Owner Dr Jaye Chin-Dusting, who swapped a successful career in cardiovascular research for a life among books, still remembers the moment she decided to buy the business in 2016.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bookshop was a go-to for me whenever I was in the city. When I heard it was for sale, I made an offer and was lucky enough to secure it just before Christmas that year,\u201d she said. \u201cI didn\u2019t leave academia until a couple of years later, when it became clear that I was reading and recommending novels more than correcting PhD theses.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Dr Chin-Dusting, the store\u2019s longevity lies in the timelessness of books themselves. \u201cBooks can be edgy, contemporary, classic \u2013 all at once. Our job is to create an inviting space where people can discover that perfect read.\u201d<\/p>\n
That sense of discovery has made the Southgate store something of a cultural landmark.<\/p>\n
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\u201cMany, many children have grown up loving the \u2018green bookshop\u2019 and think of every visit as a treat,\u201d she said. \u201cInterestingly, many of our customers come from far and wide. It\u2019s a must-stop for visitors heading to an NGV exhibition or a concert at Hamer Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under Dr Chin-Dusting\u2019s ownership, Mary Martin has expanded to Port Melbourne and Queen Victoria Market, but Southgate remains its beating heart. The recent renovation has transformed the space, carving out a new area for book launches, forums, and author meet-ups.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re on the cusp of even more exciting things at Southgate,\u201d she said. \u201cWe plan many activations moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Community connection sits at the centre of that vision. Since COVID, events have become integral to all Mary Martin locations \u2013 from book clubs and children\u2019s story times to meet-the-author sessions. Now, Southbank will join that rhythm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese gatherings generate playfulness, deep thinking, and community exchange of ideas,\u201d Dr Chin-Dusting said. \u201cOur classics book club, for instance, draws international students, mothers and daughters, and even professors I used to work with. Everyone comes to the table as equals. Personally, I think book clubs can save the world.\u201d<\/p>\n