Bookshop Thrived 35 Years in Town Where 'Kids Don't Read

In 1991, people told Margie Arnold that kids in Port Pirie didn't read and her bookshop would never survive. She opened it anyway in the South Australian smelter city, and for 35 years, it became proof that access and passion matter more than demographics.

Port Pirie ranks among Australia's most disadvantaged areas based on income, education, and employment. But Meg's Bookshop didn't just survive in this so-called literary desert. It thrived, expanding from a tiny arcade space to the main street and serving communities across South Australia, from Port Augusta to the remote outback.

The former teacher created something rare: a space where children could sit, browse, and fall in love with reading. Harry Potter book launches in the late 90s drew hundreds of visitors. Local kids grew up in the shop, then returned years later with their own children.

Research shows reading for enjoyment improves educational outcomes and mental health, sometimes outweighing family educational background. Margie Arnold made that possible for thousands of children who might never have discovered books otherwise.

Beloved author Mem Fox, whose Possum Magic is one of Australia's bestsellers, visited Meg's Bookshop many times. She called it "world-class" and was shocked to find such excellence in what others dismissed as "the middle of nowhere." The two women later toured remote South Australian towns together, bringing read-aloud programs to places without bookshops or libraries.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond selling books, Margie Arnold co-authored a children's book about lead exposure to help Port Pirie families understand health risks from the local smelter. Health authorities funded the book, which was used in schools throughout the community. Her childhood friend Ros Mayfield said it helped shift awareness and gave families tools to protect their children.

The shop closed in early 2025 as Margie's declining health made it impossible to continue. Mark Arnold, who managed the store alone toward the end, said goodbye to customers who had become family. "People have their favorite shops, and for a lot of people this was it," he said.

Mem Fox described hearing about the closure as feeling "like a death." She praised Margie as entrepreneurial, efficient, and "a damn good business woman" who refused to accept limitations others placed on her community.

For 35 years, Meg's Bookshop was the heart of Port Pirie, proving that children everywhere hunger for stories when someone believes in them enough to open the door.