Bookstores of Hobart
Hobart won my heart in a heartbeat! Located on the edge of the world, it welcomes visitors with a bustling town center full of bookstores, art galleries, museums, historical landmarks, statues, antique shops, and an abundance of international cuisine. As a gateway for Antarctic exploration, through the past century, it has been shaped by an eclectic mix of people, among which explorers, scientists, and adventurers.
My favorite way to get to know a new place is through its bookstores and local authors. I explored five bookstores and loved them all!
Hobart is very walkable and the stores below are super close to each other. The Hobart Bookshop and Deja Vu Books are just a minute’s walk from each other, located on Salamanca Square. Fullers, Dymocks, and Cracked and Spineless are also located very close together — at the intersection of Murray St and Collins St.
The Hobart Bookshop is at the heart of Salamanca Square, one of the most iconic spots in the city. It’s packed with books on art, cooking, music, travel, and history, with plenty of offerings for children and young adults. The store pays homage to the rich cultural and artistic history of the region, featuring numerous titles by local authors and on Tasmanian subjects. The Australian-authored books that caught my eye are: Into the Heart of Tasmania: A Search For Human Antiquity by Rebe Taylor; The Factory by Fahey John; Safe Haven by Shankari Chandran; and Tasmanian Aborigines: A History Since 1803 by Lyndall Ryan.
Deja Vu Books is a hidden gem inside the arts and crafts marketplace. Surrounded by locally made paintings, prints, decorative objects, and jewelry, this bookstore boasts a rich collection of Australian fiction, classics, foreign-language novels, poetry, plays, and dedicated sections for British and European authors.
Fullers is my favorite bookshop on the island. It first opened its doors in 1920, and I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said I could spend days there without getting tired of browsing through the thousands of titles. Not surprisingly, it was named the Australian Bookstore of 2024. I love stores that surprise you with intriguing books near the entrance, and Fullers is one of those. The modern thought, philosophy, and history sections are the first you encounter when entering. I especially appreciated the extensive Tasmanian book collection and the lively café with its large message board promoting local gatherings, events, and cultural activities. Nearby is the Little Lotus Café, which I also highly recommend—perhaps enjoy the Nourishing Bowl there with the latest book you’ve picked up. My reading list grew with titles like The Venice Hotel by Australian author Tess Woods, Emigres: French Words That Turned English by Richard Scholar, The Year of Sitting Dangerously: My Garden Safari by Simon Barnes, and The Bookshop Detectives by Kiwi authors Gareth and Louise Ward.
Dymocks boasts the largest children’s and teen book collection I’ve seen recently. Right at the entrance, I found sections dedicated to humor, inspiration, and biographies, as well as a generous selection of fantasy, sci-fi, art, and non-fiction. While you’re there, grab a rice roll from Wafu Sushi (they have plenty of vegan options)—the tempura veggie roll was so tasty, that I’m still salivating.
Cracked and Spineless is an upfront name! Located next to a hostel, an Indian-Nepalese restaurant, a dumpling spot, and a Vietnamese eatery, it has a unique vibe. Thousands of books here are continuing their lives and finding new readers—vagabonds and otherwise! It’s a great spot to meet travelers, chat with the booksellers, or stay updated on what’s happening around town. I worried that if I started digging through the piles, I might miss my flight, which was in a week! Some Australian titles that intrigued me were In Tasmania by Nicholas Shakespeare, Runt by Craig Silvey, and The Deep by Kyle Perry. I also loved seeing many book posters with personal messages of gratitude to the bookstore’s owner, Richard Sprent.
I had two more bookshops on my list—Swan’s Moonah Bookshop and State Bookstore—but ran out of time. I’m saving those for my next trip, and I do hope there’s a next time for me in Tasmania. It’s such a special place!
Last but not least, I would love to mention and recommend two more places that are not bookstores but do have a very good selection of topical literature:
Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum which is dedicated to Australia’s greatest Polar Explorer—Douglas Mawson. The museum has a well-curated collection of books on Antarctic expeditions. There I spotted: Vodka in a Vegemite Jar by Trevor Hamley.
And the Cradle Mountain Gift Store which offers a diverse collection of local art, crafts, whiskey, honey, cheeses, and books! There I spotted Kindred: A Cradle Mountain Love Story by Kate Legge about a Tassie woman and an Australian immigrant and it’s already on my Kindle, so I gotta go!