Specializing in rare, antique, and collectible books, including first editions and historical volumes with careful handling guidance.
Curated selection of old programs, sheet music, books, texts, and scores for music and theatre enthusiasts.
Personalized assistance to help you find specific titles or authors, with a willingness to search and post items.
Engage in knowledgeable conversations with the owner about books, history, and collections to enhance your visit.
A wide range of well-priced older books organized for easy exploration in a cozy, historic shop setting.
Ben runs a great bookshop and is knowledgeable on many topics, it’s a treasure trove of fabulous things! Highly recommend, happy to search and post and lovely rare books available. My particular bent is music and theatre and he has old rare programs, sheet music, books, texts and scores. Today’s haul : Alma Mahler and a Handel Theodora yay ! Do search it out, have a natter and I’m sure thou will find something 🎶🎵
My husband and I stumbled across this bookstore during a short stay in Adelaide. Had a lovely chat and found some treasures. Highly recommend you stop by and take a look around.
Adelaide's oldest bookshop! Benjamin who took over from his father is intelligent and engages in descriptive conversation 😊 The shop is reasonably organised with predominately older books. Some rare books are available....at a price 💵 It's easy to lose track of time as you pick your way through the offerings! I found a book that reminded me of my mother - 'I can jump puddles' - my mother suffered from polio when she was a small child. Having this book helps me keep her in my memories. I recommend you visit, especially if you are looking for something in particular.
Super friendly staff, a wide range of well priced books.
A bookstore with a long history for antiques. It’s L shaped so it’s larger than it looks if you approach the building from the east like I did. The owner adores his collections, which unfortunately didn’t have the books I came for when I visited it. Though I soon found out it’s probably because the specific versions I wanted were only put together in the 21st century. The store often restocks, so the books on display could change from time to time. For reference I left with 2 books by Jack Vance from around 1970, and one book out of the Great Books of the Western World from 1952. There’s a one-star review about how the owner (I’m not sure if it’s the current owner Benjamin) took away a book from a kid, and another that says that a bag requested by the owner to be put at the storefront got stolen. The store probably got better now because there are signs on book racks notifying people the correct way of handling books and you are only required to remove your bags when you browse the books on the wall behind the counter, which are genuine antique books so old that the bookbindings are brittle now, almost fragile. If you wish to buy them then you probably should prepare a safe way for transport in advance, or ask Benjamin to come up with some protection. Be careful not to let Oscar creep up to you and scare you. Don’t step on him either.

Adelaide's oldest bookshop – where literary treasures and timeless conversations await.
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O'Connell's Bookshop is Adelaide's oldest bookshop, a beloved institution offering a curated collection of older, rare, and antique books. Under the knowledgeable stewardship of Benjamin, who took over from his father, the shop specializes in rare editions, music and theatre programs, sheet music, and unique finds across many topics. With a warm, engaging atmosphere and a passion for preserving literary history, we invite you to explore our L-shaped treasure trove and discover something special. Whether you're a collector, a casual browser, or seeking a particular title, our friendly staff is here to help you lose track of time among the shelves.
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