Con Goulas, a towering figure and steadfast pillar of Footscray’s Greek community, has passed away at the age of 91, leaving behind a profound legacy of leadership, service, and cultural pride.
His name became synonymous with Conway’s Fishing Trading, a business he transformed into one of Melbourne’s most respected seafood enterprises, flourishing across both wholesale and retail markets.
Yet Con Goulas was far more than a successful businessman. He was a cornerstone of Footscray’s Greek Australian heritage — a legacy deeply woven into the suburb’s cultural and community fabric.
In 2023, that legacy was immortalised when the Goulas family was honoured in Footscray’s Hidden Hellenism mural, proudly painted on the wall of Conway’s Fishing Trading on Yewers Street. A tribute to the family’s lasting impact in Melbourne’s western suburbs, the mural also features within the new Footscray Hospital — a lasting symbol of their contribution to the region.
Con’s life stands as a powerful testament to dedication, resilience and vision — proof that adversity, when met with perseverance, can be transformed into enduring achievement.
Love, Family and the Making of a Legacy
At just 19 years old, Con (Konstantinos) Goulas arrived in Melbourne in 1954, leaving behind the hardship of post-war Greece with little more than determination and hope.
He began working at his uncle’s fish and chips shop in Caulfield and soon assumed full ownership — an early sign of his entrepreneurial instinct. After a brief period in the building industry, he joined Con Geralis at the South Wharf Fish Market, laying the groundwork for seafood distribution across Australia.
By 1969, Con was travelling the country selling seafood from a truck alongside his partner, Diamantaris. That same year, he and his wife Genovefa purchased a milk bar on Wingfield Street — the humble beginnings of what would grow into Conway Fish Trading.
With a van and freezer, and the steadfast support of his family — particularly his son Dimi — Con shifted the business toward wholesale operations. In 1983, he established a fish processing factory, further cementing the company’s expansion. Retail followed in 2005 with the opening of a fresh fish store, later complemented by a fish and chips shop.
Today, his son Dimi, alongside his wife Stacey (Anastasia) and their son Alexandros, proudly continue the family legacy, operating three thriving businesses across wholesale, retail and hospitality.
A Love Story Rooted in Faith and Community
In 1960, a young Con met the love of his life, Genovefa, at Evangelismos Church in East Melbourne. Their first date in Williamstown soon led to engagement, and in 1961 they were married at St Nicholas Church in Yarraville.
Their growing family brought great joy. In 1963, they welcomed their son Dimitrios (Dimi), whose unusually large size as a newborn even made headlines in the Herald Sun. Daughter Yvonne followed in 1965. Later, Dimi and Stacey blessed them with three grandsons — Konstantinos, Nikolaos and Alexandros — continuing the proud family line.
Together, Con and Genovefa strengthened the Greek community through tireless service and philanthropy. Genovefa, known for her dedicated fundraising efforts, played a key role in establishing the Greek Orthodox Church of Panagia Soumela in East Keilor. She passed away on June 16, 2023, leaving behind a remarkable record of generosity and faith.
Though their absence is deeply felt, their shared legacy of love, commitment and community service continues to inspire.
Daily Rituals and Cherished Bonds
Even after stepping back from daily management, Con remained devoted to the business that bore his name.
Each morning began with coffee alongside his son Dimi, discussing the shop and its operations. By 5:30am, Con would arrive at the premises, settling into the kitchen to greet regular customers and friends. His warmth earned him a reputation as a “grandfather” to neighbours near his Maribyrnong River apartment.
His daughter Yvonne lovingly accompanied him to medical appointments, often sharing a meal afterwards. Back at Conway’s, Con would retreat to his cherished office — walls lined with mementos of a lifetime’s achievements — where he enjoyed reading books about his village in Greece. From his window, he watched the lively rhythm of the shop below with quiet pride.
Sundays were reserved for church, where he spent time with friends and Father Nikolaos before sharing coffee in the hall. Twice weekly, long-time employee and close friend Manolis Scorsis visited to prepare meals and share tsipouro — moments of companionship and reflection.
Evenings often ended with Dimi stopping by for a whisky and conversation.
“That was our little routine in his later years,” Dimi recalled — simple rituals that carried deep meaning.
His grandson Alexandros, who now works full-time in the business, shared a particularly tender bond with his grandfather — shaving him, playing billiards alongside his brothers Kostas and Nikolaos, and laughing at Con’s playful antics, like tossing ice cubes across the filleting bench while feigning innocence.
An Irreplaceable Presence
The passing of Con Goulas leaves a profound void, reflected in the outpouring of tributes from across the community. But his legacy extends far beyond Conway Fish Trading.
It lives in the streets of Footscray, in the strength of a family bound by love and purpose, and in the countless lives uplifted by his generosity, humour and unwavering work ethic.
Con Goulas did not simply build a business. He built a legacy — one that will endure for generations to come.
