The Kordatou or Theodorakaki Brothers

This biography is part of a collection from "Life in Australia" :

Of the Kordatou brothers, who come from Kythera, Kyriakos was the first to arrive, disembarking in Australia in 1901. He became the principal support of his other brothers who came after him, Stylianos, Antonios, Georgios, Dimitrios and Ioannis.

In 1903, one of the brothers, Kyriakos, established a magnificent shop in Armidale, which still exists. This was sold recently and was the first fruit and basis for the sizeable businesses of the Kordatou brothers. They already possess four profitable establishments, located in four country towns of New South Wales, namely, Tenterfield, Dubbo, Casino and Coonable. Of these, the establishment at Tenterfield is managed by Kyriakos, that at Dubbo by Antonios, that at Casino by Stylianos and the one at Coonable by Dimitrios. The Kordatou brothers work under the trade name of “Cordato Bros”, who are, among other things, owners of splendid buildings and fairly large tracts of land. “These results have come about through brotherly love and compassion” is what the great property that the Kordatou brothers created in so short a time, declares. Since they are straightforward, honourable and never resting, it was impossible that the brothers be obscure and despised. Quite the opposite, it was impossible for them not to acquire a prestigious position, worthily won through their activity and love of hard work.

During Greece´s recent wars, the Kordatou brothers were the first to deposit a considerable amount for our national needs with the New South Wales Committee for Collections. They are also the first to help, with remarkable generosity, any purpose that helps the community. They are unassuming and devote themselves with care to their business. They behave paternally towards their employees, amongst whom they enjoy great esteem and respect.

Note: The shop at Dubbo is run by the Kordatou brothers in partnership with Mr. Georgios D. Diakopoulos, who is also from Kythera.


This biography is part of a collection from "Life in Australia" published in 1916 by John Comino. It is an important book as it was one of the first Greek books published in Australia for the Greeks back in the homeland. If they needed any more convincing of the golden opportunities awaiting them in Australia, it probably helped create interest amongst young Kytherians and other Greeks. Each of the men portrayed in the book paid for the honour, which, considering their reputation for thriftiness, must have made the decision a hard one for many a Kytherian.

The Kythera-Family.net team, with the support of the Nicolaus Aroney Trust and other generous sponsors, has undertaken to transcribe the entire book for the website and to translate it into English for the non-greek-speaking diaspora community. We hope to also produce a printed version of the translation of Life in Australia sometime in 2005.

For valuable information about the historical background of the publication of Life in Australia, please read the entry by Hugh Gilchrist I ZOI EN AFSTRALLIA in the History, General History section.