Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

[comrade]

Inspired by the Secondhand Record store thread.

I love bookstores and can't walk past one without going in and invariably buying something.

We have some crackers in Melbourne. I love Readings in Lygon St and The Paperback in the city. There is also a great store in main street of Daylesford that has a mix of new and second hand books across all types of weird and wonderful subject matter.

So WOOFers, what are your favourite bookstores? The more obscure the better.

[1eyedog]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

Yes I find it very difficult to walk past a second hand book store. My three favourites are the one is Queenscliff, the site of the former church (it is owned and managed by company who first opened the Barown book sellers store in Geelong). It's been a while since I've been down there though.
Seond one is a really cool one opposite the the botanical gardens in Bendigo. Large open space with a light-filled loft full of books. Large range of titles and an excellent local history section.
Thirdly, the book shop on the Lake at Daylesford, loads of history and science and a great antique book section.

[chef]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

Books For Cooks in Gertrude St would have to be my favorite, heaven for people like me.

[Murphy'sLore]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

My local secondhand bookshop is Brown and Bunting, in High St Northcote, but Barwon Books in Geelong is pretty amazing. I collect kids books so I'm always on the lookout for gems, I found a really rare one in a tiny 2nd hand place in Bacchus Marsh with only a few kids books on the shelves. You've got to love the thrill of the hunt!

[comrade]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

My local secondhand bookshop is Brown and Bunting, in High St Northcote, but Barwon Books in Geelong is pretty amazing. I collect kids books so I'm always on the lookout for gems, I found a really rare one in a tiny 2nd hand place in Bacchus Marsh with only a few kids books on the shelves. You've got to love the thrill of the hunt!

Forgot about Brown and Bunting. I always find something I've been looking for there.

[Murphy'sLore]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

Comrade, if you're in the area, you should check out the Darebin Libraries book sale -- next one is Sat 10th Nov. They clear out library stock from all four libraries once every three months, but people donate books as well so it can be a bit of a bonanza. Paperbacks $1, hardbacks $2. Can't go wrong really!

[mighty_west]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

I can't remember the name of it but there is a funky little bookshop in Lorne in which I ended up buying 4 books, and quite a few id never seen before, had some great photography books.

There was one of those all $5 book stores on the corner of Burke and Elizabeth streets in the city, downstairs they had all $10, found quite a few gems and ended up having to walk around with quite a few kgs of books.

Readings was always good, and a really awesome second hand one on Camberwell road, have thousands of old gems, found 3 Jeff Hook books which I was over the moon about as well as a few others.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

Abracardabra in KEw for old books magazines ephemera footy and sport memorabilia its owned by lloyd holyoake

[comrade]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

Yes I find it very difficult to walk past a second hand book store. My three favourites are the one is Queenscliff, the site of the former church (it is owned and managed by company who first opened the Barown book sellers store in Geelong). It's been a while since I've been down there though.
Seond one is a really cool one opposite the the botanical gardens in Bendigo. Large open space with a light-filled loft full of books. Large range of titles and an excellent local history section.
Thirdly, the book shop on the Lake at Daylesford, loads of history and science and a great antique book section.

I was in Queenscliff recently but the church bookstore was closed. I was shattered! There are other bookstores in the main street which has a Daylesford kind of vibe.

[1eyedog]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

I was in Queenscliff recently but the church bookstore was closed. I was shattered! There are other bookstores in the main street which has a Daylesford kind of vibe.

Ah that's a shame, was it closed for good or just not open when you were there? They did strange hours at times.

[The Underdog]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

Reader's Feast on Collins St and Mary Martin bookshop in Southgate are both great.

[Twodogs]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

There was one of those all $5 book stores on the corner of Burke and Elizabeth streets in the city, downstairs they had all $10, found quite a few gems and ended up having to walk around with quite a few kgs of books.

It's still there, or it was last monday anyway. I got Rocket's biography from there a couple of months ago but the best score I got from that particular shop were a few Viz publications and annuals for five bucks each. I almost cheered when I spotted them there.

Reader's Feast on Collins St and Mary Martin bookshop in Southgate are both great.

Is Mary Martin still in South Melbourne as well? That was a really good bookshop.

[HOSE B ROMERO]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

Came across a great little secondhand one in Warrandyte last weekend, think it was called Warrandyte Books! Backs on to the river. Lots of rooms, nooks and crannies, well laid out and very helpful owner. Can't leave out Polyester books in Gertrude Street...

[LostDoggy]

Re: Best Bookstores - New & Second hand

Three obscure favourites here.

Howard Bolton Bookseller, Charles Street in Northcote South. Everything is well chosen and in good condition. No junk whatsoever. Very fairly priced. Howard knows his stuff.

The other hidden bookshop I'd recommend is Collected Works, tucked away in the Nichols (Nicholas?) Building down the Y&J end of Swanston Street. Poetry specialist.

Finally, Ken Hince Old & Fine Books in the main street of Euroa. Pull off the Hume and have a look. Big on Australian-related books but other topics as well.