Since 2012, Melbourne has hosted a free, popular and successful festival of the written word: Melbourne Rare Book Week. Its success has inspired other places around the world, including New York, Boston, California, London, Edinburgh & Sydney to emulate it. In 2026, we have been in discussion with our friends in Paris and Berlin advising them how to organise their first Rare Book Weeks. Melbourne Rare Book Week continues to be seen as a world leader.
Melbourne Rare Book Week is an annual celebration of literature and the importance of the printed word in this UNESCO City of Literature. Commenced in 2012 and led by the inspiration of Melbourne book dealers Kay Craddock, AM & the late Dr Jonathan Burdon, AM, it showcases as many of Melbourne’s institutional libraries, societies and bookshops as possible, and culminates in an annual antiquarian book fair held by the Australian & New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (ANZAAB). Acceptance of this event has been outstanding, resulting in an increased public profile for all event partners and introducing many new visitors to our institutional libraries and museums. It features around 50 free lectures, library tours and exhibitions presented by major universities, institutional, corporate and civic libraries, historical museums and societies and both the new and antiquarian book trade. The event attracts visitors from throughout Australia and New Zealand and the antiquarian book fair brings together rare book dealers from Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. After convening MRBW for its first seven years, Kay Craddock stepped down from the role in 2019. Her leadership was recognised by the award of the title “Founder” of Melbourne Rare Book Week.
In 2026, we will be offering the 12th iteration of Melbourne Rare Book Week, from Thursday 23rd July to Saturday 1st August inclusively.
Rare Books Melbourne is an independent, not-for-profit Association and Deductible Gift Recipient with tax-exempt status, that was incorporated in Victoria on 16 September 2016.
The Association is governed by a well-credentialed volunteer Committee that currently also performs the Association’s executive functions.
The mission of Rare Books Melbourne is to organise and run Melbourne Rare Book Week as an annual event to promote the appreciation of the value of books and the written word and to celebrate the contribution of literature and books to the community of Melbourne.
Rare Books Melbourne is committed to the education of the public on the value and place of books and other printed material in our society, and to the preservation of the culture of the written and printed word.
Our aim is to offer to the public of Melbourne appropriate events which celebrate the reading and value of books and to assist in the promotion of Melbourne as a UNESCO City of Literature.
We will readily collaborate with, and assist, other organisations with similar aims and interests in pursuit of our goals.
By supporting Melbourne Rare Book Week, our community will contribute directly to enriching the international reputation of Melbourne as a destination for all who love the written word and print on paper.
