These Melbourne Bookstores Are Doing Free Local Delivery (Some Same-Day, for True Literary Emergencies)

This list is being regularly updated but some details may have changed since publication.

There’s a knock at my door, and by the time I open it there’s nobody there – but there’s a brown paper package waiting for me. The delivery person waves to me from the gate, smiles, then hops back on her bike.

Book delivery – mostly from small, neighbourhood stores – is just one of the new services that’s popped up during the coronavirus crisis. So if you’re staying in but still want to support local businesses (and authors), you can. Even better: some are offering same-day service – perfect for whatever literary emergencies might pop up.

My delivery came from The Sun Bookshop in Yarraville. In a normal week the store would host story-time sessions for children, author events, book clubs and launches – but all of this has been cancelled. It’s a similar story at bookshops across Australia.

Want to give some extra love to the local literary community? Order a book by an Aussie author, or something published by a small Australian publisher. Another tip: some stores are also selling activity books and puzzles to keep little isolators entertained.

Alan Vaarwork, editor of Aussie literary and culture mag Kill Your Darlings, has put together this evolving map to help you find a local bookseller.

• Antipodes Gallery & Bookshop in Sorrento. This store is delivering for free to postcodes 3939, 3940, 3941, 3942, 3943 and 3944. Call (03) 5984 4217 or email hello@antipodesbookshop.com.au to order.

• Avenue Bookstore in Richmond, Albert Park and Elsternwick. Orders of $30 or more placed before 3pm will be delivered free that day (as long as the books are in stock). Areas covered include Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Middle Park, East Melbourne, Richmond, Burnley, Hawthorn, South Yarra, Toorak, Prahran, St Kilda, St Kilda East, Caulfield, Elwood, Elsternwick, Brighton, and Ormond. If your suburb isn’t included, call to see if they’ll deliver to you. More information here.

• Avoca Hill Bookstore in South Yarra. Free next-day local delivery when you spend more than $20 on in-stock books.

• Beaumaris Books in Beaumaris. In addition to offering over-the-phone recommendations and free gift-wrapping, this store is doing free delivery to Beaumaris, Black Rock, Cheltenham, Mentone, Parkdale, Mordialloc, Highett, Hampton and Sandringham. Order by calling 0422 522 007.

• Benn’s Books in Bentleigh. The family-run store is delivering free to Bentleigh, East Bentleigh, McKinnon, Moorabbin and Murrumbeena. Order online, by calling (03) 9557 3969, by emailing info@bennsbooks.com.au, or via Instagram DM.

• Bookgrove in Ocean Grove. Now delivering anywhere on the Bellarine Peninsula. Free delivery on orders over $50. Contact them via Instagram or by calling (03) 5255 5973.

• Books for Cooks at Queen Victoria Market. This shop at the market buys and sells new and old books about food, wine and the culinary arts. Buy online for free next-day local delivery.

• The Bookshop at Queenscliff in Queenscliff. Delivering free to anyone with a 3225 postcode. Call (03) 5258 4496 or email info@thebookshopatqueenscliff.com to order.

• Brotherhood Books, online only. This not-for-profit second-hand bookshop (run by the Brotherhood of St Laurence) is offering free delivery Australia-wide when you buy three or more books. Order online.

• Brunswick Bound in Brunswick. Now delivering to Ascot Vale, Brunswick, Brunswick East, Brunswick West, Coburg, Coburg North, Essendon, Flemington, Moonee Ponds, Northcote, North Carlton, North Fitzroy, Parkville, Pascoe Vale, Pascoe Vale South, Preston, Reservoir and Thornbury. Order online or call (03) 9381 4019. More information here.

• The Brunswick Street Bookstore in Fitzroy. Free next-day local delivery when you spend more than $20 on in-stock books.

• Collins Booksellers, online and at various locations across Australia. Offering free shipping Australia-wide for purchases over $50. Order online.

• Coventry Bookstore in South Melbourne. Free local delivery for all orders over $20; next-day delivery for all items as long as they’re in stock. Order online.

