Damon Mcknight
Melbourne, Victoria, is home to the largest Greek Australian community in Australia. Greek immigration to Australia has been one of the largest migratory flows in the country's history, especially after World War II and the Greek Civil War. Melbourne's Greek community was considered the largest outside Greece in 2004, with estimates of the first, second, and third generations at approximately 300,000. The Greek population of Melbourne is integral to the city, shaping its physical landscape and cultural life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Australian city with the largest Greek population | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Greek population in Melbourne | 162,103 (2016 census); 300,000 (2004 estimate); 181,184 (2021 census) |
| Greek population in Australia | 424,750 (2021 census); 237,588 spoke Greek at home in 2016 |
| Greek Australians as % of Australian population | 1.7% (2021 census) |
| Greek Australians with Greek ancestry alone | 92,314 (2021 census) |
| Greek Australians who speak Greek | 88% |
| Greek Australians who are Christian | 91% |
| Greek Australians who are Greek Orthodox | 91.4% (2016 census) |
| Greek Australians who identify as spiritual, secular or irreligious | 5.6% |
| Greek Australians who did not answer the census question on religion | 2.6% |
| Greek migration waves to Victoria | 1840s-1900; 1950s-1970s |
| Greek migration waves to Australia | After World War I; after World War II and the Greek Civil War; after the Greek economic crisis in 2015 |
| Greek population centres outside Greece and Cyprus | Melbourne, Sydney, Toronto, Montreal, New York City, Chicago, Boston, London |
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What You'll Learn
- Melbourne has the largest Greek population in Australia
- Greek immigration to Australia has been one of the largest migratory flows
- Melbourne is sometimes referred to as Greece's 'third city'
- Greek Australians have the lowest rate of intermarriage
- Melbourne's Greek community received $200,000 to fund events commemorating Greek Independence
Melbourne has the largest Greek population in Australia
Melbourne, Victoria, has the largest Greek population in Australia. The Greek community is well-established in Victoria, with most of the population arriving between 1951 and 1970. Melbourne is sometimes referred to as Greece's "third city" after Athens and Thessaloniki. It is estimated that there are around 300,000 Greeks in Melbourne, including first, second, and third generations.
Melbourne's Greek community is deeply rooted and has had a significant impact on the city's culture and landscape. The community is known for its strong preservation of Greek culture and traditions, with many Greek schools, community organizations, and cultural events. Melbourne also has a high concentration of Greek-speaking individuals, with 88% of Greek Australians in the city speaking the language.
The Greek population in Melbourne has left a mark on the city's architecture and design. Notable Greek-Australian architects, such as Nonda Katsalidis and Angelo Candalepas, have designed iconic landmarks like the Eureka Tower and the upcoming NGV Contemporary gallery.
The state of Victoria, where Melbourne is located, has the highest number of people with Greek ancestry in Australia, according to the 2021 census. The Greek community in Victoria is concentrated in the southeastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne, with the City of Monash having the largest Greek community in the state.
Melbourne's Greek community is integral to the city's social fabric, and their influence can be seen in various aspects of Melbourne's culture, from sports to cuisine. The community's presence is also felt through the many Greek Orthodox churches and monasteries in the city, as well as the Hellenic Museum, which showcases the ongoing story of Greeks in Melbourne.
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Greek immigration to Australia has been one of the largest migratory flows
Greek immigration to Australia increased after the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922), the Second World War, and the Greek Civil War. In the 1960s, Vassiliki Daflou became an ambassador for an Australian government campaign to encourage Greek women to migrate to Australia. After the fall of the Papadopoulos regime in 1974 and Greece's formal inclusion in the European Union, Greek immigration to Australia slowed. In 1971, the country saw a peak of 160,200 Greek arrivals. Within Australia, Greek immigrants have been "extremely well organised socially and politically", with approximately 600 Greek organisations in the country by 1973. Greek Australians have also strived to maintain their faith and cultural identity.
In the early 2010s, there was another increase in Greek immigration to Australia due to the economic crisis in Greece. This led to the return of many Greek Australians who had previously moved to Greece, as well as the arrival of newcomers. The 2021 Australian census recorded 424,750 people with Greek ancestry, comprising 1.7% of the Australian population. Of these, 92,314 were born in Greece. The largest concentration of Greek Australians is in the state of Victoria, with Melbourne at its heart. Melbourne has the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Greece and Cyprus, and the Greek community is integral to the city. Victoria's Greek community largely lives in areas around Coburg, Preston, Port Melbourne, Oakleigh, and Doncaster, contributing significantly to many aspects of Victorian life, especially in food and hospitality, manufacturing, and small businesses.
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Melbourne is sometimes referred to as Greece's 'third city'
Melbourne, Australia, has the largest Greek-speaking population in the world outside of Greece and Cyprus. The city is sometimes referred to as Greece's "third city", after Athens and Thessaloniki. Melbourne's Greek community was considered the largest outside of Greece in 2004, with estimates of first, second, and third-generation Greeks numbering around 300,000.
