workshops Rail Museum and Queensland Rail, Ipswich

Refreshment room staff at Toowoomba, Manager C.F.Johnson at centre.

Copyright © Collection of the Workshops Rail Museum and Queensland Rail, Ipswich

Palms café, Tamborine Mountain, c1938. Postcard folder Brisbane Postcards, Collection of the Centre for the Government of Queensland

Collection of the Centre for the Government of Queensland

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

George and Vasi Kentrotes in the Regal Café Ipswich in the 1970s. Marriage by proxenia involved the proxeniti finding a prospective bride in Greece or Australia

Copyright © Joanne Stewart

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