'A shared love of books, art and children inspired Ann James and Ann Haddon to establish Books Illustrated in 1988.
'Books Illustrated began as a gallery for children's book illustration in a colonial cottage in South Melbourne ...With over nine exhibitions a year, and the support of children's literature enthusiasts, the gallery soon outgrew the cottage.
In 1991, Books Illustrated moved to a handsome old house at 300 Beaconsfield Parade Middle Park where we developed our education program while continuing to host exhibitions, launches and events for the children's literature community...
'In 1993 Books Illustrated moved again, to Gasworks Arts Park, in Albert Park. Here, in the two- storey historic gatehouse building, we established a specialist children's bookshop downstairs with gallery and Ann James's open studio upstairs...
Our exhibitions started to extend beyond our walls to Australian Regional galleries and overseas venues, particularly in Asia, with exhibitions promoting Australian picture books and their creators in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China....
'Making the decision to refocus our activities to be able to further extend and expand our traveling exhibition program, we moved back to 300 Beaconsfield Parade, Middle Park in May 2008.
Here our focus is still to promote and sell Australian picture books - but through our showroom, open by appointment, and our website...
Our touring exhibition program continues to develop with exhibitions to venues around Australia and overseas.'
Source: Books Illustrated website, www.booksillustrated.com.au/
Sighted: 27/10/2011
