Bookgrove makes the ABIA Bookshop of the Year finalists

OCEAN Grove’s Bookgrove bookstore is the toast of the local Bellarine community after finishing as the sole regional finalist for Bookshop of the Year at the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards.

The Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) were celebrated last Thursday evening in Pyrmont, Sydney and brought together the finest talent in the book business for a special gala celebration.

The popular Bellarine institution was cited as the only regional nominee for Bookshop of the Year, with owner Stacey Moore up against city stores in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth including Matilda Bookshop, Where The Wild Things Are, Boffin Books and Readings for the top industry gong.

Mrs Moore said she was incredibly proud to be finalist for the award, saying it was a true reflection of her hard work and dedication to making Bookgrove a cultural and literacy hub for the Bellarine community.

“It was the first time we’d ever been nominated for Bookstore of the Year and it was just truly exciting.

“The awards are the epitome of the book industry and are very prestigious, so it was a joy to be there and to be involved.

“Since opening in 2009, we’ve really endeavoured to not only be a bricks and mortar bookstore, but to provide literary and cultural stimulation to the people of the Bellarine as well as the wider community who travel down here.

“It’s always been about providing something that is more than just the shop… we’ve always had a strong background of holding plenty of author and book launches and community events to engage with our local people.”

Mrs Moore said that bookstore had to meet a series of criteria to be nominated as a finalist for the award, including proving how the store improves the literacy and cultural needs of the community, their approaches to being a sustainable business as well as overall staff welfare and empowerment.

“Post COVID, we really had to recalibrate and work hard as a team to get the business, events and book clubs all back up and running.

“People really enjoyed coming to the space to enjoy all of that, so to not have that during the pandemic was really challenging.

“The award nomination was a true testament to the energy and hard work that the team and I have put in for the last 14 years, particularly over that tough pandemic period.

“It was great to just have a place at the table and be shortlisted for this prestigious award… it’s affirmation of the vital role that Bookgrove plays in the community.”

To find out more about Bookgrove, head to www.bookgrove.com.au/