50 years. Abbey's at 131 York Street (next to QVB) is an Aladdin's cave for readers and Sydney's much-loved indie bookshop since 1968 ~ Where ideas grow.

Since 1968 ~ an Aladdin's cave for readers 

Nestled beside the Queen Victoria Building, Abbey’s Bookshop at 131 York Street has become an institution among readers and knowledge seekers looking for those hard to find books. Abbey's remains a favourite of many of Australia’s academics and authors, politicians and lawyers.

We're a ‘must’ if your interests are in history, science, crime fiction or literature. Our customers often express their surprise and delight at finding books they were unaware of, whether from smaller publishers or sourced from overseas.

And more treasures lie upstairs - thousands of fantasy and science fiction books in our GALAXY Bookshop, plus an enormous range of fiction in other languages within our Language Book Centre.

Abbey’s really is an Aladdin’s cave for readers!

Since 1968 ~ A History

Abbey's Bookshops comprises: Abbey's Bookshop, Galaxy Bookshop and Language Book Centre.

Independent booksellers in Sydney since 1968, we have built a strong reputation for providing a great range of books, together with friendly, knowledgeable service.

For our full history, please have a look at our 2008 40th Anniversary commemorative booklet, Forty Memories.

Abbey's Bookshop was established in Sydney in 1968 by Ron and Eve Abbey at 115 Pitt Street, relocating one year later to Sydney's historic Queen Victoria Building.

In 1983, the restoration of the QVB heralded a move to 66 King Street, where the company already operated Penguin Bookshop (since 1977) and Oxford and Cambridge Bookshop (since 1978), specialising in the books of those publishers.

In 1986, all 3 shops moved to their current premises at 131 York Street, opposite the QVB and only 100 metres from Town Hall Railway Station.

Galaxy Bookshop - specialising in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror - was opened in 1975 at 106a Bathurst Street, moving to larger premises 10 years later at 203b Castlereagh Street. In 1993, the shop relocated to 222 Clarence Street, immediately behind Abbey's in York Street. In 2002, the shop relocated to 143 York Street, a few doors down from Abbey's. And in June 2011 Galaxy moved to the floor above Abbey's, the first floor of 131 York Street, sharing the space with Language Book Centre.

Language Book Centre was opened in 1976 at 127 York Street, moving in 1986 to the first floor of 131 York Street, above Abbey's.

Other shops operated in Sydney by the company have included Henry Lawson's Bookshop, City Lights Bookshop, Centrepoint Bookshop, Tank Stream Bookshop, Bargain Bookshop and Budget Bookshop.

In 1994, Ron Abbey retired from the business, with Eve Abbey, Jack Winning and Peter Milne remaining as shareholders. Following the retirement of Jack and Peter in 2008 and 2011 respectively, Eve Abbey became the sole shareholder, with her son Alan as managing director and David Hall as shop manager. 

Manifesto for the Adventurous Reader