Clunes Booktown 2026

 

Yesterday was the first day of the annual Clunes Booktown festival. I haven’t been for a few years so I was intent on getting there this year. I knew there would be a lot to look at so we went earlier in the day and I’m so glad we did. We looked at probably half of what there was to see and went to no talks, and still had a full day. We is me with my buddy Evelyn who also took the pics with me in them.

 

 There was such a range of stalls with so many authors in attendance, as well as specialists such as Bookbinders Victoria. We stopped for a bit to watch what they were doing at this stall and to talk about the different covers. In this same hall was Alissa Duke, an artist who takes books on their way to disposal, and turns them into an artwork by adding a watercolour piece inspired by the text. It was gorgeous stuff and we chatted to her for quite a while about Sir Redmund Barry, of all people. 

In one of the shops I spotted a vintage box for the perfume brand Maja. My sister Maja passed away 20 years ago and I have the perfume bottle logo from the 1920s tattooed on my arm to remember her.

The first books I picked up were plays. I managed to find two that I haven’t read before that I have come across in the historical work I’ve been doing at the Australian Centre for Goldrush Collections on the Ballarat National Theatre collection.

I then bought a new book from local author Melanie Ansley. The book had dragons in it and I read the opening, knew straight away my nephews would love it so I bought it for them, while knowing I’d get to read it too. 

 

 

 

 Of course a full day means stopping for food and drink. We got some banh mi shortly after arrival, then had some Devonshire tea in the afternoon. It was also hot and Timboon ice cream had a van there. I didn't see it until they were sold out of watermelon sorbet, so I settled for a delicious passionfruit one. Finally we got ourselves a BBQ sausage. 

 

Towards the end of the day I had been admiring so many wonderful outfits that I decided I would make a little montage. There was an amazing mix of styles, with many representing bookish influences. Some were dressed stylishly to manage the heat. Some were dressed in wild artistic expressions. Thanks to everyone who agreed to be part of it! I put it up on Instagram here.

A wonderful moment during the way connects to something else I’m working on. I am currently in a play/musical called The Deplorables about Australia’s first female cricket team, which came from the book written by Louise Zedda Sampson, who was in attendance and was just as delighted to meet me as I was to meet her. The Deplorables is on at Theatre Works in Melbourne from August 19 - 29.

 

It was a huge day and my feet were pretty sore from all the standing and walking by the end of it. I was really pleased I chose the shoes that I did so that I would be comfortable all day. The end. Enjoy a bunch of photos of me looking at books.

 

 

- L

tags:adventure,clunes booktown