The Notaras name now ranks in Australian history amongst legendary cultural figures including Sir William Dobell, Caroline Chisholm, and Dorothea McKellar, after Ioannis (Jack) and his brother Antonios (Tony) were awarded a Blue Plaque by the NSW Government for their contribution to the state’s history through their construction of the iconic Saraton Theatre.
The 2011 National Trust award winning Saraton Theatre was constructed in 1926, by young Greek immigrant brothers Ioannis (Jack) and Antonios (Tony), and after a two-and-a-half-year renovation, the two tier 1250 seat premises reopened on September 2, 2010.
If only the walls of the historic theatre could talk, they would recall the Notaras brothers drawing on their Greek heritage during construction.
“There were no cranes available, so they used the same technology as building the 2500-year-old Parthenon in Athens,” Angelo Notaras (son of Anthony) recounted.
“Lifting and moving the huge steel beams in those days was a hell of a job.”
When construction was finished on the original cinema and theatre, a competition was held among Fitzroy Theatre (located where the Westlawn Finance Building is) patrons to come up with a suitable name for the premises and several people, including the winner, Mrs C Ryder of Grafton, proposed the name Saraton, which is Notaras spelled backwards.
The Notaras brothers were one of 14 Blue Plaque recipients chosen from 117 nominations made by the public and assessed by independent historians to be awarded the prestigious Blue Plaque on November 20.
Around NSW there are more than 30 Blue Plaques already, visited by travellers from Broken Hill to Bathurst, and in Sydney suburbs, highlighting the significant people and events that have contributed to and shaped the culture and history of the state.
Other Blue Plaque recipients in this round included three-time Archibald prize winner Sir William Dobell, Kathleen Butler a woman without engineering qualifications who played a significant role in developing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Australia’s first surf club Bondi Surf Life Saving Club which was founded in February 1907.
NSW Minister for Heritage, Penny Sharpe MLC said with Blue Plaques in regional towns like Grafton and Pambula, there has never been a better time to explore and discover the state.
“These Blue Plaques recognise the diverse individuals, events and perspectives that make the history of NSW so intriguing, and it’s wonderful this round has been nominated directly by members of the public,” she said.
“The installation of each new plaque brings added interest to the heritage of an area, encouraging locals to explore their backyards, and inviting those from further afield to learn more about the history of these communities.”
The wording on the Saraton Theatre Blue Plaque will be:
Ioannis (Jack) and Antonios (Tony) Notaras
1892-1962
1895-1991
Brothers and businessmen
Built this theatre.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 29 November 2023.
Related story: Important recognition of the Saraton Theatre
