If you're heading for Wilsons Promontory National Park from Melbourne and like browsing in secondhand bookshops, then the township of Meeniyan is a good place to take a break.
It has two bookshops in the main street: Antiquities, which specialises in collectibles, and Meeniyan Books, which is a bookshop/cafe/gallery in one.
I hadn't been to Antiquities before - it opened two years ago - and while it contains lots of old books and first editions, I was a bit disappointed with the lack of order; vintage kids' books could be found on various shelves and tables, and I didn't come out confident that I'd seen everything I might be interested in. I also found some of them a bit pricey. My husband, who's interested in Victorian history books, thought the same thing. However, it's definitely worth visiting, especially if you collect first editions (there were lots of Nevil Shute books) or books/magazines about guns and shooting. I don't think I've ever seen as many publications on this subject all together in one place! Visit quickly, as the bookshop is up for sale.
Meeniyan Books has been there for years, and is an atmospheric place, with books lining a passageway and two rooms of the building it's located in. The aroma of coffee and soup and the log fire in the cafe add to the atmosphere. Books here are a lot cheaper than the ones down the road, and you can still come across the odd gem. On this visit, I found an Elinor Lyon and a Geoffrey Trease for $2 each, both in lovely condition.
As well as being en route to the Prom, Meeniyan is close to the south Gippsland coastal towns like Inverloch and Venus Bay, and can be included in a drive taking in bookshops in nearby Loch and Fish Creek.
No comments:
Post a Comment