A Little Bit of History

February 1995: Barricade Books/Infoshop opens. A loose group of anarchists had been organising for a few years to open an anarchist bookshop after there was considered a need for an outlet of anarchist and grass-roots libertarian and anti-authoritarian literature in Melbourne. We are the fourth anarchist bookshop to have opened in Melbourne in the past twenty years, the other three have been and gone!

July, 1995: The shop came under attack from the police in relation to objectionable publications and the same week saw our windows smashed in by nazi-skinheads.

Internal Investigations Department of Victoria Police contact the shop in relation to the investigation of police corruption in kickbacks being paid to police by window-shutting businesses. We couldn't (and didn't want to) help them. Could it be that police 'arrange" for windows to be smashed to increase their backhander payments?

A long campaign was fought with the local council over erecting preventative shutters over our windows. State Government appointed Commissioners refused to grant our planning application claiming it would detract from the amenity of the area. Never mind there are at least 50 or so businesses on Sydney Road that have roller doors/grilles over their windows. Could it be that there is a hidden agenda behind the planning committee??

March 1996: Local Council elections held for the first time in over three years. It remains to be seen if this will have an effect on council's attitude to our demand to protect our shop from vandalism and attack.

April 1996: April 25, ANZAC DAY, Swastikas painted on front door of shop, as well as other local anti-fascist activists. Local demonstration against fascist organising takes place which marches to Barricade Books

July 1996: One year later, the shutters are still in place, the stand-off remains. We are getting used to operating in a barricade. Nazi-graffiti still daubs the back alley.

June 1997: Almost two years later, we finally get rid of the shutters and get windows again!

November 1997: Shop's third birthday!