about farrells
We are a proudly independent general bookshop located in Mornington Victoria, about an hour south-east of Melbourne on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula.
We have been part of our community for more than 40 years, sharing our passion for books and reading and providing our customers with quality service and specialised knowledge. Farrells is a welcoming and inclusive space to connect with other book lovers.
At Farrells we strongly believe in the relevance and importance of independent bricks and mortar bookshops in the 21st century – the desire is greater than ever for people to connect within their communities and enjoy face to face relationships with those who can provide them with passionate service and advice.
our philosophy
We believe that books matter. Reading and books have so many benefits – improving your mood, reducing stress, learning new skills or ways of thinking, understanding others and the world around us, and finding connection – to an idea, a feeling, a community. And, of course, entertaining us or giving us a form of escape – without travelling anywhere except the inside of our own heads.
In Farrells we strive to create a place of community, understanding and acceptance, through a shared love of books and everything they can bring us. Matching a reader with a book that will change them, nurture them, reveal a truth they have been searching for or simply bring them pleasure, is what we love to do most. Books can change the world, one reader at a time.
our history
Farrells was established in the late 1970s by Roy and Liz Farrell, who nurtured the business for its first 20 years, before handing the reigns over to Ian and Meredith Horton, formerly of Pages Bookshop in Kew. Both the Farrells and the Hortons were passionately involved in leadership within the book industry in both Victoria and at a national level. They remain active and committed members of the Peninsula community and very regular Farrells customers!
Today Ian and Meredith have passed the mantle to their daughter, Kate. Together with our amazing and passionate staff, Kate works to ensure Farrells continues to evolve to meet the needs of our community. We are constantly humbled by the love our community shows for our little bookshop and the importance it has held in the lives of multiple generations.
Author Talk: @victoria_brownlee @morningtonpeninsulalibraries
Friday, 03 July 2026 | 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Join author, writer and editor Victoria Brownlee in conversation with local author, Rebecca Fraser, as she discusses her new suspense novel "The Writers Retreat".
Welcome to The Writers Retreat - a creative haven for writers to hone their plotlines and sharpen their characters while soaking up the Provencal atmosphere. But this year`s retreat offers something different, as real-life blurs with fiction, and suspense isn`t contained to the page. A wickedly twisty and atmospheric thriller set at a writers` retreat in the South of France.
Victoria Brownlee is an international food writer and editor, currently based in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. She started writing about food over a decade ago, first as a blogger and then as the Food & Drink Editor at Time Out Shanghai. Her novels include Fromage à Trois, Brioche in the Oven and Eat Your Heart Out.
Books will be available for purchase courtesy of @farrells_bookshop
Free, bookings essential.
#mainstmornington #mornington
Thanks for you’re patience and understanding while we count all the books. We reopen at 9am Friday (26/6) morning. See you then.
#stocktake26 #mainstmornington #bookshoplife
Morning! If you`re popping in today, make sure you get here before 1pm. We will be closing at 1pm on the dot for stocktake. Any questions yell out by commenting below.
An intimate evening with bestselling author @hannahrichellauthor
Join us at @farrells_bookshop as she shares the powerful story behind her latest memoir. An honest conversation about grief, memory, and finding your way forward.
Seats are limited and filling fast.
🎟️ Book now to secure your place. Online or instore.
Whose coming?
@harpercollinsaustralia
#morningtonpeninsulamums #morningtonevent
The 2026 Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist has arrived! @milesfranklinliteraryaward
Celebrating novels that capture Australian life in all its complexity, this year`s shortlist showcases an incredible range of voices, stories and perspectives.
Shortlisted titles:
• Discipline by Randa Abdel-Fattah
• First Name Second Name by Steve MinOn
• My Heart At Evening by Konrad Muller
• Fierceland by Omar Musa
• Little World by Josephine Rowe
• You Must Remember This by Sean Wilson
Have you read any of the shortlisted titles yet? Which one are you hoping takes home Australia`s most prestigious literary prize?
#MilesFranklinAward #MilesFranklin2026 #AustralianLiterature #AustralianBooks #IndieBookshop #BooksellerRecommends #LiteraryFiction #BookstagramAustralia
The delightful @marksmithauthor popped into the shop to sign copies of his latest book Where Truth Ends.
A taut, twisty thriller where truth and betrayal collide, it`s already creating plenty of buzz.
We`re super excited to be welcoming Mark back in July as part of our Crime Panel. If you`ve been thinking about coming along, don`t wait too long. Tickets are selling fast.
Grab yours in-store or online and join us for what promises to be a fantastic evening of crime, mystery, and great conversation.
#MarkSmith #WhereTruthEnds #CrimeFiction #AustralianCrimeFiction #MorningtonPeninsula #Mornington #WhatsOnMorningtonPeninsula #BookstagramAustralia #ReadersOfInstagram #SupportLocalBookstore
Land by @maggieofarrellofficial
Incredibly expansive yet intimate and moving.
I loved it.
Read by Jacq
@hachetteaus
The days may be colder and gloomier, but our shelves are full of warmth.
Come in, slow down, and get lost in a good book.
Images @kinfolk_imagery
#MorningtonPeninsula #Mornington #VisitMorningtonPeninsula #ExploreMornington #VisitVictoria #MelbourneDayTrips #ShopLocalMornington #BookshopLife #IndieBookshop #BookLovers #WinterInVictoria #ReadLocal
community
We are committed to promoting the importance of books and literacy within our community. For several years we have run a Children’s Book Week Story Writing Competition for kids from Prep through to Year 12, which now attracts hundreds of entries annually. We work closely with many local schools to develop their school libraries and reading initiatives, and run pre-school storytimes in store to foster a love of books in our youngest community members. We regularly run events including book clubs and author talks to extend our customer experience and create opportunities to bring the community together to celebrate books.
We also partner regularly with local not-for-profit groups, including Rotary and Lions Clubs, on projects that aim to add value to our community.
We feel lucky to be a part of a regional community that values us and continues to nurture and inspire us in our business and look for every opportunity to give back and nurture that most important of relationships.
In the broader book community we are a proud member of the national industry association known as BookPeople (formerly the Australian Booksellers Association).