Bob gould joined the australian labor party at the age of 17, about 1954, and remained a member of that party throughout his life. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Goulds book arcade is something straight out of a fantasy novel. Goulds book arcade in newtown, sydney, nsw, bookstores. Goulds book arcade now closed used bookstore in newtown. C escher puzzle, gould s is a maze of books, a million of them or more, extending back in rows for as far as the eye can.
Goulds book arcade, for 50 years the last word for sydneys discerning leftwing readers, has. Rising rents have collided with a dip in demand for tattered reads, magazines and preloved records to say nothing of the looming threat of amazon and natalie and mairi can no longer afford to keep. See all 48 photos taken at goulds book arcade by 781 visitors. Goulds has moved to smaller, newer premises at 536 king street. Goulds book arcade newtown, australia atlas obscura. Notice venues and attractions have gone into lockdown as the state takes action to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus covid19. However there is a little wear on the cover and minor tanning and spotting along the edges of the book.
As a bookseller, gould was a sydney character who opened twelve bookshops and closed eleven since. Goulds has changed names a few times and locations many times before opening in the current iconic building in 1989. A large two week sale is planned as a farewell to their home, and to find these books a good home. There is an accompanying photo with bob goulds first wife and his. Theyve routed the socialists and killed words on the page in newtown. And while sydneys passion for intellectual endeavours is perhaps bleak compared to the rest of the world, there are still great bookshops to be seen and prowl around in. August 26 will be goulds book arcades final day at the current premises, before opening the new store in september. C escher puzzle, goulds is a maze of books, a million of them or more, extending back in rows for as far as the eye can see. The best book stores in sydney to explore with kids. As a bookseller, gould was a sydney character who opened twelve bookshops and closed eleven since opening his first shop, the third world bookshop, in 1967. Goulds book arcade has been forced to shut and its huge collection of second hand books, records, comics and posters are being sold to help. While i already have a favourite second hand book store that ive visited since childhood over in daylesford, goulds book arcade is fast catching up. A local, familyrun bookshop, goulds is a member of the australian booksellers association aba. Goulds has moved to the st peters end of king street.
We will be reopening there at the end of september. When people enter goulds book arcade on north king street, newtown, for the first time, they walk in a few steps then pause, beholding the complex interior. Last chapter for goulds book arcade sydney morning herald. Goulds book arcade have announced that they are closed until it is safe to open. One big open door and then a maw of shelved books ground floor and threeside mezzanine. These books were purchased new and have been in storage for decades. A proposito della libreria established in sydney, australia, in 1967, gould s book arcade has over 75,000 books listed, mostly nonfiction. Nothing human is alien to me a quote from roman playwright terence that bob gould often used to sum up the range of material that we have. I remember when bob gould was in the city and then leichhardt and opening his newtown store in the late 1980s.
Goulds book arcade specialises in out of print books, publishers remainders of the last 30. Goulds book arcade has been the dusty wonder of newtown since it opened on king street 30odd years ago, and soon the doors will close. Buy a book and help save an iconic newtown building broadsheet. Books booktown comics commune epic sale goulds book arcade newtown records. Not all that far from one edge of the university of sydney and served by an atthedoor bus from outside the central railway station. With every inch of floortoceiling space filled with thousands of outofprint and secondhand books in absolutely no order whatsoever, its nighon impossible to just.
See 48 photos and 8 tips from 395 visitors to goulds book arcade. Another blogger wrote up her own list of sydneys greatest bookshops, which includes goulds book arcade in newtown and alice and gertrude in bondi. Books have little place in the lives of people moving into newtown these days. Goulds book arcade, sydney abebooks newtown, sydney. The bookstore has signed a new lease on 536 king street in july, nearby the new theatre and newtown garden centre. Goulds secondhand cornucopia is a king street institution. Goulds book arcade owners blame white bread culture for. In newtown rents are rising and bobs first wife told the smh that. Goulds books to reopen on king sts south end ciao magazine. Goulds book arcade does not share any of your information with any other party. If you wish to have your personal details removed from goulds books database please contact us. Several european travel guides list the shop as a place to see. If you are not a serious reader you wont like the bookshop. Goulds book arcade finds new home along king sts south.
The newtown area of sydney is full of energy from the university students that spill into the streets. Shes a massive fan of the newtown nightlife, wont miss a live musician for anything and is an aspiring photographer when it comes to. We specialise in out of print books, publishers remainders of the last 40 years, and second hand books, catering to the general reader, students and some specialist areas. A local, familyrun bookshop, goulds books is also a member of the australian booksellers association aba. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. The primitive world and its transformatiions by redfield, robert and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Goulds book arcade is a must for collectors and book enthusiasts. Natalie gould left and her mother mairi petersen right fear the end is looming for their bookshop, goulds book arcade, in newtown. The first one that caught my eyes was this goulds book. With its dimlit, twostorey hoard of leftwing literature, quirky science fiction novellas and old comics, goulds book arcade looks more like an oversized storage shed than a viable commercial enterprise.
Bookshelf porn photo by noel smyth of goulds book arcade. Since 1989 the shop was at the city end of king st, newtown, but moved in late 2018. The rent is apparently going up such as to render the business unprofitable. Install theme bookshelf porn \ porn for book lovers. Kate geraghty books have little place in the lives. Proudly leftwing sydney institution goulds book arcade is facing the axe as commercial. Proudly leftwing sydney institution goulds book arcade is facing the axe as commercial pressures force it out of its decadeslong home in newtown. Natalie gould left and her mother mairi petersen right fear the end is looming for their bookshop, gould s book arcade, in newtown.
Rising rents have caught up with us and the shop is moving to 536 king st in south newtown thats opposite alice st near the new theatre. Below are a few of the thousands of independent bookstores worldwide with whom partners. Photo by noel smyth of goulds book arcade in newtown, sydney, australia. The shop is about 5 km from the sydney opera house, located on king st, newtown, near the university of sydney, and is open late seven days. Goulds book arcade 536 king st, newtown, new south wales 2042 rated 4. Katie chambers is a young journalist from western sydney who loves food and would never turn down a cocktail. Goulds book arcade newtown, new south wales, australia goulds book arcade specializes in australiana, indigenous australia, politics, society and culture, world history. Trading in newtown since 1988, goulds book arcade is australias largest retailer of used, remaindered, outofprint and rare books under one roof. Earlier this year, longstanding newtown bookshop goulds announced theyd be closing the doors of their beloved building at 32 king street due to rising rental costs. Bookshelf porn celebrates our love of books, libraries, bookstores and bookcases by showcasing the best bookshelf photos from around the world. When people enter gould s book arcade on north king street, newtown, for the first time, they walk in a few steps then pause, beholding the complex interior. The labyrinth of old, dusty books has become a sydney institution, and a perfect fit for the suburb of newtown. Located near sydney university, the quantity and range of books can be a touch overwhelming at first before you even consider the stacks of vinyl, ancient videos and cds, but once you master the eclectic system many wonders await. C escher puzzle, goulds is a maze of books, a million of them or more, extending back in rows for as far as the eye can.
Theres not much that can be said about goulds book arcade that isnt already well known. Goulds books australia shipping rates shipping rates are set by amazon and show the cost per item, not the cost per order. Goulds book arcade has a range and depth of stock pretty unusual by any standards, including books that you wouldnt get elsewhere and probably has more out of print titles than any other book retailer in australia. Anubis books newtown, new south wales aus specializing in. Newtowns beloved bookshop lives on as a multipurpose. After more than five decades as a newtown institution, goulds book arcade is about to begin a new chapter in a fresh home among king sts south end.