The son-in-law of the first president of the Canberra Greek community Theo Notaras, Mr Koundouris said Mr Notaras quickly embraced Australians.

These included one-time governor-general Lord Richard Casey, and the two were regular swimmers at the Manuka Pool, where they raced for a wager.

''If he lost, Theo would have to give him milkshakes for life. A lot of [politicians] would go to the cafe to get away from the food at Parliament House. Theo won the bet and Casey flew the [Greek] flag for the whole day, which was unheard of.''

One of the Shakespeare founders of The Canberra Times, either Thomas or his son Arthur cashed the newspaper's wages cheque at Mr Notaras' Capitol cafe on Fridays, on the understanding he would not bank it until early the following week, by which time money from the Saturday paper's classified advertisements would have been banked.

Another notable Greek, Nick Theodorakis, came from Cootamundra and lobbied the then Country Party for the Hellenic Club's site in Woden. Mr Theodorakis also rose to become a grand master in the Masonic Lodge.

Mr Koundouris said Greeks were happy to push inland, leaving the security of family and friends in major cities to set up the first cafe in a country town.

"They came out from the real bush in Greece, no electricity or running water, they came out here to better themselves.

''Food was a natural thing for them. Aussies of the bush are friendlier … because they came from the bush too they felt more comfortable.''

When he was an accountant in Sydney, he met another Greek who had borrowed money from Mr Koundouris' boss to start a business. He had confided he wanted a little rural property to grow tomatoes, like he had in Greece. He went to a mostly undeveloped Liverpool, bought a small block of land where he grew fruit and vegetables for Paddy's market.

"About 10, 15 years ago I bumped into him,'' Mr Koundouris said. "This bloke puts a bear hug on me, saying 'Hi Eric, how are you going?'

"I said, how is the farm? I had forgotten how much Liverpool had grown. He said, 'What farm? I sold it and I've got a problem, what to do with them money?'''

He had sold it for $54 million.

''I nearly fell through the floor. I said: you are kidding me, just relax and put it in the bank, and go get a financial advisor.

''He couldn't live in the city, buses and things were not their go.''

Mr Koundouris said Croatians, who arrived later than Italians, built many of the ACT's residential properties and would be significant owners as well.

He said another joke of the early years among Greeks was that anyone could drive from Sydney to Queensland without having to pay for a meal.

''You could stop at every country town and get a free feed [from a Greek cafe] and they would be glad to see you.''