Melbourne: An ‘International Centre for Literature’?

Well, why not? :)

It seems like just another thing that we have in common with Edinburgh besides both also hosting world-class Comedy Festivals.

There’s even an “Edinburgh Castle” not far from my house in Melbourne’s north - except the one near my house is actually a pub, not a castle ;)

That’s hilarious, Peter. I hope to make it to Melbourne one day soon. I always hear great things about it.

I lived down there for two months last year, and during that time volunteered at the Melbourne Writer’s Festival, a ten-day literary bonanza of programming with authors from around the world. (Including an appearance by Scotland’s own Alexander McCall Smith.) I also visited more than 25 bookstores in and around the city center during my short stay—Melbourne is “chockers” as they say, with a solid selection of literary venues and events. And it’s a really fantastic town Jim, def. one to visit when you make the trip to OZ.

Well, apparently Melbourne is the New Edinburgh: http://hackpacker.blogspot.com/2008/08/melbournes-all-lit-up.html
Not sure how we measure up with a city that produced Arthur Conan Doyle, JM Barry and Irvine Welsh, but we’ll see.