Weekend Book Hunt (Belated)

Just over a year ago my wife and I returned from a trip to Europe.  After a few weeks recovering from jet-lag and settling back into the real world, I went on a book hunt.

Sadly it didn't start well.   My first stop was Syber's Books in Caulfield South, and it was closed... permanently.  I beleve Penny is still selling books online but her (and David's) bricks and mortar store front was no more.

Next stop was Avenue Bookstore in Elsternwick.  Unlike Syber's Books this store sells new titles... and more importantly, was open.

Next on the list was Thesaurus Books in Brighton.  This store has been operating for 48 years, but just a few months after I took these photos, it permanently closed.  In the past I'd ordered several overseas titles through them.

I found the news of this store's closure quite sad, especially after visiting so many secondhand and new bookstores in Europe where every book store owner I spoke to told me sales were doing well and they were optimistic that the youth would continue abandoning their electronic devices to return to physical media like vinyl, CD's and books.

Almost directly opposite Thesaurus Books in Brighton is Top Titles Books.  This store also sells new books, and for a little shop it certainly covers a wide gamet of interesting books, both fact and fiction.  The staff behind the counter are also very helpful and knowledgeable.

After catching a train from Brighton to Flinders Street Station I walked to Basement Books.  This store is one of the last remaining bastions of secondhand books in the City.  The stock is in constant turnover and there's always James Bond titles for sale.  This visit was no different, as you can see in the photos below.

Next stop was the largest bookstore to be found in Victoria - Dymocks.  I love visiting this book store, it contains thousands of new titles and I've been shopping here for many years.  Also, they often have author readings and signings.  One year it was Jeffery Deaver promoting the Bond continuation novel "Carte Blanche" which I attended with my wife.

Kay Craddock Antiquarian Books was next on the list.  This store has shelves of first editions, although unusually on this visit no Ian Fleming titles.  But I'm sure today, over a year later, a Fleming or two sits on their shelves again.

Second last visit on my hunt was the Paperback Bookshop.  This bookstore sells hundreds of new... paperbacks (what a surprise!) and was established in the mid-1960's.  If you're searching for a modern paperback release it's probably on one of these shelves.

Last stop was Hill Of Content Bookstore.  The first photo below is the original premises from where all the books were transported via a human chain of volunteers to their new premises (second photo) a few hundred metres up the road.  This book store is definitely well loved after existing in their original premises for more than 103 years.

And finally, here's some random photos I took while in the City.  Often as a tourist in other countries around the world I take many photos, yet neglect my own backyard.  Today I decided to change that:

Flinders Street Station from a different angle

The Town Hall Station, still under construction at the time as part of the new Metro Tunnel which opened late last year

An old building

Parliament House, Melbourne

An escalator in Parliament Station

Train on the City loop that I took back to my car in Brighton

Dear Reader Books, Tyabb

Located near the rear of the Tyabb Packing House in the "Village" with a collection of other small businesses, cafes and art galleries, sits Dear Reader Books.

Recently celebrating its first birthday, this secondhand book store has hundreds of reasonably priced books covering a wide variety of categories and subjects, with books for readers of all ages.

There are collections of novels by popular authors like Agatha Christie, Alistair MacLean and Matthew Reilly, and there's even a section devoted entirely to James Bond.  The owner is very friendly, and it's obvious after a short chat that she is very passionate about books and her store.  Here's the Facebook page which is frequently updated.

Below is a photo of Tyabb Packing House itself.  It's huge, containing everything from antiques to collectables to art and movie memorabilia to jewellery... the list is endless.

 

There's plenty of parking, or you could catch the Stony Point line from Frankston with a train stop just next door.

I know it's a chiche but I challenge anyone not to find something to purchase at the Tyabb Packing House and Village.  And as you walk around from stall to stall to Village store you'll be amazed what an enjoyable time you've had and what a huge variety of vintage items and objects you've viewed.

Ballarat Stopover (Friday)

Gold was discovered in Victoria in 1851, which led to prospectors far and wide making their way to small settlements like Bendigo and Ballarat to hopefully make their fortune.  Over a short period of time buildings replaced tents and wooden shacks.  

More than 170 years later Ballarat still retains much of its historic architecture, fueled by the immense wealth generated by gold, farming and industry.  Visitors can admire the wide streets and stone buildings, while the living museum that is Sovereign Hill beckons tourists to experience what life was like during the great Victorian gold rush.

(Note: The two preceding paragraphs were researched and not AI generated !)

Also, Ballarat has book stores, and this is where my wife and I stopped for one night on our drive home from Adelaide.

1) That Little Bookshop, Soldiers Hill

This store contains thousands of "pre-loved" books over a wide range of subjects.  The books are really well organised and on the day I visited there were plenty of customers.  

The owner lives for books, and every year he organises a Book Week Bookfest where some of the money raised goes to a local community hub and non-profit social club, which is a great initiative.  Here's the store's website.

2) The Known World Bookshop, Bakery Hill

Entering this store is like stepping back in time.  There's taxidermied animals, world globes, a vintage record player, old flags, hanging mobiles... and lots of books.  Near the rear of the store, descend the stairs to a small room full of vintage paperbacks.  It really is a lovely store, almost from another time.

3) Everybody Knows Books, Ballarat

The owners of this secondhand bookstore love talking about books, and were deep in conversation with some customers when my wife and I arrived.  It was interesting overhearing the conversation as we both perused the shelves. 

Later during our visit, after asking if there was another stash of Bond books somewhere else in the store (sadly there wasn't), one of the owners told me they had over 15,000 books on the shelves with new stock arriving all the time.  Rarer editions of books are held in a glass cabinet near the front counter.  They also hold literary events and book launches/signings for local authors from around the region.  

I highly recommend a visit to this book store in Ballarat, either physically or through their website.

4) Book Bazaar, Ballarat

Thousands of secondhand paperbacks adorn the shelves here.  On the day I visited a customer was asking for a particular Ken Follett title and the friendly owner immediately directed him to near the back of the store.

I managed to find a couple of James Bond continuation novels which I already own, but the owner told me a few months ago they'd had a complete series for sale which were quickly snapped up.  He couldn't recall the covers.

If you visit this store, just be aware they close around 11am on Saturdays.

5) Collins Booksellers, Ballarat

It's great to still visit a bricks and mortar Collins Bookseller.  Once located around Australia these booksellers are now mostly online.  It's a real shame though because there's so much help and advice that can be gained from experts behind a counter, not to mention title recommendations.  It's also very relaxing to shuffle through books and read the blurbs on the back of a book within a warm, friendly environment like in this book store.

And here's some books in an Op. Shop just around the corner...

Random photos of Ballarat incuding a couple of cobble stone laneways which cried out to me to be photographed...