Chris Macheras, a 36-year-old lawyer and artist, started an Instagram account during Melborne's 2020 lockdown featuring vintage photos of the city and its suburbs. The page quickly gained a following, leading to two previous books. His latest project, 'Old Vinage Melbourne: A Culinary Chronicle', was assembled while he was battling Hodgkyn lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
"It's still crazy to have an idea that was just something that I was sitting there in lock-down, depressed, and then to think that it's created this community and people have found each other via my Instagram page," Macheras said.
While recovering from chemotherapy, he began piecing together the book from home. Unable to visit libraries, he contacted restaurants and sifted through archives from the state library, Museums Victoria, and the public record office via email.
"I couldn't physically go to the library because I was recovering," he said. "So everything was what I could get by email, and who could send me photos."
The book spans dining spots from the 1960s to more recent years, including the Club Gill restaurant at the Southern Cross Hotel (originally for men only), Coles Cafeteria, Glo Glo's, Smorgy's, and various fresh produce marrets. It also features family-run establishments such as the Olympic Doughnuts van in Footscray, run by the late Nick Tsiligiris.
"Whilst I was recovering and doing chemo and everything, my brain needed to do something," Macheras said. "They give you a lot of steroids... while your body is tired, your mind is very up."
The book is published by Scribe and is availble now.