Margaret Bird (bookseller)
Margaret Henrietta Bird | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 22, 1888 Beechworth, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | February 1, 1963 (aged 74) Coburg, Melbourne, Australia |
| Occupation | Bookseller |
| Years active | 1925–1959 |
Margaret Henrietta Bird (22 November 1888 – 1 February 1963) was a third-generation Australian bookseller based in Melbourne.
Life
Born in 1888 in Beechworth into a family deeply rooted in the bookselling trade, Bird’s lineage included her grandfather, who had founded a prominent bookselling enterprise in Victoria. Her father, James William Ingram, initially partnered in James Ingram & Son before establishing a separate Melbourne bookstore in 1898 that focused on educational literature. Margaret received her education at Oberwyl girls' school located in Melbourne's St Kilda, an institution created by Swiss art patron Madame Elise Pfund.
From 1925, Ellis Bird's Books operated at 21 Bourke Street, specializing in second-hand volumes. The shop was managed by Margaret alongside her husband Ellis Bird, who had started the business in 1918 and married her in 1922; he passed away in 1927. Ellis was known for his communist affiliations, and both he and Margaret shared an appreciation for author G. K. Chesterton, leading them to establish groups named the "Heretics" that reflected their shared interests.
Following her husband's death, Margaret maintained the bookstore under his name, transforming it into one of Melbourne’s most beloved independent bookshops. The store drew distinguished literary personalities such as poet Marie Pitt and critic Nettie Palmer, who frequented the shop accompanied by her husband Vance. The female-led management of Melbourne’s book retail sector was notable during this period, with women overseeing establishments like Chaucer’s and Everyman’s, as well as independent stores including Ellis Bird's and those operated by Margareta Webber and Elise Belle Champion.
Bird retired from the business in 1959 and passed away in Coburg, Melbourne, in 1963.