Berkelouw's now coming up to its bicentenary in 2012 which means the family's been trading in books since 1812. I, along with my 2 brothers, is now the sixth generation involved with the family business and my father is obviously also still involved. We've had a long affinity with the book world and third generation Australian and still going strong.

Berkelouw's now coming up to its bicentenary in 2012 which means the family's been trading in books since 1812.

So this is a little item that we recently acquired and it's a very important little piece. This item was published in London in 1613 so coming up to 400 years old and it's in remarkably good condition considering its age

The barn's been here since the early 80s and it came about my father in the late seventies moved his business down to the southern highlands here which is sort of a half an hour outside Sydney. He basically moved a rare book business down here in those days and in the early 80s he became aware that many people wanted to sort of drop in and browse through the books and he at that point in time wasn't geared for people to do that and developed this concept - it has gone from strength to strength and was only ever open on weekends in those days at the beginning and now has been here coming up to 25 years and seems to always have somebody around.

In the early 80s he became aware that many people wanted to sort of drop in and browse through the books.

And he at that point in time wasn't geared for people to do that and developed this concept - it has gone from strength to strength.

I come here with an open mind and I come here just to look at books. And I get intrigued and I go "oh yeah I don't know about this or don't know about that". It's wonderful. The atmosphere's beautiful.