For It’s A Jolly Good Bookshop: Happy 50th Birthday Readings

©Lian Hingee

A social hub at the centre of the local literary scene, Readings has long held an important place in the Australian literary landscape.  Over the years, generations of book lovers have fond memories of losing all sense of time immersed in a Readings bookshop, wondering dreamily from shelf to shelf. Readings’ Carlton store was established by Mark Rubbo in 1969, and today marks 50 years in the life of the great bookshop that has been integral part of Melbourne’s literary scene.

The shops may have changed over the years, with the stunning renovation of the famous Lygon Street, Carlton store last year, but their appeal to book lovers – regulars and tourists – has always remained. The awards they have racked up along the way are testament to this – Bookstore of the Year Award at the 2016 London Book Fair International Excellence Awards, and the Independent Book Retailer of the Year at the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Australian Book Industry Awards.

When we spoke to Joe Rubbo, the manager of Readings Carlton last year he summed it up beautifully.

‘A good and successful bookshop should reflect its community. It should be somewhere familiar and comfortable, but also somewhere of discovery. Australia, and Melbourne in particular, has such a vibrant group of publishers and authors and a bookstore like ours needs to be the gateway.’

Mark and Joe Rubbo
©Lian Hingee

Readings have always been great supporters of Australian authors, have always supported up and coming writers and of course, their book sellers are second to none – always helpful, always well informed.  The support doesn’t stop there, however: with the establishment of the Readings Foundation in 2009, they also started supporting organisations that focus on the development of literacy, community integration and the arts.

Cheryl Akle, Better Reading Director also has fond memories of hours spent browsing the shelves of Readings.

‘Readings isn’t just a good bookshop it’s a place where you immediately feel at home, the range is so extensive and there is always something interesting going on or someone interesting to see. The book sellers don’t just know everything about the books they are selling – they are often writers too! Mark and his team have created something truly wonderful over the last 50 years.’

So, congratulations to this wonderful Melbourne Institution and Happy 50^thbirthday! If you’re a local or nearby, make sure you take some time out this week to visit one of their lovelybookshops – you won’t regret it.

To read Managing Director Mark Rubbo’s letter to book lovers click here and read here about why authors love Readings.

We spoke to Readings last year on the opening of their new store and for Love Your Bookshop Day – read more here.