Welcome, it’s Adrian Bo. And this week as part of my “Local History Series”, I’m on Belmore Road in Randwick, where one member of a very important family to the Greek community was once based. Athanassio Comino was born on an island called Kythera in Greece. He arrived in Sydney in 1873 as a crew member on a ship, and then got a job at Balmain Colliery. He would regularly walk down Oxford Street where a Welshman ran a fish and chip shop. And where he came from in Kythera, he had an instinct for fish and crustaceans. And so he made the brave decision to use that instinct to open an “Oyster Saloon” on Oxford Street in 1878. Comino discovered that Oyster farming leases were available at the mouth of the Lane Cove River. And at the time, the Oyster industry was unregulated, and dredging the river was a common practise. However, oyster farming soon became more efficient. Comino farmed and wholesaled New Zealand oysters. His younger brother joined the Oyster business in 1885 when he applied for Oyster farming leases in the Bermagui River. The Comino brothers became known as the “Oyster Kings”. They also opened fish and chip shops, as well as wholesaled Oysters to other restaurants. Sadly, Athanassio passed away in 1897 here on Belmore Road in Randwick. But John continued to grow the business. In fact, he and several other wealthy locals with Greek heritage raised funds to build the first Greek Orthodox church in Australia, which was the Holy Trinity Church in Surry Hills.

John initially lived in Randwick, and then moved to Coogee. The Fisheries Act of 1902 led to John Comino merging with several other Oyster Merchants to create a company called Woodward, Gibbons and Comino, which formed a virtual monopoly of the entire Oyster industry. In 1916, John Comino published a book in Greek called “Life in Australia”, which talked about the great opportunities of migrating to Australia. The book showcased many Greeks running their businesses here in Australia. In fact, the book has been credited as being the main driving force for over 3,000 people migrating from the island of Kythera mainly to New South Wales by the 1930s. Several branches of the Comino family formed part of that 3,000 people, and John became a VIP amongst the Greek community in Sydney. In 1919, John sadly also passed away from the original Australian pandemic, recently well-publicized of course, being the Spanish Flu at his home here on Belmore Road in Randwick. But his legacy continues in various businesses across the city. Amazing to think that 100 years ago during this very period that masks and social distancing was the norm, just like in current days. Now Belmore Road in Randwick, according to the records, has 610 units, three townhouses, 31 houses with the average owner occupier staying here for nine years and one month. Eight units have sold on Belmore Road during the 2021 period, ranging anywhere from $465,000 up to $1.773 million.

The last reported house sale was number 155 all the way back to the turn of the millennium. I’ve literally sold thousands of properties over my 34-year career that I’ve been selling in Randwick, Coogee, Clovelly, Maroubra, Waverley and Bronte, including in Randwick in particular, 1/53 Frenchmans Road in Randwick that was a one-bedroom unit, no parking, $745,000. 3/25 Cook Street, Randwick, a two-bedroom unit with enclosed balcony for $1,007,500 3/202 Clovelly Road, Randwick, a 40-square metre, one-bedroom, no parking, $840,000. 9/158 Oberon Street, Coogee, bordering Randwick, two-bedroom unit, $1,140,000. 1/8 Pitt Street, Randwick, two-bedroom, no parking, no balcony for $1.1 million. 85/69 St. Marks Road, Randwick, a one-bedroom for $755,000, no balcony. 3/74 Coogee Bay Road in Randwick, a two-bedroom, no parking, art deco, $1.3 Million. 15 Hendy Avenue, South Coogee, bordering Randwick, I sold for $2.8 Million, a single fronted freestanding. 5/99 Frenchmans Road, Randwick, a two-bedroom unit for my client and friend Erin Molan for $1,680,250, a record price. Now I really hope you’ve enjoyed the story of the Comino brothers. I’m really fortunate enough to know the current generation of some of the Comino family as clients and friends that have bought and sold through me over my career. And their influence, frankly, on the establishment of the Greek community here in Sydney, as well as their influence on the Oyster industry is quite prolific. Please enjoy this stunning summer season. And always remember, your home is worth more with Adrian Bo.