In 1967, the world seemed to suddenly explode into colour, a psychedelic, politically-conscious time that also spawned the birth of Gould’s Book Arcade: a left-wing home for free thought, cheap information, and political rallying – with loads of old issues of Esquire to boot.

Newtown isn’t the same place fifty years later though, and real estate prices have now forced owner Natalie Gould to find a new home within the next three months. The rent has steadily climbed to the point where the store now runs at a loss.

“My father Bob started this as a bookshop of resistance during the Vietnam War. It belonged to resisters and was run by resisters,” Gould told the Tele. “I wouldn’t have spent the past six-and-a-half years trying to keep it open if it wasn’t.

“I’m a socialist, always have been and always will be. I don’t understand capitalism. I grew up in the shop, crawling on the floor when it was in Goulburn St. I love books and I just identify with the joint. But it has been a struggle trying to stay afloat.”

It will prove a struggle trying to relocate too, given the sheer size of the store and the amount of stock they have. Any airplane hangars available? Preferably walking distance to King Street…

Gould has one more plan, though.

“I have this fantasy that someone with a spare $4 or $5 million, who likes the idea of an ethical investment and only wants $2500 a week in rent, will come along and buy it and allow us to stay.”

Millionaires: inquire within.

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