Welcome to Australia’s First Booktown.
COME FOR THE BOOKS – WE’RE BOOKTOWN!
The Southern Highlands has long housed more than its fair share of creative and well-read people but the crowning glory has to be its status as Australia’s First Booktown.
Since 2000 the Southern Highlands of NSW has augmented its cache of local authors, publishers and book-lovers with a suite of bookshops and literary festivals to lay claim to that prestigious title, and a legitimate right to international fame. Booktown Southern Highlands is inspired by the UK town of Hay-on-Wye. Other towns worldwide have followed Hay’s lead.
Explore our picturesque towns and villages and discover many fine bookshops and literary links that together make us Australia’s First Booktown.
Join us here in the beautiful Southern Highlands to celebrate the art of the book!