ATHANASE AUGUSTE

(1870-1932)

Athanase Auguste (was also known as Athanases, Athanasios, Peter Angelo or Arthur Auguste) was born 14 January 1870.

At 16 years of age Auguste - a mariner, first came to Fremantle in 1886 from Kastellorizo in Greece. He is credited as being the first of the Greek community to arrive- and he helped to found the Greek community in Perth. Auguste travelled to Egypt to marry Panaula Komninos. He returned with her (and Maria Komninos) to Fremantle In 1904, and together they had nine children and lived on Riverside Drive, East Fremantle. A granddaughter has vivid memories of wonderful school holidays spent in the old Auguste home. The old fig and olive trees planted by the family still stand today but the home itself was, unfortunately, demolished in the 1950s when Riverside Road was widened.

Auguste and Panaula ran Auguste’s Oyster Beds cafe/restaurant which was situated on the foreshore of the Swan River in East Fremantle, directly opposite their home. (Reference).

 1920 Universal Fish & Supply Stores- Mr. A. Auguste so long and favorably known, has just opened new premises at 146 Barrack-street, Perth, where he supplies the best of fresh fish and oysters, fresh daily. There is also a hot fish and oyster bar. Oysters from 1s 6d per plate. Mr. Auguste also deals in fish and oysters wholesale, and buys fish and poultry in any quantities. The public are requested to call and inspect stocks and premises. (Reference). Later, this became the Oyster Saloon which served Sydney Rock oysters kept alive in the East Fremantle oyster beds.

1929 The alleged theft of fish, valued at £20, by George Auguste (21), and Anthony Auguste (18), fishmongers, was further inquired into by Mr. H. D. Moseley P.M., in the Perth Police Court yesterday. The West Australian Fish Company alleged that the Augustes, who have a freezing chamber in the same premises as the company, removed the fish from one chamber to the other. (Reference)

1930 Green with putrefaction, Fishmonger Auguste fined-  A shocking case for fish supply shop in Barrack Street, Perth. A hundred pounds of slimy mullet, green with putrefaction, and so nauseating that a doctor ordered its immediate destruction, was exposed for sale in a Barrack-street fish shop! For this menace to the public health a Greek fishmonger, A. Auguste, was this week fined £20. (Reference) Photo The Mirror (Reference)

In 1932 Auguste died

CASTELLORIZIAN ASSOCIATION OF W.A. INCORP. AUGUSTE.  Members of the above Association are respectfully requested to attend the Funeral of our late President and Foundation Member, Athanases Auguste, which will arrive at the Greek Cemetery, Karrakatta, after a service at the Greek Church, Parker-street, Perth (reference)

Greek community loss- Mr. Athanases (Arthur) Auguste, president of the Castellorizian Association of Western Australia, and one of the founders of the Greek community in Perth, died at his residence in Pier-street, Perth on Thursday at the age of 62 years. Several of his country men said yesterday that Mr. Auguste, who arrived in Perth in 1890, was the first Greek to come to this State. 'A true patriot,' was their comment when referring to him. "Mr. Auguste was practically the founder of the Greek community in Perth," said Mr. L. Mandalis, secretary of the Castellorizian Association, yesterday. "The majority of the Greeks in Perth came from the island of Castelloriso. When many of them arrived at Fremantle, they were in straitened circumstances, but Mr. Auguste was always disposed to help them. He provided them with food and shelter until they obtained work. For many years Athanases Auguste was well-known in Perth as an oyster and fish merchant having established the Auguste Oyster Beds Restaurant in Riverside-road, East Fremantle and the Oyster Saloon in Perth. He was survived by his wife, six daughters and three sons.  (Reference)

1930s In the 1930s Dorothea, Helene and Gela, three of Auguste and Panaula’s daughters, ran the Oyster Beds for their widowed mother. Gela later ran the Oyster Beds with her husband, Bill Thornett.

1933  LET it be known that GEORGE ATHANASE AUGUSTE, son of the late Athanase Auguste, fish Merchant of Barrack-street and Wellington-street, and later of the Adelphi, Hay-st; and soon travelling in the Eastern States, has no connection whatsoever with the GEORGE AUGUSTE, who was arrested recently on a charge of vagrancy. (Signed) MRS. PANAULA A. AUGUSTE, the mother of the above George Athanse Auguste (reference)

1934 LET it be known that George Athanase Auguste, of Hay-street, and late of Wellington and Barrack streets, also of East Fremantle, has no connection whatsoever with George Auguste, who was convicted for gambling on March 10, 1934… (reference)

1935 SPORTING CAR CLUB. A Social Evening. The distribution of trophies won by competitors in the W.A. Sporting Car Club's annual flying quarter-mile championships took place at a social at Auguste's Oyster Cafe, East Fremantle, on Thursday last. (reference)

1946 A writ against widow Panaula Auguste, of Riverside Road, East Fremantle, was issued through the Court by Agapitos Nicholas Kanganas, of Market Street, Fremantle. Kanganas's claim is for specific performance of a contract dated October 8, 1945, made between Mrs. Auguste (as vendor) and Kanganas (as purchaser) whereby Mrs. Auguste agreed to sell to him for £1774/15/ a licence or permit to use the Oyster Beds, situated at Riverside Road, East Fremantle… and damages for alleged breach of contract. (Reference)

 Research by Neil Smithson for www.streetsofeastfreo