Gould's Book Arcade

It’s hard to imagine Gould’s Book Arcade being anywhere else but in Newtown. This eclectic, family-run emporium has a history in the area dating back more than 50 years, when it first started as a literary hub for left-wing intellectuals from the nearby Sydney University.

It was priced out of its original, iconic premises on North King Street in 2018, but was able to relocate to the south end where it lives today. And while the offering has downsized considerably, the ramshackle spirit of the original Gould’s remains intact.

You’ll find every kind of second-hand book here, from literary fiction to medical journals; New Age self-help manuals to biographies. And that doesn’t even scratch the surface. There’s also a decent selection of second-hand vinyl, adding further clout to South King’s status as a crate digger’s avalon.