Millwood Gallery

Books, artwork and special calendars and gift cards are the hallmarks of Wellington’s delightful Millwood Gallery.

Located in the historic Tinakori Road Shopping Village, the boutique shop began life as a small front of outlet for Millwood Press and over its 30 years has become a favourite treasure trove with books vying for attention from the impressive collection of artists exhibiting work.

Owner Murray Pillar has been working in the shop since its very early days when the owners of Millwood Press, James and Judy Siers employed him as a teenager to help out in the school holidays. “I must have done okay because they asked me to work the next school holidays and then I worked here while I was at university, although I never did finish my degree – I just didn’t find studying that inspiring.”

Murray says at first the shop sold books printed by Millwood Press, but gradually customers asked for other titles and the shop expanded, “then you looked around at the bare walls and so we started having artists hang works and it’s just grown from there.”

Ten years after he first began working in the shop, Jim and Judy offered him the opportunity to buy Millwood Gallery and, at age 26 he found himself the proud owner. “I was always a great reader and enjoyed working around books, but I wasn’t anticipating that I would own the shop, but took up the opportunity and it’s been great.”

Like many in the book sellers industry, Murray wishes he had more time to read for his own pleasure. “People say ‘oh it must be wonderful owning a bookshop – you get to sit around and read all day’! If only that was the case.”

The next 12 months will be particularly busy for Murray as Millwood Gallery celebrates its 30th birthday in 2011. Murray says a year-long programme of events is planned to mark the milestone. “We commissioned 12 artists to create works for a special calendar and we’ve already had to reprint it. And we’ll be having one or two special events each month from February to November.”

Murray says in 30 years in the shop he has seen plenty of changes in the industry. “Books today look very different to those we were selling 30 years ago. There’s an edginess about today’s books and the range is so vast – there really is a book or two on everything.”

However, despite changes in the industry and in people’s reading habits, Murray has kept to the same basic vision that Jim and Judy Siers originally had with stunning exhibitions by New Zealand artists, many of whom have gone on to international acclaim.

“We have a strong New Zealand focus for the artwork and a mix of New Zealand and international authors. Our books tend towards literary fiction, gift books, children’s books and books about the garden and home,” he says, adding that the shop only has one wall mounted display and the rest of the books are on tables and chests.

Special gift cards, calendars and stationery are also stocked. “We like to have something different for our customers so there is that feeling of finding something a little special which you wouldn’t find somewhere else.”

Millwood Gallery is a bookshop to lose track of time and place and delve for treasures. “We definitely encourage browsing and there’s that fabulous element of discovery and surprise when you find something hidden under a pile. You haul it out and find it’s perfect for you.”

Many of Millwood Gallery’s customers are regulars, and Murray and his two part-time staff members get to know what they like.

For Murray, he’s found owning a bookshop has been perfect for him. “I guess I could have done something else, but I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much.”