About Us · Readings.com.au

store_carlton Readings is an independent retailer of books, music and film - and now ebooks. With six shops operating in Melbourne and a website popular with online shoppers Australia-wide Readings is a cornerstone of the Australian literary landscape.

10% of our profits go to the Readings Foundation, which was established by Readings Managing director Mark Rubbo to support individuals and organisations that wish to further the development of literacy, community work and the arts.

Readings has a strong and ongoing commitment to supporting Australian fiction and non-fiction, and supports small presses and established publishers alike.

For many, the staff of Readings are its most worthwhile assets - whether you’re getting recommendations from a staff member, reading a book review by a staff member on the Readings website or even having a chat with Managing Director Mark Rubbo on the shop floor.

The flagship Readings Carlton shop was founded in 1969 and has since been joined by shops in Hawthorn, Malvern, Port Melbourne, St Kilda and a recent addition of a boutique shop in the foyer of the State Library of Victoria. Each shop retains an individual and intimate feel and maintains strong ties with its local community. The books, CDs, DVDs and other items are carefully selected to reflect the character of the area and the tastes of the local customers.

Readings shops are meetings places and hubs of activities as they host a diverse range of events throughout the year - from author signings, events and book launches to in-store music performances.

Readings Carlton won Australian Independent Bookseller of the Year at the 1998, 2001, 2009 and 2010 Australian Book Industry Awards and Australian Chain Bookseller of the Year 2006.

A History of Readings

store_hawthorn Readings was founded in 1969 by Ross Reading, his partner Dot and Peter Reid. The original shop at 366 Lygon Street was partly funded by Dot’s teaching wage. Occasionally, after a particularly busy day, the shelves would be temporarily restocked from Ross and Dot’s bookshelves at home.

Readings has a renowned and long-running music department and is becoming known for its burgeoning DVD range. However, the business is best known by its formidable reputation as one of Australia’s best bookshops.

Managing Director Mark Rubbo, a former judge of the Miles Franklin Literary Award, is recognised as one of the book trade’s leading authorities. He was awarded a Medal (OAM) in the General Division for service to the community through fostering an awareness of Australian literature as a bookseller, literary critic, and promoter and supporter of Australian writers.

So, it’s slightly surprising to reflect that at the time Mark bought the business in 1976 with partners Steve Smith and Greg Young, he was the owner of Lygon Street’s Professor Longhairs’ Music Shop. (Greg owned the South Yarra Record Collector and Steve ran a mail-order music business.) In 1983, the growing business moved to larger premises on Lygon Street. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, business boomed, leading to a final move in 1998, across the road to the former Commonwealth Bank building.

store_portmelbourne Readings has always been enlivened by a thriving events program. It’s not unusual to wander into a Readings shop on a weekday evening to discover a book launch or reading in progress, wine glasses in hands and an author at the mike. Readings also runs lively children’s events and an array of off-site events to accommodate the large crowds drawn by authors such as David Malouf and Peter Carey.

‘Promoting Australian writing has always been a personal passion,’ says Mark. ‘Our business has grown with the growth of Australian publishing.’

Readings is a gathering place for writers, publishers, artists and intellectuals. Long-time customers include the likes of cartoonist Michael Leunig, actor Sigrid Thornton and property developer Morry Schwartz, as well as a veritable ‘who’s who’ of local writers. Helen Garner, whose novel Monkey Grip, set in Carlton and Fitzroy, was one of Readings’ most successful titles ever (over 3000 sold) is a regular sight among the shelves of the Lygon Street store. And she’s passed the baton to the next generation: her daughter, actor and writer Alice Garner, chose the store to launch her own first book. ‘I’ve always wanted a Readings launch’ is a commonly voiced ambition among aspiring writers.

Today, Readings boasts stores at six locations, each with their own distinct character: Carlton, Hawthorn, Malvern, Port Melbourne St Kilda and the State Library of Victoria.

store_stkilda Our recently renovated St Kilda shop also has iconic origins (formerly the Acland Street independent bookshop Cosmos) and its own famous clientele, including musicians Paul Kelly and Nick Cave.

Readings Hawthorn is a hub of community activity. The shop has been a major Melbourne author events destination since it moved from across the road to a larger space. Readings Hawthorn is home to several book groups, (for children as well as grown-ups), as well as a knitting group and an ethics club.

Dench Bakers (of Scotchmer St, North Fitzroy fame) opened a cafe called Bread and Jam for Frances in early 2010 named after the classic children’s book based on a food obsessed badger who loved bread and jam so much that that’s all she wanted to eat (until the rest of the menu won her over!) Bread and Jam for Frances offer great bread, excellent coffee, simple, hearty food made with quality produce and artisanal care and passion.

store_malvern Readings Malvern moved to its current site on Glenferrie Rd over ten years ago. Its loyal customer base is mostly drawn from the local community, with many regular customers who have been shopping there ‘for years’.

Our vibrant Port Melbourne shop is located in the heritage-listed post office in Bay Street. Recent renovations have transformed the shop into a beautiful, bright space featuring expanded children's, cooking and lifestyle sections and plenty of room to hold fabulous author events. The shop also stocks a wide range of CDs and DVDs.

store_slv The Readings shop at the State Library is the latest addition to the Readings business. Readings won the tender to run the shop in April 2009. It is the first permanent commercial bookshop in the Library’s 150-year history. The Readings State Library shop stocks a diverse range of books including bargain books, Australian fiction and gift books. It is a great place to stop and browse while visiting the State Library or on your way into a free exhibition.

In 2008 the Readings Foundation was established by Readings Managing director Mark Rubbo to support Victorian individuals and organisations that wish to further the development of literacy, community work and the arts. Money is raised from Readings profits, individual donations and most importantly from Readings customers who make donations in return for gift wrapping.

Readings donates 2% of its overall profit to the Readings Foundation each year. Customers can donate to the foundation by purchasing the Readings Anthology Readings and Writings: Forty Years in Books, donating a gold coin to Readings gift-wrapping and accommodation window services and coming along to annual fundraising events. All donations to the foundation over $2 are tax deductible.

In 2010, funding totalling $62,500 was granted to seven organisations to support projects in 2011 that benefit literacy, community and the arts in Victoria. In addition to this, funds will be donated to support the Unpublished Manuscript Fellowship, The Brotherhood of St Laurence HIPPY (Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters) program and the Sacred Heart Mission – totalling $86,000 in donations.