BLARNEY BOOKS is located in a 1920’s Masonic Hall, in the historic seaside village of Port Fairy (trust us, the building is much more attractive when viewed from the inside!). The most scenic way to get to us is down the Great Ocean Road, and 30 minutes past Warrnambool. The quicker way (by far) is to go through the lovely townships of Colac, Camperdown and Terang.
In January 2005, Jo and Dean set up and opened the bookshop and Jo (Dean has a “real” job) had two whole months to enjoy the solitude and quiet of a secondhand bookshop before her first child (Finn) was born. In 2007, another child born (Ferris), and the shop was very sporadically open as a result. Now we have (more or less) regular opening hours throughout most of the year, and over January we are open pretty much every day of the week.
Usual opening hours are Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 12-4 (or 5 if busy), and summer holidays every day of the week. If our flags are flying, we’re open!
The amount of books seems to increase by the minute, but we are quite selective with the stock and hope that this shows in what’s on the shelves. Children are catered for with their own blue bookshelf, a car mat, fish tank and toys. For everyone else, there are comfortable leather couches, a chess board, a piano. There is indeed something for everybody here. We are also happy to host events – book launches, author talks, book club meetings, and other activities. (If you have anything you’d like to be hosted at Blarney Books & Art, please feel free to ring and discuss.)
In 2008 we added an art space to the bookshop, and became Blarney Books & Art. In 2009 we came up with a new art competition for artists, called the Blarney Books Biblio-Art Award. Artists select a book from a list (or out of a wheelbarrow) and create an artwork inspired by that book. The exhibition that results from this competition is opened over the June long weekend. Celebrity judges are invited to select the winner ($1500 1st prize). This competition is growing in popularity quickly, and is lots of fun for all involved! (Subscribe to our website to stay informed.) That exhibition opens over the June long weekend each year. Aside from this, we have a continually changing series of exhibitions, and there are all sorts of other artworks, gift cards, etc., to be found throughout our shop.
Do come and visit us! We are not your average secondhand bookshop!
