Curated selection at Wilde About Books, Ballan

There’s a new chapter beginning in Ballan, with Wilde About Books bringing the joy of browsing for books back to the township.

Tucked away just off Inglis Street, this cosy independent bookshop is the creation of local resident Sharon Peterson, who has spent her career working in bookshops and managing bookstores. A lifelong lover of literature, Sharon has stocked Wilde About Books with a carefully selected range of both new and second-hand titles, covering everything from contemporary fiction and classics to crime, history, biographies and children’s books.

The shop’s name is a nod to celebrated author Oscar Wilde, whose novel The Picture of Dorian Gray left a lasting impression on Sharon when she first read it at high school. Like its namesake, Wilde About Books celebrates the magic of storytelling and the simple pleasure of discovering your next great read.

Designed as a welcoming space where visitors can slow down, browse and linger awhile, Wilde About Books is a wonderful addition to Ballan’s growing collection of quirky independent retailers. The store is currently open Saturdays from 10am to 1pm, making it the perfect stop during a weekend visit to town.