In he years after World War two, a weary and beleaguered European population was enticed to a mysterious southern land, a haven of prosperity and opportunity: Australia.

One unlikely shipping line emerged to dominate the Greek-Australian trade and their elegant, white ships - Patris, Ellinis, Britanis and Australis - paved the way for a whole generation of workers and families to start new lives in this far-off country.

Maritime illustrator and historical enthusiast, Michael Brady, will present a lecture entitled Chandris: By sea to Australia on Thursday 13 August, as part of the Greek History and Culture seminars offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

In this talk, Michael Brady will tell the tale of Anthony and Dimitri Chandris' unlikely success as shipping magnates and the empire they built, the ships they operated and the many thousands of lives that were forever changed by Chandris Line and the arduous, 3-week voyage to Australia by sea.

Michael Brady is an illustrator and recruitment consultant originally from Adelaide. He was trained as an Industrial Designer and in 2018 he founded 'Liner Designs and Illustration'. The business combines his lifelong fascination with ships and history with his design skills, creating museum-quality illustrations of immigrant ships and famous ocean liners alike. Michael got the idea to start the business after his father - singer/songwriter Mike Brady of 'Up There Cazaly' fame - told him exciting stories of what it was like to emigrate to Australia in the 1950s.

When: Thursday 13 August 2020, 7.00μμ
Where: The lecture will be presented online – details will be announced soon.