Fullers Bookshop was established in 1920, after the First World War, by W. E. (Bill) Fuller. Bill was previously associated with Walches and the booksellers Oldham, Beddom and Meredith (OBM), but eventually set up on his own shop. Ever since, Fullers Bookshop has been a central part of the bookselling and cultural scene in Tasmania. Bill also dabbled in publishing, establishing a time-honoured tradition of the bookshop making regular forays into that other part of the book industry.
In 1961 the shop was taken over by Cedric and Ian Pearce, famous not only as booksellers but also as jazz musicians. As Hobart grew and rents and locations became difficult, the shop became migratory, spending time in Collins Street and then to Cat and Fiddle. Cedric became ill and the shop was purchased by Ian Drinkwater in 1980. Ian moved Fullers to Murray Street in 1981.
Clive Tilsley bought Fullers in 1982. In 1992 Fullers moved back into Collins Street. In 1996 the Afterword Café was established on the mezzanine level of the shop – this moved Fullers onto another level of business. In 2001, Fullers opened a second shop in Launceston, where Clive spent the next 13 years.
In 2009 the Hobart shop moved again — up the road to a bright new space (with a fabulous view of the mountain) where it remains to this day. In 2014, Fullers closed its Launceston shop, and Clive moved back to Hobart.
Clive retired in 2021, having steered the shop for nearly 40 years. In that time, Fullers confirmed its status as Tasmania’s leading bookseller and a fundamental component of Tasmania’s cultural landscape. Under his guidance, Fullers established a very active, wide-ranging program of author events, readings, discussions and book groups, as well as publishing books on Tasmanian history and flora.
On Clive’s retirement, he was succeeded by Tim Jarvis, who had started at the shop in 2013 as a volunteer to run a philosophy reading group, before joining the regular staff in 2015. Tim is passionate about literature and literacy, and is continuing to grow the diverse range of literary activities that Fullers has become famous for. In 2023, he also established a new literacy initiative, aiming to give away $100,000 worth of books over five years, to promote literacy and the love of reading.
RECENT AWARDS
BOOKSHOP
2017 – Leading Edge Bookshop of the Year (Metro)
2018 – Leading Edge Bookshop of the Year (Metro)
2024 – ABIA Bookshop of the Year
STAFF
2017 – Catherine Schulz, ABA/Text Publishing Bookseller of the Year
2018 – Tim Jarvis, ABA/Penguin Random House Young Bookseller of the Year
2024 – Madeleine Delany, ABA/Penguin Random House Young Bookseller of the Year
PUBLISHING
2024 – Ann Cripps, Gardeners, Plant Collectors, Friends – shortlisted for the Green Family Award for Tasmanian History.