The milk bar, a quintessential Australian institution pioneered by Greek migrant Mick Adams in 1932, emerged as a transformative force in popular culture during the Great Depression. Blending Greek dairy traditions with American soda fountain influences, it offered an affordable, egalitarian space that reshaped social habits and introduced the milkshake globally. This article explores its origins, evolution, and enduring legacy, alongside the historic Greek-Australian archive now preserved at the State Library of NSW.
