Through the Looking Glass in Sassafras

 

So many shops in and around Melbourne have closed as a result of lockdown, so I was amazed and thrilled to discover that Sassafras, on Mount Dandenong, has a new second-hand bookshop.

Through the Looking Glass opened around the time Melbourne's four-month-long lockdown ended, and couldn't be in a better location, right in Sassafras's main street.

If the name sounds familiar, that's because the owners have another bookshop just down the hill in Belgrave. I've reviewed the Belgrave shop previously, and it's fantastic that they are doing well enough in these challenged times to open a second bookshop.

The Sassafras shop is absolutely gorgeous inside - spacious and with lovely bookcases, old tables and chairs, and, of course, an eclectic range of books to browse. Their children's section tends towards more recent authors like John Flanagan and Rick Riordan, but there are some older books by authors like Enid Blyton as well. There's a large selection of fantasy and sci fi books to the left as you enter the shop and lots of contemporary and literary fiction.

If you're up in the hills for the day, Sassafras has several cafes and gift shops, and you don't have to travel very far to find pubs, restaurants, and more cafes and gift shops. Alfred Nicholas Gardens and the Dandenong Ranges Botanical Gardens (aka the National Rhododendron Gardens) are also close by.

If you're visiting with kids, you might also want to check out the nearby Olinda Pool and Olinda Playspace.  

As a local, I'm delighted to see another second-hand bookshop in the hills. With the Belgrave and Sassafras shops, along with Rainy Day Books in The Basin and Kallista Books in Kallista, it could well be time for the Dandenong Ranges Second-hand Bookshop Trail from around 10 years ago to be revived.

Bookshops in Belgrave

When I first started this blog, Through the Looking Glass was a brand new second-hand bookshop in Belgrave run by a mother and daughter.

Although the mother and daughter have long moved on, pleasingly the shop is still there, now run by its third owner. Apparently its first birthday under the current owners was celebrated last week.

It's a small, but well-stocked bookshop with a great vibe. The man behind the counter when I visited told me that the new owners want it to be a community hub as well as a bookshop. Evidence of this is that they gave free books to children who visited the bookshop last week, as part of Australia's Book Week celebrations.

Through the Looking Glass has a diverse range of books, and the children's section includes traditional favourites like Alan Garner and Enid Blyton as well as novels by more recent popular writers like Philip Reeve and Rick Riordan. There's a nice little nook with cushions where kids can curl up and read, and a Harry Potter uniform was on display when I visited.

Through the Looking Glass is at the roundabout end of Burwood Highway. At the other end of town, next to the Cameo Cinema, is the Book Barn, a modern bookshop that also stocks art supplies. This is well worth a visit if it's contemporary books you're after and their children's section is very strong.

Non-literary things to do locally include a ride on Puffing Billy, just down from Through the Looking Glass. There are lots of eateries along Burwood Highway, and if you want to watch a movie, the cinema is great too.

Through the Looking Glass ...

Through the Looking Glass is a new second-hand bookshop in Belgrave - in the main street not far from the roundabout, so conveniently close to Puffing Billy. The sign isn't on the bookshop yet, but you can't miss it - there are lots of books in the window!

It's a beautiful little shop, with lots of good-quality books, candles burning in the fireplace, and owners (a mother and daughter) who love books and know loads about them. There's a good fiction section, a glass case containing some collectibles, lots of non-fiction, and an excellent selection of picture books, children's novels, and young adult fiction at the back.

This is a welcome addition to Belgrave - and judging by the number of people browsing when I was in, I'm not the only one to feel this way. It's been a very long time since Belgrave's main shopping strip had a second-hand bookshop and that one was nowhere near as good as this one is. Through the Looking Glass opened only a week ago and hopefully it'll be there for a very long time.