Melbourne's Greek population has played an integral role in shaping the city's culture and landscape. The community is deeply established, with most of the population arriving between 1951 and 1970. The Greek Australian community has achieved a high level of educational attainment and business ownership, leaving a lasting impact on the city. For example, the Eureka Tower, Melbourne's tallest building, was designed by Greek Australian Nonda Katsalidis. Many of Melbourne's landmarks, such as Parliament House, the Shrine of Remembrance, and the State Library, feature prominent Greek designs.
The Greek language and culture are well-preserved in Melbourne. As of 2021, 88% of Greek Australians in the city speak Greek, and the Greek language is the seventh most commonly spoken language in Melbourne. Melbourne is home to three Greek Australian day schools, numerous after-hours Greek schools, and a network of community and cultural organisations that promote Hellenic culture. The city also has a Greek-language newspaper, Neos Kosmos, and a Hellenic Museum that showcases the ongoing story of Greeks in Melbourne.
Melbourne's Greek community is highly engaged in sporting events, with a strong following during the Australian Open and the World Cup. The community has established several soccer clubs, including Oakleigh Cannons FC, Malvern City FC, and Kingston City FC, which compete annually in the Hellenic Cup. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese operates 35 churches and two monasteries in the city, further emphasising the community's religious and cultural presence.
The Victorian Government has recognised the significance of the Greek community by providing funding for events commemorating the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence in 2021. Melbourne's Greek population has not only left its mark on the city but has also contributed to strengthening the close bilateral relationship between Australia and Greece.
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Greek Australians have the lowest rate of intermarriage
Melbourne, Victoria is the Australian city with the largest Greek population. Melbourne is often referred to as Greece's "third city", after Athens and Thessaloniki. The Greek population in Melbourne is so large that it is integral to the city's identity. Melbourne's Greek community was considered the largest outside of Greece in 2004, with estimates of first, second, and third-generation Greeks numbering around 300,000.
Melbourne's Greek community is deeply established, with modern Greek civilisation perpetuated by three Greek Australian day schools, dozens of after-hours Greek schools, a network of aged care and welfare societies, community and cultural organisations, brotherhoods, youth groups, and sporting clubs. The Greek Australian community is most deeply established in Melbourne, with the city regarded as the heartland of Greek Australians.
Greek immigration to Australia has been one of the largest migratory flows in Australian history, especially after World War I, World War II, and the Greek Civil War. Australia has been one of the main destinations for departing Greeks, and Melbourne has been the top destination within Australia.
Despite the large Greek population in Australia, Greek Australians have the lowest rate of intermarriage out of the 54 most common ethnic groups in Australia. Intermarriage often results in a loss of culture in the subsequent generation unless the Greek language and education are introduced early and maintained throughout childhood. As a result, children born to mixed marriages are much less likely to marry someone of a similar background, and the original culture is lost within two generations.
However, the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia has reported that the number of Greeks marrying non-Greek spouses is increasing in recent years. According to the 2016 Australian census, 79.4% of Greek Australians with a spouse or partner had a partner born overseas, and 18.4% had an Australian-born partner.
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Melbourne's Greek community received $200,000 to fund events commemorating Greek Independence
Melbourne, Victoria, is home to the largest Greek Australian community in Australia. Melbourne has a large number of people with Greek heritage and is often regarded as the heartland of the Greek Australian community.
Melbourne's Greek community received $200,000 from the Victorian Government in March 2021 to fund events commemorating the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence. The preservation of Greek culture and community is extremely important to the Greeks, and Melbourne's Greek population is integral to the city. Melbourne has the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Greece and Cyprus, with 88% of Greek Australians speaking Greek. Greek immigration to Australia has been one of the largest migratory flows in Australian history, especially after World War II and the Greek Civil War.
Melbourne's Greek community is deeply established, with three Greek Australian day schools, dozens of after-hours 'Greek schools', a network of aged care and welfare societies, many community and cultural organisations, brotherhoods, youth groups, and sporting clubs. The Hellenic Museum, located in Melbourne's CBD, tells the ongoing story of the Greeks in Melbourne. The city also hosts several Greek film festivals, including the Greek Film Festival, which has been held annually since 1993, and the Greek Australian Short Film Festival, founded in 2010.
Melbourne's Greek Precinct on Lonsdale Street holds the annual Antipodes Festival, which attracted more than 100,000 visitors in 2020. The Festival features over 90 food, retail, and community stalls, as well as free live entertainment, children's rides, and attractions. Melbourne is also a sister city to Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city and one of Europe's most important cultural centres.
The Greek Orthodox Church in Australia has reported that the number of Greeks marrying non-Greek spouses is increasing in recent years. Children born to mixed-marriage Greek families often embrace their Hellenic heritage, and the appeal of Greek culture creates an opportunity for the community to grow in number rather than diminish.
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Frequently asked questions
Melbourne, Victoria.
It is estimated that there are around 300,000 Greeks in Melbourne, with 162,103 in Greater Melbourne according to the 2016 Australian Census.
Yes, Melbourne is sometimes referred to as Greece's 'third city' after Athens and Thessaloniki.
88% of Greek Australians speak Greek, and 91% are members of the Greek Orthodox Church.
The Greek community has had a significant impact on Melbourne's culture, business, and physical landscape. Melbourne's Greek community has established Greek schools, welfare societies, community and cultural organisations, sporting clubs, and more.
