40 Charlotte St, 4000
Brisbane, Queensland
Australia
61 7 3221 0491
Archives Fine Books is one of the largest secondhand bookstores in Australia and is housed in the heritage-listed John Mills Himself building in the heart of Brisbane's CBD. This bookstore has gained a reputation since 1985 as an iconic store with a vast, eclectic collection of books. To many who come to visit, the shop presents itself as a wonderland of literature, where the air is scented with old books that evoke in those who browse through it a timeless love of reading and discovery.
Archives Fine Books also stock a huge range of subjects, from literature, philosophy, and politics through to military history, esoterica, and science fiction, with something for every kind of reader. It also encompasses an exceptional range of the scarcest and most collectible books that will appeal to casual browsers and serious collectors alike. The antiquarian section is carefully curated, with unusual and valuable finds reflecting the owners' concern with the preservation of cultural and intellectual heritage.
Since 2008, Hamish Alcorn has been the owner and manager of the bookstore, riding waves of economic fluctuation and natural disaster, and constantly making changes to the collection and services. Along with Dawn Albinger, Hamish worked to expand the antiquarian aspect of the business, keeping Archives Fine Books at the heart of Brisbane's literary and cultural life. They were both powerfully inspired by this idea-to keep the store a vivid part of the city's intellectual life, inviting one and all inside to explore its shelves in search of unknown literary gems.
Its historical location makes it an additional delight. Archives Fine Books is built into a former building of Brisbane printer John Mills and feels like it was part of the craftsmanship and creativity of the early 20th century. The archives have survived to this day and continue to live the legacy through their offering, giving book enthusiasts an opportunity to really drown themselves in the rich history and numerous stories behind the walls.
