Subscribe      List an Event or Business      Invite a Writer      Write for WN      Writers      Other Locations
1 million Australian readers every month      list your event

Where is the Best Bookstore in Bendigo?

Home > Bendigo > Books and Writing | Shopping | Questions
Your Answer
share your local knowledge
Writer's Answer:
by Melody Clifford (subscribe)
is a girl-about-town and general, adventurous, know-it-all.
Published January 11th 2012
Book #1
Some of the lovely, old editions from Book Mark's shelves

There is much debate in the current media about whether it's right for consumers to buy books from the megastores, who can so easily outdo the local competition or whether the Australian bookselling industry will even be able to survive against the wave of internet-purchased, foreign imports. There are even questions as to whether books are better read the good old fashioned way or whether the experience has been improved for us, by most titles being made available digitally. But, for those of us who shop locally, there's really only one question that needs to be answered, where is the best place in Bendigo to buy books? Here are some suggestions;

Dymocks - 1 Mitchell Street
Dymocks is probably Bendigo's most well-known commercial bookstore and the one at which you're most likely to find copies of recent releases. They also have big sales and discounts, top ten lists and 'author of the month' highlights. Also, with the Dymocks Book Lover program, you will receive a loyalty card that gives a further percentage of the price off, plus newsletters and invitations to in-store events.


Collins Booksellers - 9 Fountain Court
Like Dymocks, Collins Booksellers tends to have what's currently popular but it is also the local ABC shop. So, if there's a documentary or drama that you've seen on that station, then you can look in Collins for publications to compliment the show or to purchase a DVD copy of whatever it is you've been watching.

Book #2
Dymocks bright, red, store.


Book Now - 1 Farmer's Lane
If you've seen the 1957 film 'Funnyface' starring Audrey Hepburn, then you'll already have some impression of what Book Now in Bendigo is like. Old books, packed tightly onto shelves, laid out on tables and categorised into little alcoves. Creaking, timber floorboards and stairs leading up to a book-filled mezzanine. It would be difficult to come into Book Now and not find something of interest among the 60,000 or so secondhand titles that they carry.

Book #3
The beautiful 'Book Now' building


Book Mark - 24 High Street

Recently, Penguin Books brought out a limited-edition series of hardcovers, designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith to look like old novels. Why bother, when at Book Mark in Bendigo, you can get original, leather-bound, decorated and embossed editions?



The fiercely literary among us, love Book Mark's floor-to-ceiling shelves, crammed with fascinating treasures and can spend hours wandering among them, searching for the next, wondrous find.

Peculiarities like 'Lytton Strachey - Eminent Victorians', 'Wisden's 1938 Cricket Almanac' or the rare, old children's books that are kept behind glass, make this store as much of a museum as it is about books.



Dirt Cheap Books - 14 High Street
The low, low discount pricing is a great way to entice people into this store, but generally it disappoints with few recognisable authors and massive repetitions of the same type of book rather than a truly extensive range.

Still, there's something fun about this type of clearance centre shopping, when you can walk out with bags full of new things and still have change from a twenty dollar note back in your pocket.


Book #4
Dirt Cheap Books, Bendigo

There are a couple of other places in town that stock specialty books like, the Buddisht Aisha Shop in Lyttleton Terrace, Word Christian Bookstore or even the cookbook section within Bendigo Wholefoods. Which of the Bendigo Bookstores is your favourite? Are there any others that I have missed?
Help us improve  Click here if you liked this article  22
Share: email  facebook  twitter
Collins has now closed
by Oldma (score: 0|4) 3594 days ago
Best book store? In a town of 100+ people, ONE bookstore is not enough. Went into Dymocks today as their website has 61 books on the topic I am after and not one book in store on the topic. Won't ever go back for any books. Yet another person converted to online.. Very disappointing.
by tamar (score: 0|2) 3391 days ago
When we bought our shop in 1995 there were 6 book shops in Bendigo . When we sold our store there were 3 left. Since June 2013 there has been only one. It needs support.
by Oldma (score: 0|4) 3391 days ago
You need to update your list of booksellers. Some of them are closed or no longer exist at the address you have them at! :(
by fireh (score: 0|4) 2464 days ago
The Word Christian Book Store no longer exists-except as an online store.
by fireh (score: 0|4) 2436 days ago

Articles from other cities
Popular Articles
Categories
Lists
Questions