Mary Martin renovates and reopens in its 30th year

On September 10, the doors of Mary Martin “The Green” Bookshop at Southgate swung open once again, revealing a freshly renovated space that feels both familiar and renewed.

For many Southbankers, this isn’t just another shop reopening – it’s the revival of the only independent bookstore in postcode 3006. Having quietly weathered decades of urban change, a pandemic, and shifting reading habits, the beloved store is ready for its next chapter.

As it celebrates its 30th year in Southbank – and 80 years since the original Mary Martin Bookshop opened in Adelaide – the store has announced an ambitious new venture: hosting Southbank’s first-ever Children’s Book Festival in 2026.

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.

“The 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,” she said. “I didn’t leave academia until a couple of years later, when it became clear that I was reading and recommending novels more than correcting PhD theses.”

For Dr Chin-Dusting, the store’s longevity lies in the timelessness of books themselves. “Books can be edgy, contemporary, classic – all at once. Our job is to create an inviting space where people can discover that perfect read.”

That sense of discovery has made the Southgate store something of a cultural landmark.

“Many, many children have grown up loving the ‘green bookshop’ and think of every visit as a treat,” she said. “Interestingly, many of our customers come from far and wide. It’s a must-stop for visitors heading to an NGV exhibition or a concert at Hamer Hall.”

Under Dr Chin-Dusting’s 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.

“I think we’re on the cusp of even more exciting things at Southgate,” she said. “We plan many activations moving forward.”

Community connection sits at the centre of that vision. Since COVID, events have become integral to all Mary Martin locations – from book clubs and children’s story times to meet-the-author sessions. Now, Southbank will join that rhythm.

“These gatherings generate playfulness, deep thinking, and community exchange of ideas,” Dr Chin-Dusting said. “Our 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.”

Of course, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. “COVID. COVID. COVID,” she said bluntly when asked about the hardest period. Yet creativity and resilience have carried the team through – from initiatives like the Melbourne Christmas Treasure Hunt to a return of in-store events, and now the upcoming Children’s Book Festival in 2026.

Children’s literature, Chin-Dusting said, remained central to Mary Martin’s mission. Recognition has followed: the business won Bookshop of the Year in 2019, was shortlisted for the Lord Mayor’s Small Business Award in 2023, and its manager Kat was named Children’s Bookseller of the Year in 2024.

Children’s literature, Dr Chin-Dusting said, remains central to Mary Martin’s mission. Recognition has followed: the business won Bookshop of the Year in 2019, was shortlisted for the Lord Mayor’s Small Business Award in 2023, and its manager Kat was named Children’s Bookseller of the Year in 2024.

But for Dr Chin-Dusting, the accolades are secondary.

“Australians are reading significantly less. It’s imperative for us to make reading attractive for children. The well-being of the next generation is everything. We’re here to seed and fuel the next generation of readers.”

Looking ahead, she hopes to strengthen ties with Southbank’s cultural institutions – from the Arts Centre to the Boyd Community Hub and local schools. “The opportunities are at our doorstep, and we’re very open to working with them.”

As the “green bookshop” enters its ninth decade, Dr Chin-Dusting hopes it continues to be remembered as “that lovely bookshop around the corner, which brought all the feels.”

For the families who’ve grown up with it, the visitors who return to it, and the children yet to discover their first story here, the newly renovated Mary Martin at Southgate is ready to turn a brand-new page. •