The owner of the Argyle Book Emporium for rare and used books is not a hard man to spot. Describing himself as an “eccentric”, he is usually at his desk, next to photos of his grandchildren, enthralled in a murder mystery. 

Born and raised in Goulburn, Mr Dunn started his second hand book store with one pallet of books he bought from an ex-book dealer. Previously located on a terrace, Argyle Emporium outgrew and moved to Goulburn’s old police station and court house on Sloane St.

He had worked as an outdoor advertiser in Sydney, commuting from Goulburn for 10 years before falling ill. “I couldn’t work and was pretty much brain-dead,” he said. “I told my wife that I had to do something or I would go insane. She asked me what I wanted to do and I said a second hand book store.” 

Today Argyle Emporium offers ranging topics, from art to engineering, animals and travel, plus records and fiction, with customers from Canberra, Sydney and the Southern Highlands. He fondly remembers Australian novelist Patricia Shaw walking into his store, browsing the aisles and signing her books.   

But it wasn’t easy for him to garner and house his approximate 500,000 books. Reflecting on his humble beginnings, Mr Dunn says that he was losing money at the beginning. “Some nights I would have nightmares,” he said. “I’d ask myself, why am I doing this for?”

He blamed the rise of e-readers and Kindles for killing independent and second-hand book stores in Goulburn, but added that a shift was underway. “I remember when they said print would die out, but I believe the trend is changing,” he said. “People are sick of electronics.”

Working at the Emporium for 18 years, this year will mark his 10^th at Goulburn’s memorable police and court house. 

And his favourite genre? Murder mysteries. He describes it as easy to read, put down and continue without losing the plot. Receiving books from retirees, house movers and libraries, he joked that it was deceased estates that gave him the best books. 

Old enough to retire, Mr Dunn says he won’t be leaving his post at the store anytime soon.“I love looking after the historic building,” he said. “They would have to take me out in a cardboard box with my toes facing up because I’ll be dead.

“I’m never going to make a million dollars, but when you find something in life that’s interesting and you enjoy, you don’t call it work,” he said. “And that’s how I feel here.”

To order books, visit the store or inquire about the upcoming memorabilia call Stephen on 4821 0876.