Ganas’ cake shop at Annerley

Perry Ganas 1953

Stories about Greek migrants and the shops they operated throughout Brisbane surface almost daily. Ganas’ cake shop, however, has always featured in my mother’s memories of her childhood in Annerley. Hughie Lunn was also familiar with the delights of this shop on Ipswich Road. But I’ll let Perry Ganas tell this story in his own words:

Arthur and Lula Ganas

My father and mother, Arthur and Lula Ganas, were Greek immigrants. From 1940 to 1960 they owned a cake shop and milk bar at 470 Ipswich Road Annerley, where my father, a pastry chef by trade, made delectable cakes and pastries. Lamingtons, coconut macaroons, jam tarts, jam rolls, sponge cakes, puff pastries and, at Christmas, fruit cakes were displayed behind a front window and inside a glass counter.

Scones were a favourite of our customers. At 11 am daily, a large tray of scones fresh out of the oven was placed on a table inside the shop so customers could buy them while they were steaming hot. Their aroma was irresistible. The most popular item we sold was not cakes, however, but meat pies. Our meat pies were famous, and they sold like ‘hot cakes’.

Cake Shop and Cafe

Our milk bar offered milk shakes, malted milks, ice cream cones and soft drinks, which provided customers with relief from the heat outside. Another front window displayed confectionery—lollies, chocolates and Easter eggs at Easter time. We also served light refreshments.

Customers could sit at one of four built-in cubicles to enjoy tea and scones or a hot meat pie with a cool soft drink. A sign hanging above one table read Tea Revives You. I often sat at the tables and did my homework.

My parents left the business soon after 1960 and retired to Newcastle in NSW.

5 thoughts on “Ganas’ cake shop at Annerley”

  1. PERRY, NO MENTION OF YOUR MUSICAL TALENT OR OF A PIANO. I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF YOU PERFORMING, FOR HOURS, ON REQUEST, LONG AND DIFFICULT CLASSICAL PIECES FROM MEMORY IN CROMWELL COLLEGE ,BRISBANE,IN THE MID 50’S. YOU SOOTHED THE ‘SAVAGE BREASTS’ OF THE AGGIES AND VETS OF THE ROUGH GATTON MOB. BUT,YOUR C.V. SPELLS OUT THAT YOU ARE A CREDIT TO THE HUMAN RACE. BEST WISHES .HENRY NIX

    1. Hi Henry. A belated thanks for your kind words on Toni’s blog. It was a pleasure to hear from you. All the best!

  2. INDEED ,TONI, INDEED. NOR THAT OF THE CHILDREN OF A HORNY HANDED CARRIAGE BUILDER IN THE IPSWICH RAILWAY WORKSHOPS. AND GRAND CHILDREN FOR THAT MATTER .EMERITUS PROFESSOR HENRY NIX AO.

  3. Perry Ganas was a classmate at Junction Park and a friend. I recall your Mum and Dad treating us to the Annerley pictures on more than one occasion. I used to sit next to you in class sometimes and I was always amazed at the speed you could compose essays in copybook writing. I walked past 470 Ipswich Road only this week and wished that you great pie shop was still in existance. Hope you are in good health Perry

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