Now in its 12 year, the annual Booktown Festival attracts readers from across the state and country.  The festival’s 2018 incarnation also had a distinctly global feel as representatives from across the world came to attend International Organisation of Book Towns conference running alongside the event. 

Event co-founder Graeme Johnstone said Booktown had played an important part in rejuvenating the once-sleepy country town.  More than 18,000 were expected to again roll through the gates over the two days.

“We looked at how other towns had changed over the world and we saw music and things like that, but everyone has a music festival and we thought we needed something unique,” Mr Johnstone said.  “We just thought we’d give this a try and it’s taken off ever since.” 

In addition to the thousands of books on sale all over Fraser Street, readers were treated to a series of panel discussions on topics such as crime in the country and the value of creative writing in fighting youth depression.  

Dozens of renowned authors such as Richard Flanagan and Abdi Aden were on hand across the weekend to discuss their writing and meet the fans, while there was also plenty on offer for young bookworms, with a workshop allowing kids to make their own mini-books. 

Mr Johnstone said the ongoing success of Booktown was driven by the high turnout of local volunteers.