When we think of the NSW Southern Highlands we generally conjure up visions of misty winter days, open fires, hot soup, or a glass of mulled wine, but until now the obvious adjunct - a good book - has not readily sprung to mind.
For more than 40 years, a tiny village in the UK, Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh border, has made a name for itself as a book-selling town with almost 40 bookshops that attract up to two million visitors annually. In 1961 it was declared the world's first booktown by its founder, Richard Booth.
Inspired by this village, the Southern Highlands is the latest addition to a global movement that now numbers more than 20 booktowns on almost every continent. As part of Australia's first 'booktown' initiative, a guide and map has been produced to the bookshops and literary landmarks in the Southern Highlands.
The BOOKtrail brochure has been produced by the Southern Highlands Booksellers Association with the advertising support of 20 bookshops and book-related enterprises. It includes a map of the district sponsored by HarperCollins Publishers, and features a listing of literary points of interest associated with the villages and towns of the Southern Highlands.
This region of NSW has been the home to many notable authors or the setting for scenes in their books which range from Captain Starlight in Robbery Under Arms, who hid out in this country, to Gwen Meredith of Blue Hills fame who lived in Berrima, and Patrick White educated at Tudor House, Moss Vale, to non-bookish connections such as Ginger Megg's cartoonist, James Kemsley, who lived at Welby, and the piggy superstar, Babe, filmed at Robertson.
President of the Southern Highlands Booksellers Association, Mr Leo Berkelouw, believes that the BOOKtrail guide heralds the beginning of what he hopes will be an ongoing series of cooperative projects among the bookselling and publishing interests within the region.
"The economic climate has not been kind to the Australian bookselling industry in recent times but the BOOKtrail is a practical example of local businesspeople banding together to promote a new and slightly unusual attraction for visitors to our area," he said. "The benefits of the BOOKtrail will not just be for the local booksellers and their customers but for the Southern Highlands community and economy generally."
Many see that an important advantage of the Southern Highlands BOOKtrail is that it will attract visitors both midweek and at weekends. Because it is not affected by the weather either, it is available at all times, unlike some event-based or seasonal attractions and is appropriate for all age groups.
Acting Manager of Tourism Southern Highlands, Mrs. Liz Tickner, says, "...the Highlands draws many visitors who wish to take self-drive tours around the villages and the BOOKtrail gives another dimension to their trip that may not have been apparent before now.
"Many people will be pleasantly surprised by the rich literary associations this region can claim as well as the quality and number of its bookshops."
BookTown Australia Convenor and Secretary of the Southern Highlands Booksellers Association, Paul McShane, who launched the local booktown initiative on World Book Day, 2000, sees the internet as playing an integral part in the project as it will allow BOOKtrail visitors to plan their trip and also maintain contact afterwards with bookshops which they have visited.
"Many international visitors, particularly those from European countries, will be familiar with the booktown concept," he says, believing this to be an advantage, "The BOOKtrail is a first step to creating Australia's own distinctive contribution to this global movement and is perfectly situated in the beautiful rural environs of the Southern Highlands between Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong."
Recently BOOKtrail received funding to conduct the 'Australian Festival of the Book' in April 2002, and Paul McShane has recently been awarded a 2002 Churchill Fellowship for his work on the booktown concept and will be travelling for approximately three months to about a dozen booktowns around the world in late 2002 seeking to learn more about the project and bring back ideas and strategies to be implemented in the Southern Highlands.
BookTown Australia's website at www.booktown.com.au enables anyone to view or print the BOOKtrail brochure as well as offering links to the region's tourism facilities and local hotels, motels, guesthouses, restaurants and cafes, and not only has links to booksellers on the Southern Highlands BOOKtrail but also links to booktowns in other parts of the world.
BOOKtrail brochures are available through Tourism Southern Highlands by phoning 1300 657 559 and will be distributed through local bookshops, accommodation facilities and participating tourist offices throughout NSW.
Spend a night at one of the Peppers' properties and enjoy a complimentary breakfast when you book with your NRMA Member Card. Find out more...
4WD
