Reader's Companion

An independent bookshop on Beardy Street, run by owners Michelle and Roy, who stock a broad range across fiction, non-fiction, children's titles, poetry and Australian writing. The shelves extend past books to vinyl records, stationery, games, jigsaws, tea, chocolate and homewares, giving the shop the feel of a general emporium built around reading. It is dog-friendly, hosts reading groups and community events, and offers click-and-collect and local delivery alongside audiobook recommendations. Trading hours run Monday to Saturday, and the business is locally owned rather than part of a chain. For a regional city its size, Armidale is unusually well served by bookshops, and this is the newer-titles anchor among them, a short walk from the mall.