Half of Australia’s bookshops closed within a decade. Should the government help?
In the past year alone, at least 13 independent bookshops have closed in Australia. Some have operated for decades. Perth’s Boffins Books recently announced it would close after 37 years, citing rising costs and “shifting CBD dynamics”. In February, Thesaurus Booksellers in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton closed after nearly 50 years, citing rising rent and operating costs. And late last year, The Bookshop in Sydney’s Darlinghurst closed due to “financial pressures”, after 4
The number of bookshops in Australia has significantly declined, with roughly half closing between 2013 and 2023. Independent bookstores are facing immense financial pressure from rising operational costs and intense competition from online retailers and large discount stores. Several long-standing shops have recently announced closures, citing these economic challenges.
These closures raise concerns about the cultural and intellectual vitality of communities, as independent bookshops serve as vital spaces for discovery, expert advice, and community engagement. The Australian Booksellers Association has highlighted that local bookshops now represent less than half of all print book sales.
The decline of independent bookshops impacts Australia's cultural landscape and the diversity of its literary offerings, prompting discussions about potential government support mechanisms like fixed book pricing seen in Europe.
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