• Escape Hatch Books in Kew East. This specialist children’s bookstore is offering free delivery to surrounding suburbs within 24 hours. Order online and select the “free local delivery” option at the checkout.

• Happy Valley in Collingwood. This shop sells books, cookbooks, design books, art, gifts, records and more, and right now the team is doing free home delivery (by foot) to those in the Collingwood, Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, Clifton Hill and Carlton North areas. Order online or call (03) 9077 8509. More details on Instagram and online.

• Hares & Hyenas in Fitzroy. This queer and intersectional bookshop, cafe and performance venue is offering a books-on-bikes local delivery service for those staying in their homes or who cannot afford postage. For more information or to place an order, call (03) 9495 6589 or email contactus@hares-hyenas.com.au.

• Hill of Content in Melbourne. The famous Bourke Street bookshop is offering free delivery for orders over $50. Order online.

• Eltham Bookshop in Eltham. Delivering to all addresses in the extended neighbourhood. Order by calling (03) 9439 8700 or emailing books@elthambookshop.com.au.

• Fairfield Books in Fairfield. Delivering free to the local area. You can also arrange a pick-up from the store – staff will drop your order into your car window. Call (03) 9017 4748 to place your order.

• Farrell’s Bookshop in Mornington. Get in touch by calling (03) 5975 5034 or emailing info@farrells.com.au for free local delivery.

• The Grumpy Swimmer in Elwood. Offering free delivery to Elwood and surrounding suburbs. Order by calling (03) 9525 7488 or emailing info@thegrumpyswimmer.com.au.

• The Leaf Bookshop in Ashburton. Free deliveries within a five-kilometre radius of the shop. Call (03) 9885 1900 to place your order.

• The Little Bookroom in Carlton North. Free deliveries to some northern suburbs, depending on the day of the week. Order online and select “free local delivery” at checkout.

• Metropolis Bookshop in Melbourne. This eclectic shop located in Swanston Street’s Curtin House is currently offering free postage in metropolitan Melbourne and for orders of $50 or more. Order online.

• My Bookshop in Hawksburn. Free delivery within a 10-kilometre radius of the shop. Call (03) 9824 2990 to arrange.

• Neighbourhood Books in Northcote. Free delivery to Northcote, Thornbury, Preston, Reservoir, Fairfield, Carlton North, Carlton, Fitzroy North, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Princes Hill, Clifton Hill and Brunswick daily. Select “free local delivery” when you order online. More info on delivery suburbs and days here.

• New Leaves in Woodend. Free delivery in the Macedon Ranges area. To order, call (03) 5427 4276 and they will scoot, bike or drive your books to you.

• Readings in Carlton, Doncaster, Hawthorn, St Kilda and Malvern. The Melbourne institution has a flat delivery fee of $5 but is offering free delivery Australia-wide when you spend more than $60.

• The Sun Bookshop in Yarraville. Attached to the historic Sun Theatre, this store is doing free same-day deliveries by bike to customers in Yarraville and Seddon, and next-day deliveries by car to Kingsville, South Kingsville, Footscray, West Footscray, Spotswood, Williamstown and Newport. Call (03) 9689 0661 to order.

• Thesaurus Books in Brighton. Free home delivery to Brighton, Brighton East, Hampton and Bentleigh. Call (03) 9591 0811 or email info@thesaurusbooks.com.au to order.

• Turn The Page in Cowes. This Phillip Island bookshop is delivering locally. To arrange delivery, call (03) 5952 1444.

• North Melbourne Books in North Melbourne. Now offering free home delivery to North Melbourne and West Melbourne. Call the shop on (03) 9041 4216 or email northmelbournebooks@gmail.com.

• Torquay Books in Torquay. Offering free local delivery (with no minimum order) to 3228 addresses for customers in high-risk categories who can’t travel. Delivery is also free to other local postcodes (minimum order $70). Order online and choose “pick-up” for delivery later that day, and specify that you need delivery in the comments. Alternatively you can call them on (03) 5261 2311 or email torqbook@bigpond.net.au and pay over the phone. More info here.