Mary Martin was born in Norwood, South
Australia on 20 July 1915, eldest of four children to progressive
parents. She was educated at Rose Park, in a private school and then at
Girton Proprietary School where she became a prefect. She enrolled as a
part-time student at the University of Adelaide in 1936 and whilst
there she was a founding member of the South Australian
branch of the Contemporary Art Society of Australia, spent time with
writers and artists and in 1939 won the Tormore prize for English
literature. She lived an independent life, living in a cottage in the
garden of her parents’ home, and earned some money by selling postcard
reproductions of Old Master paintings as well as teaching, briefly, at
Wilderness School. After eight years of study Mary completed her
honours course in English, but was unable to graduate as she had not
passed Latin I (a requisite for her entry into university in the first
place).
Mary opened the first Mary Martin Bookshop in 1945 in the Brookman
Building in Grenfell Street, selling books, prints and coffee.
By 1947 Mary had moved to Alma Chambers near the Stock Exchange and in
this location remained for many years being a hub of intellectual
activity in Adelaide. Mary expanded the product offering to include
magazines and giftware. It was during this time that Mary's Own Paper,
better known as the MOP, was created. This publication was essentially
the shop's advertising, but was also filled with writing from various
sources and became popular reading with the subscribers. With an
increase in popularity, and many country customers regularly
purchasing, the business moved in 1955 to Rundle Street and two years
later to Da Costa Building in Gawler Place.
By this time Mary had begun extensive travel throughout India,
returning with Indian artefacts which were sold through the shop. Again
the business expanded into non-book product by importing and selling
other Asian antiquities as well as teas.
As Mary focussed more on India, moving there in 1962, she decided to
sell the business. It was after this that Mary
Martin Bookshop changed dramatically, focussing on remainder books. By
the 1970's the business was sold to the publisher Macmillan who went on
to develop a franchise model which was rolled out across Australia. Not
lasting long the franchise collapsed resulting in the remaining shops
becoming independent. Hence Mary Martin Bookshops in Melbourne which
are not
associated with the original, Adelaide operation.
Though proprietorship of Mary Martin Bookshop has changed many times
since Mary sold the business her love of good books remains and is
continued with the current owners, Justin and
Sarita Chadwick, who have brought back to the shop the character with
which it began.
Sources: The Australian Dictionary
of Biography.
