Melbourne's best libraries, reading nooks and literary stops

Author Rob McDonald. Photo / Julian Dolman

Melbourne is a Unesco City of Literature, just like our beautiful Dunedin. It is an easy city to get around, has great food and drink, is friendly and has a large community of writers, readers and book lovers. Here are a few insider tips from a writer to help maximise your literary time while visiting Melbourne.

First you need a spot to write. How about under the dome in the State Library of Victoria, Australia's oldest public library founded in 1854. It is also home to a large rare books collection, ranging from Shakespeare to Charles Darwin to Patrick White, which can be viewed on appointment. Plenty of desks with power outlets. Follow your writing session with a quick lunch in Australia's oldest Chinatown, on Little Bourke Street between Swanston and Spring streets. The delicious xialong bao at Shanghai Street Xialongbao and Dumplings are definitely worth the queue.

Eat at Australia's oldest Chinatown, on Little Bourke St, Melbourne. Photo / Visit Victoria

If you fancy writing with a coffee on hand, then the many cafes in Melbourne have you sorted. Try Brunswick, a suburb just north of the CBD. Lucy Lockett has great coffee and food, excellent staff, free wifi and decent-sized tables for all your writing equipment. Or if you want to get closer to the source, try coffee roasters Code Black Coffee – HQ, they have a cafe attached where you can read through your work while trying their special blends, with the smell of roasting coffee in the air.

How about a writing workshop? Check out the Wheeler Centre, Writers Victoria or Faber Writing Academy online ahead of time for various writing workshops running throughout the year, open to members and non-members, and catering to all levels from beginners to established. Writers Victoria also runs events such as the "Starry, One-Star Night" in which authors take turns reading out their one-star review on Goodreads or Amazon "turning that crushing blow into a badge of pride". The Wheeler Centre also hosts regular guest author events open to the public.

Melbourne's State Library of Victoria. Photo / Visit Victoria

If a writing festival is more your thing, then Melbourne has several throughout the year, two larger ones being Emerging Writers Festival and Melbourne Writers Festival.

In the evenings relax, have a wine, and support an author by attending a book launch (just make sure you buy their book as well!). Readings, a Melbourne bookstore institution, run launch events throughout the year, usually several a week. Visiting Readings Carlton store is a rite of passage for any writer. Close by is Milk the Cow, a licensed fromagerie, where you can read your book and watch the Lygon Street nightlife while sampling some of their 180 artisan cheeses.

With a little pre-booking and planning, you can enjoy all of Melbourne's literary life without the deadlines!

Otago author R.W.R McDonald lives in Melbourne. His debut novel The Nancys won Best First Novel in the 2020 Ngaio Marsh Awards. The Sequel, Nancy Business, is out now.