Poets@Stones: A New Home for Poetry in Brisbane
Stones Corner, a small inner-city suburb in Brisbane’s southwest, has become a vibrant hub of creativity. Known for its bustling thrift shops, lively pubs, restaurants, barber shops, and gyms, the area also boasts a strong cultural scene. One standout is the independent bookstore Books@Stones, which hosts book clubs, author signings, and literary events. Since July 2024, the store has also been home to Poets@Stones, a monthly poetry reading event.
The Birth of Poets@Stones
Poets@Stones was established after the launch of the latest volume of neither/nor, a literary journal edited by respected local poets Rob Morris and Francis Boyle. That evening, the gathered poets discussed the need for a regular poetry reading series, especially after the Queensland Poetry Festival faced funding cuts, significantly reducing its 2024 program.
Queensland has a rich community of poets, from emerging voices to acclaimed writers. Some of the state’s most notable contemporary poets include award-winning talents like Jarad Bruinstroop, Anthony Lawrence, Sarah Holland-Batt, and Damen O’Brien. Brisbane poetry veteran Ross Clark, who has been involved in the scene since the 1980s, was invited to be the first featured poet at Poets@Stones in July 2024.
A Platform for Local and Visiting Poets
Poets@Stones is not limited to Queensland poets. The event has also welcomed interstate guests, such as Melbourne poet and academic Rose Lucas, who read in 2023. This year, Anne Elvey, the founder of Plumwood Mountain literary journal, will visit from Bunurong Country to read in May.
The series provides poets with a platform to showcase their latest work, offering them a chance to read, promote, and sell their books. Books@Stones owners Karen and Michael Weibler have long supported Queensland and interstate writers through in-store events and pop-up bookshops at literary festivals. Their store also features an impressive contemporary poetry section, displaying books from the poets reading at each event.
Recent and Upcoming Readings
The January 2025 Poets@Stones event highlighted three emerging Queensland poets: Aoife Hilton, Jarrah L. Barton, and Madeleine Dale. Dale’s collection Portraits of Drowning won the 2023 Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize and was published by UQP.
February’s event featured a diverse lineup, including visual artist, academic, and lawyer Julie Manning, as well as Calanthe Press poets Vanessa Page and Anthony Lawrence, who read from their latest collections, Salt River: Poems from the Larapinta Trail and Time Machine.
Future featured poets include Jena Woodhouse, Michelle Taylor, Ron Heard, Rae White, Svetlana Sterlin, Shastra Deo, Peter Bakowski, Lesley Synge, Alison Thompson, Victoria Bladen, Kevin Smith, and Liam Ferney, among others.
A Growing Literary Community
Poets@Stones is a free event, but due to its growing popularity, seating is limited. Attendees are encouraged to book in advance to secure a spot.
As Brisbane’s poetry scene continues to evolve, Poets@Stones has quickly become a key venue for literary expression, giving poets and audiences alike a space to connect through the power of words.
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