Greek Australian
A Greek-Australian is a Greek living in Australia, it includes those Greeks with Australian citizenship and also permanent residents it does not necessarily include those of Greek descent whereby many generations of such have been absorbed into common Australian culture.
According to the 1996 Census, 260,000 Australians speak Greek at home (almost all are presumed to be Greek-Australians). The actual number of Australians of Greek heritage can be assumed to be higher. www.hellenism.net states the number of Greeks living in Australia at 336,782 people (from a 1986 ethnic origin census) which was 2.16% of Australia's 1986 population. 39.3% of these 336,782 Greek-Australians were born in Greece with 49.8% born in Australia, 4.8% in Cyprus, 2.5% Egypt and 3.6% other or unknown. The city of Melbourne boasts the majority of Greeks in Australia. It is the 3rd largest Greek city in the world, the largest outside of Greece.
Famous Greek-Australians
- Jason Akamanis, Brisbane Lions Australian Rules Football player
- John Anictomatis AO, Administrator of the Northern Territory
- Prof Manuel Aroney, academic and human rights advocate
- Senator Nick Bolkus, South Australian politician
- Gia Carides, actress
- Zoe Carides, actress
- Claudia Carvan, actress
- Mary Coustas, Logie Award winning actress, comedian and writer
- Michael Diamond, Olympic shooter
- Alex Dimitriades, actor
- Nicholas Dontas, Northern Territory Minister for Transport
- Rebekah Elmaloglou, actress
- Nick Giannopoulos, actor, writer, stage, film and television producer
- Professor Mary Kalantzis, academic and author
- Michael Katsidis, boxer
- Antigone Kefala, author
- Mary Kostakides, broadcaster and television presenter
- Anthony Koutoufides, Carlton Australian Rules captain
- Lydia Lassila (nee Ierodiakonou), skier
- Stan Lazaridis, footballer
- Stan Longinidis
- John Lazarou, businessman and philanthropist
- Lex Marinos OAM, actor, director, writer and broadcaster
- George Miller (Miliotis)
- Ada Nicodemou, actress
- Paspaley family, pearling industry
- Jimmy Patikas, footballer
- Dr George Peponis, former Canterbury Rugby League Player, Chairman of the Bulldogs Rugby League Board
- Mark Philippoussis, tennis player
- Alex Proyas, producer, director
- Tony Rafty, war artist and cartoonist
- George Souris, Deputy Leader of the New South Wales National Party
- Christos Tsiolkas, author
- Alexander Tzannes, architect