UNDER the Silver Tree, Broken Hill’s second-hand bookshop, was founded in response to the closure of the town’s iconic Browzers bookstore.
Founding director Cathy Farry said when Browzers closed in 2015, she met with her friend Karen Underwood and discussed the impact of the closure, which led them to starting a co-operative.
“Browzers sold new and old books, they had an ABC Centre and Australian Geographic,” she said.
“It was excellent, but they couldn’t sell the business.”
Ms Farry said she encouraged a few friends to be a part of the co-operative, and five founding members along with a few volunteers opened Under The Silver Tree on Sulphide Street in October 2016.
“We started asking for donations of books and furniture,” she said.
“And Karen owned the shop, so we got it rent-free for the first year.”
Ms Farry said the co-operative model of the bookshop means that all members co-own the business, and that the shop is not-for-profit, which sees all profit reinvested into the business.
“Once we opened, we had quite a lot of members, and most have stayed on as financial members,” she said.
“We also have an ethos of supporting reading and writing in the local community, so we give a lot of book prizes for school awards, and have done writing competitions.”
Ms Farry said all members work on a volunteer basis, other than Robynne Sanderson, who is employed as staff to run the store.
“That was a great achievement,” Ms Farry said.
“To be able to employ someone.”
Ms Farry said the store is always taking book donations, and also runs a book club meeting at the Junction Hotel on the second Tuesday of each month.
“We have themes for the book club, rather than everyone having to read the same book.”
New members are always welcome.
The shop is open 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday at 29 Sulphide Street.
