Book Stores in Sydney

[Tom Semenza]

G'Day to all Down Under:

I'll be heading to the land of Oz in a couple of weeks for a conference in Sydney. Can anyone recommend a any good book shops in Sydney for military aviation titles?

Thanks in advance,

Tom Semenza

[Adam]

There is a place in Parramatta which is about a 20min train trip from Sydney Central Station (obviously depending on whether you get the express train or not). Where in Sydney are you staying?

The place I go to is called Battlebridge Military Books and it is at Shop 1/333 Church Street. The phone number is 02 9687 9025.

(02) 9687 9025
The guy has a reasonable selection of airwarfare titles, mostly to do with the Luftwaffe and RAF, though Japan gets a bit of a look in also.

Having said that his list of titles is somewhat erratic. He has copies of the JG histories for JG 1 (I'm going on memory so I could be wrong on the unit involved) and Prien's multi-volume set for JG 53 (at something like AUD$500). It's been a while since I was there - I live a three hour drive away from there - but depending on your interest you can sometimes get lucky. He also has books covering things like the Ho 229, He 111, Ju 87, Me 262 then things like Shores Fledgling Eagles, Air War Yugoslavia etc. Several nice models of a spit and He 162 hanging from the ceiling and a display case full of 1/72 models of tanks and 190s etc.

The owner is a pretty accomodating guy and if things are wrapped he will open them up for you to look at. This is the best map I could find of the area. Be warned - Parramatta is a rabbit warren.

Other than this guy I don't know of any specialist dealers. If you've any further questions then private message me.

Adam

P.S. If you get lost then ask directions to the tourist info centre then stand outside it's front doors and look to your left at about 10 o'clock. Is next to an internet cafe.

[Tom Semenza]

Thanks, Adam, for your reply. I'll be staying in Sydney on MacQuarie Street just adjacent to the Botanical Gardens. I would be most interested in indiginously published Australian titles concerning the RAAF and AFC which might not be readily available in the U.S.

Tom

[Adam]

Hi Tom,

Can't help you on that one I'm afraid. Not really what I'm interested in. I don't recall seeing much on the RAAF in Parramatta when I have been there but that is not to say that he doesn't stock anything. It may well be kept in a different section to the Luftwaffe stuff. I don't know. There is a new biography out on Killer Caldwell which he might have. It would be best to ring him, but then it's a day out and a return ticket to Paramatta isn't expensive.

When you check in ask whoever is on the front desk where the closest 'Dymocks' and/or 'Angus and Robertson' and/or ABC bookshops are. You're not likely to find esoteric works in those shops but you would have more chance of finding RAAF overviews and certainly the above Caldwell book.

Oh, there is one other place you can try. It's a hobby shop not far from where you're staying. You want to head to the Pitt Street Mall. I can't find a map at the moment so you'll have to rely on my directions, I'm sorry!

MacQuarie St is parallel to Pitt Street (although Elizabeth St is in between the two) when facing west. Go up Pitt Street and you will come across a section that has no traffic. There are stores such as Myers, the Body Shop etc along this section of road. If you walk up either MacQuarie, Elizabeth, Pitt or George Streets and you get to Market street don't go any further. The section of Pitt street you want ends at Market St.

Halfway up the Pitt St block there is a clock on a shop awning with toy soldiers. Under that clock (or there abouts) is an Angus and Robertson bookstoore. Opposite that clock is a mall and on the second floor is HobbyCo (you will see neon lights flashing in the window). Those two places should have good stuff in them also.

Sorry my directions stink, but I'm a bloke - directions aren't our forte according to most women.

Any further questions don't hesitate to ask

Adam

[mhuxt]

If you go along the Pitt Street pedestrian mall, HobbyCo is located above HMV, which most people will know.

They do indeed have some books, but not a huge selection. Some of the "XYZ-type in RAAF Service" volumes.

Aviation-related bookstores are better in Melbourne, if you get down there at all.

[Jim Oxley]

Tom,

If your interested in books that deal with the RAAF/AFC it would certainly be worth your while to do a quick day run down to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. It's only two odd hours south of Sydney, and has one of the best collections of RAAF related book lists anywhere.

[Tom Semenza]

Thanks to all for your recommendations. I'm looking forward to my visit.

Tom

[bearoutwest]

Tom,

Hello. Just read your post, and if you've not already been to Sydney and returned, here's a few other places to look out for:

Napoleon's Military Bookshop.
In the city, new location in York Street (I think), a few doors up from the Galaxy Bookshop (for sci-fi). Check Sydney Yellow pages on line for up-to-date addresses.

Berkelouw Booksellers
Several branches, two in the city.
a) 19 Oxford Street, Paddington. New books on ground floor, 2nd hand on next two floors. A bit hit and miss at times, but I've found some great military and aviation books there at times.
b) 70 Norton Street, Leichardt. Not had a chance to visit yet.

Old Church Bookshop
346a Marsden Rd, Carlingford. Secondhand, about 40 minutes drive out of the city. Located in an old church (hence the name). Worth a visit if you have time. Only 10 minutes drive away if you find yourself visiting Battlebridge Bookshop in Parramatta.

Happy hunting.
...geoff