City Basement Books occupies a subterranean space at three hundred and forty-two Flinders Street, marked by an overhead sign that directs visitors down a flight of stairs. Unlike many modern bookstores that integrate stationery or gifts,…
Melbourne Literary Walking Tour
This walk leads you through the heart of Melbourne's UNESCO City of Literature status, stopping at historic bookshops, rare editions dealers, and grand reading rooms.
Listen to this tour in the Mira app →Walk it in street view
1. City Basement Books
2. The City Reader
The City Reader is a project that maps the literary life of Melbourne through an online platform. It documents the city by gathering stories, maps, and archival materials that link specific locations to published works, authors, and…
3. Kay Craddock Antiquarian Bookseller PTY LTD
Kay Craddock Antiquarian Bookseller occupies a space within the Neo-Gothic Assembly Hall building on Collins Street. The business began in nineteen sixty-five as a family venture called the Essendon Treasure Chest, originally selling a mix…
4. Hill of Content Bookshop
The Hill of Content Bookshop is recognizable by the legacy of its name, which founder Albert Henry Spencer chose in nineteen twenty-two after a walk through the Fitzroy Gardens. Seeking a title for his shop in a part of Melbourne then…
5. The Paperback Bookshop
The Paperback Bookshop sits at the top end of Bourke Street, a small, independent store often recognized by the late hours it keeps in the heart of the city. Established in the nineteen sixties, it occupies a space that holds stacks of…
6. Metropolis Bookshop
Metropolis Bookshop sits on the third floor of Curtin House, a building on Swanston Street known for its vertical mix of creative studios, boutiques, and nightlife. You can identify the shop by its location at the top of a staircase that…
7. State Library Victoria
State Library Victoria is defined by its massive dome and grand scale, occupying an entire city block in the heart of Melbourne. Opened in eighteen fifty-six, it stands as Australia’s oldest public library and one of the first free public…