Back to Booktown

The historic township of Clunes hit 'gold' with its inaugural Booktown event. Now around 15,000 book lovers from across Victoria and interstate head to Clunes for 'Back to Booktown' each May, to soak up the historic atmosphere of the old gold town while fossicking through thousands of collectable and second hand books.

Usually held over the first weekend of May year, the 2011 event will be held over the weekend of 14 and 15 May to avoid a clash with the late return to school following the Easter break.

Over the weekend the town will transform into a European-styled Booktown, with some 60 visiting booksellers setting up shop in and around the town's heritage buildings - bringing with them one of the largest collections of rare, out-of-print, collectable and second-hand books ever gathered in one place in Victoria.

Book lovers can fossick through the tens of thousands of books while enjoying the heritage character of the town which features one of the most intact gold era streetscapes in Victoria.

A popular feature of the Booktown program is the free writers' talks and another great line up is being prepared for 2011 for our Writer's and Publisher's Marquee.

Free events are a feature of this community run festival and include traditional Punch and Judy shows for children, brass bands, fine food and local wines - which all add to the festival atmosphere that encompasses the whole town.

To keep up to date with the 2011 program details as they come to hand visit our website for all the information.