The milk bar was an embodiment of the great Australian Dream of the 20th Century – it seemed for many to be a place at the heart of their communities, a place where life was potentially fuller, better, richer, and optimism flourished. A beguiling place, a place that we would like to go back to.
91 years since the first Milk Bar in Sydney
November 4 marks the 91st year since Greek migrant-settler Mick Adams (Joachim Tavlaridis) opened the Black & White Milk Bar at 24 Martin Place, Sydney – acknowledged as the first modern milk bar, both nationally and globally; the milkshake was revolutionised by Adams’ modern milk bar and his milk bar concept spread rapidly throughout the nation (by 1937 there were 4,000 registered) and it was then swiftly exported to Great Britain, Europe, New Zealand, South Africa, South Pacific Islands and Japan.
Regrettably, the date also marks the 6th year of the City of Sydney’s inability to find a suitable solution for the installation of a historical plaque to recognised and celebrate such a significant achievement. Ever year whilst Adams operated his Black & White Milk Bar (1932 to late 1950s), he would hold celebrations/events to mark the anniversary. Now, it appears, the City of Sydney Council is resisting even clapping.
Council knocks back heritage plaque
Alternative sites such as several doors east of the site, a low wall away from the site or next to a water drain have been proposed by the Council’s Public Art Collections and Cultural Heritage team – all of which undermine the significance of the site, purport historical inaccuracy and have been justifiably rejected by Janiszewski and Alexakis and Adams’ descendants.
One of Mick Adams’ granddaughters, Janet France has stated: “It [the plaque] is something that would attract more tourists. It would be celebrating multicultural heritage. For the family it would be a celebration and recognition of all the hard work my grandfather did and everything he gave to the country… The council [City of Sydney] got the knockback from the owners [of the site] and there was no plan B”.
The Council has rejected calls for placing the plaque in the pavement outside the milk bar’s site, or on a plinth. So the impasse continues.
Source: Neos Kosmos
