'The Vessel of Dreams: Bringing Tens of Thousands of Greeks to Australia'

Key Points

The Patris embarked on 91 journeys to Australia from 1959 to 1975, frequently navigating through Egypt’s Suez Canal.
Many Greek migrants fondly remember the ship for transporting tens of thousands to Australia.
Numerous passengers viewed migration as an opportunity to escape poverty and unemployment in Greece.

The Patris commenced its first voyage to Australia in late 1959, reaching Sydney Harbour in 1960.

In the following 15 years, it would transport tens of thousands of Greek migrants looking to begin new lives in a distant land.

Magdalini Kyroglou was among the passengers in 1967.

“The journey was like a celebration. It was fantastic. The crew took excellent care of us. Even when I was a bit seasick, I received special attention,” Kyroglou shared with SBS Greek.

Magdalini Kyroglou was on board the Patris in 1967. Credit: Jennifer Scherer

Escaping poverty and seeking security

Patris, which translates to homeland, holds a special place in the hearts of many generations of Greek Australians.

Stavros Economidis was on board in 1960.

Born in Egypt to Greek parents, he migrated to Australia with his mother and siblings

Now, he is the Director of the Hellenic Arts Theatre in Sydney.

“Every evening there was something to attend—a dance or an event. Back then, the food was amazing, and you started forming new friendships there,” said Economidis.

Former passengers aboard the Patris recall nights of dancing. Credit: Jennifer Scherer

Post World War Two and amid economic instability, many saw migration as a way to escape poverty and unemployment in Greece.

For Economidis, his family left Egypt due to political uncertainty.

“I was arriving in a nation that was secure and affluent. We didn’t have such stability in Egypt or Greece. We were compelled to leave Egypt due to issues with (President) Gamal Abdel Nasser. Basically, we had no choice but to leave Egypt,” he explained.

The Patris made regular voyages to Australia between 1959 and 1975. Credit: The Tony Agapitos Collection/ACMI Collection

Greeks in Australia

According to the latest Census, more than 420,000 people in Australia have Greek ancestry.

Victoria is home to the largest Greek community, followed by here in New South Wales.

The Patris holds an important place in the history of Greek migration to Australia, according to Leonard Janiszewski, a historian at Macquarie University.

“There was also the Ellinis and Australis, but it was the Patris, which was close to the hearts of many because it had the greater number of voyages to Australia,” Janiszewski said.

“And as such, between the early 1950s, right through to the early 1980s, there were just over 200,000 Greeks who came here. And half of those came out through the Intergovernmental Committee of European migration.”

Stavros Economidis came to Australia aboard the ship. Credit: Jennifer Scherer

Final voyage

The Patris left Australia for the final time in November 1975, after providing emergency accommodation to those left homeless by Cyclone Tracy in Darwin.

It went on to work in the Mediterranean as a car ferry and a Mediterranean cruise ship – before being taken to the shipwreckers in 1987.

Leonard Janiszewski is a historian at Macquarie University. Credit: Jennifer Scherer

“It was a vessel that carried all their hopes and dreams. Some of those hopes and dreams were fulfilled, others weren’t. But you cannot erode the fact that it was a massive change in people’s lives,” Janiszewski said.

“And when the physicality of the boat disappeared, I’m sure that there were quite a lot of people who would’ve had that sense of loss, a sense that in this physical world, that ship no longer existed. It only existed in mind and experience.”