about farrells
We are a proudly independent general bookshop located in Mornington Victoria, about an hour south-east of Melbourne on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula.
We have been part of our community for more than 40 years, sharing our passion for books and reading and providing our customers with quality service and specialised knowledge. Farrells is a welcoming and inclusive space to connect with other book lovers.
At Farrells we strongly believe in the relevance and importance of independent bricks and mortar bookshops in the 21st century – the desire is greater than ever for people to connect within their communities and enjoy face to face relationships with those who can provide them with passionate service and advice.
our philosophy
We believe that books matter. Reading and books have so many benefits – improving your mood, reducing stress, learning new skills or ways of thinking, understanding others and the world around us, and finding connection – to an idea, a feeling, a community. And, of course, entertaining us or giving us a form of escape – without travelling anywhere except the inside of our own heads.
In Farrells we strive to create a place of community, understanding and acceptance, through a shared love of books and everything they can bring us. Matching a reader with a book that will change them, nurture them, reveal a truth they have been searching for or simply bring them pleasure, is what we love to do most. Books can change the world, one reader at a time.
our history
Farrells was established in the late 1970s by Roy and Liz Farrell, who nurtured the business for its first 20 years, before handing the reigns over to Ian and Meredith Horton, formerly of Pages Bookshop in Kew. Both the Farrells and the Hortons were passionately involved in leadership within the book industry in both Victoria and at a national level. They remain active and committed members of the Peninsula community and very regular Farrells customers!
Today Ian and Meredith have passed the mantle to their daughter, Kate. Together with our amazing and passionate staff, Kate works to ensure Farrells continues to evolve to meet the needs of our community. We are constantly humbled by the love our community shows for our little bookshop and the importance it has held in the lives of multiple generations.
AFL Public Holiday Trading hours.
Regular trading hours resume 9am Saturday.
Have you met Jemma? Check out what she`s read lately.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS ARE HERE!
The thing about bookshops? You don’t have to worry about the weather!
🌧️ Rain? Come and browse.
🌨️ Hail? Come and browse.
☀️ Sunshine? You guessed it… come and browse!
Whatever the weather, it’s always a good day to visit your local bookshop, especially during the school holidays!
Come in, escape the weather, discover a new favourite, and let the kids choose something wonderful to read.
Rain, hail or shine ... we’ll see you at Farrells!
IMAGES @KINFOLK_IMAGERY
#SchoolHolidays #FarrellsBookshop #VisitYourLocalBookshop #LoveYourBookshop #BookshopLife #KidsBooks #BooksForKids #BookLovers #Reading #SupportLocal #ShopLocal #IndependentBookshop #SchoolHolidayFun #FamilyFun #ReadMore
It is with great sadness we received the news yesterday of the passing of our dear friend, Terry Denton, early this week.
Terry was a very special man who leaves behind an incredible legacy through his many wonderful contributions to Australian children`s literature as both an author and illustrator. Best known for his 13-book Treehouse series collaboration with Andy Griffiths, Terry`s books spanned picture story, junior fiction and non-fiction children`s books.
Back in 1988, Terry and Alison Lester were the very first author/illustrators to visit the Hortons` brand new children`s bookshop (Pages in Kew). Meredith shared the beautiful anecdote of how at the end of the event Terry asked if he could have a glass of water. She felt terrible for neglecting her guests, only for Terry to proceed, instead of drinking said water, to dip his paintbrush into it so he could paint a picture for our new little shop! Our beautiful little Pages Penguin (from his picture book Home is the Sailor) still has pride of place in our staff room gallery at Farrells today.
Fast forward to our joy, years later now at Farrells, in having Terry as a Mornington local (complete with his kids, Max and Eve, working stints in the bookshop). His signings with Andy (most recently back in 2015) created legendary queues of kids and parents that stretched out the door, down the street and around the corner - such was the beloved impact of his work - it literally stopped traffic!
Terry, we will miss tooting the horn to wave at you on your walks along the Esplanade and your impromptu visits in store for a chat. We are very sad that we will not be able to enjoy new art from you, but will continue to cherish the opportunity to put your books, with their wonderful celebration of imagination and quirky sense of humour into the hands of children in our community. What a treasure trove you have left us.
Our love and very best wishes go to Kristen, Max, Imogen, Eve and their families at this sad time.
Vale Terry Denton.
IF YOU LIKED THIS IS HAPPINESS BY NIALL WILLIAMS, THEN READ VILLA COCO BY ANDREW SEAN GREER!
Loved the warmth, beautiful storytelling and sense of place in This Is Happiness? Then Villa Coco should be your next read.
Both novels celebrate community, connection, love and the unexpected ways people can change each other’s lives.
This Is Happiness → Villa Coco
Two beautiful stories. Two unforgettable worlds. One perfect pairing.
#IfYouLikedThisReadThis #ThisIsHappiness #NiallWilliams #VillaCoco #AndrewSeanGreer #BookRecommendations #BookstagramAustralia #AustralianBooks #BookLovers #WhatToReadNext #FictionLovers
Ever wanted to craft in a bookshop?
Well, now you can!
Join us at Farrells for a very special creative event with @_thecraftyceo , where we’ll chat all things craft, discover her brand-new book, and get hands-on with creativity!
A perfect afternoon for craft lovers, book lovers, or anyone looking to try something new.
Spaces are limited, so book your spot and come craft with us in the bookshop!
https://www.farrells.com.au/event-craft-club-with-nakisah-williams/
PS come check out our craft section. There’s a craft book for every occasion.
#madeinmelbourne #crafternoon
All Heart by Mick Fanning @mfanno
From chasing waves to facing life’s biggest challenges, Mick Fanning shares the stories, lessons and moments that have shaped him both in and out of the water.
An inspiring and honest look at resilience, determination, family and finding the courage to keep moving forward.
Discover All Heart in store or online. PREORDER NOW!
@@simonschusterau
#MickFanning #AllHeart #Surfing #SurfLife #AustralianBooks #AustralianAuthors #Memoir #BookstagramAustralia #BookRecommendation #BookLovers #SurfCulture
community
We are committed to promoting the importance of books and literacy within our community. For several years we have run a Children’s Book Week Story Writing Competition for kids from Prep through to Year 12, which now attracts hundreds of entries annually. We work closely with many local schools to develop their school libraries and reading initiatives, and run pre-school storytimes in store to foster a love of books in our youngest community members. We regularly run events including book clubs and author talks to extend our customer experience and create opportunities to bring the community together to celebrate books.
We also partner regularly with local not-for-profit groups, including Rotary and Lions Clubs, on projects that aim to add value to our community.
We feel lucky to be a part of a regional community that values us and continues to nurture and inspire us in our business and look for every opportunity to give back and nurture that most important of relationships.
In the broader book community we are a proud member of the national industry association known as BookPeople (formerly the Australian Booksellers Association).