Abbey’s Bookshop was established in Sydney in 1968 by Ron and Eve Abbey at 115 Pitt Street, relocating one year later to Sydney’s historic Queen Victoria Building.

In 1983, the restoration of the QVB heralded a move to 66 King Street, where the company already operated Penguin Bookshop (since 1977) and Oxford and Cambridge Bookshop (since 1978), specialising in the books of those publishers.

In 1986, all three shops moved to their current premises at 131 York Street, opposite the QVB and only 100 metres from Town Hall Railway Station.

Galaxy Bookshop, specialising in science fiction, fantasy and horror, was opened in 1975 at 106a Bathurst Street, moving to larger premises 10 years later at 203b Castlereagh Street. In 1993, the shop relocated to 222 Clarence Street, immediately behind Abbey’s in York Street. In 2002, the shop relocated to 143 York Street, two doors next to Abbey’s.

Language Book Centre was opened in 1976 at 127 York Street, moving in 1986 to 131 York Street to occupy the first floor above Abbey’s.

Other shops operated in Sydney by the company have included Henry Lawson’s Bookshop, City Lights Bookshop, Centrepoint Bookshop, Tank Stream Bookshop, Bargain Bookshop and Budget Bookshop.

In 1994, Ron Abbey retired from the business, with Eve Abbey, Jack Winning and Peter Milne remaining as shareholders. Despite its growth over the last 33 years, the business is still very family oriented, with Eve, Jack and Peter still working in the business, together with Alan Abbey, son of the founders.

The company made its move into the virtual world in February 2002 with the launch of this web site. We hope the site’s fully searchable database and other features will provide shoppers with all they need to find what they are looking for, although we are still very much committed to maintaining the largest possible range of titles in our shops and providing the best possible personal service.