Melbourne Bookstores

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This is a map of bookstores in Melbourne and its surrounding neighborhoods. I created it in the fall of 2007 after living in Melbourne for two months. Please email me at lostgal@gmail.com with any suggestions for additions or corrections. (Map updated as of Melbourne Day, 8/30/08.)

While living in Melbourne, when I wasn’t volunteering for the writer’s festival, I spent hours walking around the city, exploring its diverse neighborhoods. Roaming a fantastic cultural metropolis with a strong artistic vibe and literary festival atmosphere can lead to only one thing for this bookshop scavenger: bookstore visits — a well-documented hobby of mine! This map of Melbourne bookstores is a result of those explorations.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Melbourne has a plethora of wonderful bookstores, more than I expected. The city that’s known for its “four seasons in one day” has a collection of shops sure to please a variety of literary tastes. This map lists over 30 stores in and around Melbourne, but I was only there for two months — I’ve surely missed some! So…I hope folks familiar with the city will comment or contact me with the names of stores I may have overlooked, or with any corrections/updates. I created this map last fall, and continue to update it. Just yesterday I added a few shops that I found over at The Design Files, where Lucy has great photos of her top five Melbourne bookshops.

I took a smattering of photos at the stores I visited (mixed into this set with all my other bookstore visits), and the map is marked with ten purple pins, for my top favorites. Here are links to those, just to get you started:

Artisan Books – Fitzroy

I’ve already written about how much I love this art book shop on Gertrude St.

Books for Cooks - Fitzroy

Just a bit farther down Gertrude St. is this foodie’s literary paradise!

Burning Books – Footscray

I passed this shop almost daily while traveling on the 220 bus into downtown Melbourne. I finally stopped in one day and enjoyed browsing their collection of secondhand books. (**Update: July 2008 — after five years in business, this shop has closed. Bummer. Glad I still have my Burning Books tote bag!)

Domain Books -South Yarra

A tiny shop in Toorak, perfect for a pop-in browse before or after a visit to the Botanical Gardens or Cafe Domain.

The Greville Street Bookstore – Prahran

I came upon this shop right as the rain was about to dampen my afternoon strolling. Perfect time to get “stuck” at this wonderful shop tucked down a side street off of Prahran’s busy shopping district.

Mary Martin Bookshop - CBD

One of the first shops I visited during my early explorations of the CBD. Located along a stretch of Bourke St. with several other bookstores like Hill of Content and The Paperback Bookshop, this one was most appealing to me for its cozy cafe nook.

Metropolis Books - CBD

Simply gorgeous. A stunning space above Swanston St., filled with a beautiful collection of art books and music.

Readings – Carlton

The Lygon St. location of Melbourne’s popular Readings Books and Music is my favorite simply because of its close proximity to some of the best Italian food in town. I love smelling garlic while I read :) I recommend Reading’s St. Kilda’s location as a follow-up dessert stop: Their Acland St. shop is also strategically located for hungry readers!

Seagulls Bookshop – Williamstown

Until I find a good link for this shop, I’ll include this link to Williamstowns’ Literary Festival, of which Seagulls is a sponsor.

Sun Bookshop – Yarraville

Forget about popcorn before a movie at The Sun Theater. I’ll take my film with a book to go. The small shop used to be the candy store for the theater.