Page 22 - Bulletin 12 2008
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Goles Family background
My Grandfather, Athanase (or Arthur) Goles (Fig. 2.2) was born in Tripolis, the capital of
the Greek Peloponnesus (then known as Morea) around 1878. Figure 2.3 shows the square
in Tripolis - Platia Koloktroni. The name Goles probably indicates that the family had
originally hailed from an area in Yugoslavia. Athanase arrived in South Africa in 1902 with
two compatriots - Costa Mitchell (Michaelopoulos) who was to become a racehorse owner,
and Mr. Georgiou / Georgeau who founded the landmark Waldorf Café in Cape Town.
Between 1902 and 1918 we are unsure of Arthur’s exact movements. When he first arrived
at the Cape he probably did as all Greek newcomers did. Almost penniless, he would have
worked as a shop assistant or general helper to one of the other Greeks, whilst accumulating
some capital to start his own business. At some stage between 1902 and 1913 he leased a
tearoom which was on the site which the Olympia Building now occupies. This building
was owned by a Mr Lazarus.
Johannesburg and marriage
The building burnt down in what were apparently mysterious circumstances. Mr.Lazarus
suggested that my grandfather go to Johannesburg and that once the building was rebuilt he
could come back and run the tearoom. There are letters from Arthur to his sister Ariadne in
Greece written from Rosettenville in 1913 and 1916. He was in Johannesburg between
1913 and 1918. In 1917 Johannesburg saw horrendous anti-Greek riots which destroyed the
businesses and livelihoods of many of the Greeks. Soldiers returning from the First World
War went on the rampage burning dozens of Greek owned shops and other businesses to
the ground. Many lost everything and had to build again what had been built at such
personal cost. At the start of the First World War there had been a difference of opinion
between King Constantine of Greece and Prime Minister Venizelos. The King wanted
Greece to remain neutral whilst the prime minister opted to fight on the side of the allies. In
