Perth, Western Australia February 10, 2007 Home News Time Out Letters Write a Letter Classifieds Search Real Estate Trades & Services Submit About Contact Us Advertising Legal	Where have all the Subiaco bookshp browsers gone? "This is the ungetting of Wisdom," said Jane Hamilton as she, her husband Philip and their son Thomas prepare to close the doors of their popular Subiaco shop. The changing culture of Subiaco is squeezing out the Wisdom Books shop after 24 years on Hay Street. When Philip Hamilton went to work part-time for his parents Ian and Claire in the 1980s, Subiaco was still a village, with a hardware shop where the staff used to know what they were talking about. Hay Street had two garages with mechanics and petrol pump attendants. A butcher would cheerfully lop off a few short loin chops and trim the fat. There was a fishmonger who knew the man who caught the fish - and was probably related to him. A gun shop was around the corner on Rokeby Road and all the carparks were gravel. Amongst all that, two bookshops catered for a hungry lot of readers. They would amble into a bookshop and browse - on a journey of discovery and be thrilled and surprised at what they found. Now, laments Philip, they arrive with a list of books their friends have recommended, or they have read about on the net. The surprise has gone. "We hate those lists," said his wife Jane. "Life has become jaded. "Often that is all they want -- the books on the list. You can't offer them anything else." Now the mixture of Subiaco businesses has changed to be mainly boutiques, cafes and supermarkets. Now there are six book shops, including two big franchises, supermarkets that discount big sellers, growing pressure from the internet - and the landlord wants their shop anyway. Jane said: "It's a mystery. The owner won't say - his agent says he simply wants the shop and us out." Philip, who was a fine art student at Claremont working part-time in his parents' shop when he drifted into the business full-time said: "It's probably time for a change." Jane is a fabric artist who is looking forward to doing more of that and choosing a book SHE wants to read, instead of ploughing through big sellers because the customers will want to ask her about them. This week they laughed as they recalled some incidents. Philip said: "There have been people who say psychic energy led them to certain books. "They would stand in front of the shelf and wave their hands in front of a book. If they felt the correct vibes, then they would buy the book. Customers included many performers from the nearby Regal Theatre, including Barry Humphries, Dave Allen, Jackie Weaver and Jim Carver, a character from the TV series, The Bill. Book titles they recall with amazement include Killer Tea Cosies and How to Make Them by Annette Wallis (they sold seven copies in 1997), and Macramé Australian Native Animals. Do you have something to say? Write to us and we may publish your letter next week. BACK TO TOP < PREVIOUS - HOME Copyright © 1999 - 2008 Post Newspapers Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.