
If you love browsing through Melbourne’s bookshops and curling up with a good book, why don’t you check out something from Melbourne Rare Book Week? Explore the world of rare and collectable books at this beloved annual celebration. This year, there’s 43 free events to look forward to, with exhibitions, a book fair, behind-the-scenes tours and more. Melbourne Rare Book Week will run from Thursday July 24 to Saturday August 2.
Melbourne Rare Book Week
This festival first began in 2012 and was the world’s first rare book week. This year, you can expect a vase range of topics, including a look at Australia’s first woman crime writer, a tumble down the rabbit hole to explore Alice in Wonderland, hearing stories about late Victorian Melbourne and picturing the illustrations of Jane Austen novels.
“Melbourne Rare Book Week showcases the extraordinary literary heritage in our city,” said Mike O’Brien, President of Rare Books Melbourne. “We are proud to offer a feast of lectures, talks, events and exhibitions that celebrate and explore the rich collections and amazing expertise that Melbourne, a UNESCO City of Literature, has to offer.”
Don’t miss the Melbourne Rare Book Fair, the largest rare book fair in the Southern Hemisphere. Back for its 55th edition, this annual book fair will feature rare books, manuscripts, ephemera, prints and more from rare book and antiquarian dealers. You’ll find it in Wilson Hall at the University of Melbourne from July 31 to August 2.
Other events you can look forward to include:
- Caring for Victoria’s Collections – take a behind-the-scenes tour of State Library Victoria’s Conservation Lab. See the specialist facilities used to repair fragile and damaged books, documents and artwork.
- World of the Book Exhibition – see over 300 rare items in the State Library’s collection.
- Down the Rabbit Hole: Exploring Alice in Wonderland – in this collection viewing at State Library Victoria, you’ll see rare first editions, modern adaptations, pop-up books and more.
- Women in Natural History – head to the Melbourne Museum Theatre and listen to a panel discussion about how women have contributed to natural history over time, with a focus on scientific artwork. After the panel, you’ll be able to see a display of rare books.
- Picturing the World of Jane Austen – head to the East Melbourne Library and learn all about the illustrations of Jane Austen novels.
See the full program here.