Croydon’s Centreway Arcade bookshop Fine Books and Classic Stamps closes

A veteran second-hand bookseller will spend more time helping Australia’s new arrivals after more than three decades at his Croydon shop.

Robert Akeroyd is closing Fine Books Classic Stamps in Croydon. Picture: Steve Tanner.

A veteran second-hand bookseller will spend more time helping Australia’s new arrivals after more than three decades at his Croydon shop.

Robert Akeroyd is closing his shop, Fine Books and Classic Stamps, this month after trading on Croydon’s Centreway Arcade since 1985.

He is dedicating more time to his charity, Land Of Welcome, which hosts picnics for new Australians settling in the community.

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“I can’t continue to run a second-hand bookshop and put 99 per cent of my time towards building Land of Welcome,” he said.

“I’ve been reading books since I was eight years old and I have always wanted to do something more meaningful with my life. I consider people far more important than books.”

Mr Akeroyd said he plans to still sell books at the St Andrews and Camberwell markets along with his charity work.

“There is still a strong demand for books, people like paper and a lot of people still feel very comfortable reading books and have an emotional involvement reading books,” he said.

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