A Book Cellar

Whist driving home recently I happened upon an interview with Old Virgilian Michael Roach (SVC 1975-80) on ABC local radio. Michael and his two children were quizzed as to what it was ‘like to live in a bookshop?’

When Michael and his wife, Catherine, were looking to buy a heritage building, they stumbled across the perfect place at Campbell Town. More than 12 years later it's now a flourishing book store.

As a consequence of hearing the interview I contacted Michael and asked him to recount his journey since leaving the College. 

First up it should be noted that Michael’s grandfather Gerald and his father Peter attended the College. Gerald was a great supporter of the Old Virgilians Association and was rewarded for this with an Honorary Life Membership. Peter became a prominent lawyer in Hobart. Michael’s brothers Phillip, Joseph and John (dec.) were also educated at the College.

Michael’s story:

Michael left the St Virgil’s Barrack Street campus in 1980, accepting a journalism cadetship at the ABC. While working as a news reporter from the ABC’s Hobart office he gravitated into the production side of television news and current affairs as a director. In 1988 he moved to Sydney where his directing credits included the full range of the ABC’s news and current affairs programs and a six month stint working at the BBC’s news studios in London.

After almost 15 years at the ABC he took up a job in the then infant Pay-TV industry, initially working at Premier Sports which shortly after morphed into Fox Sports. His live sports directing credits included AFL, Rugby League, National Soccer League, National Basketball League and Boxing.

In 2009 Michael moved back to Tasmania with his wife Catherine, purchasing The Foxhunters Return, an 1830s coaching inn located on the Midland Highway at Campbell Town.  Whilst initially continuing to run the property as a large bed and breakfast, they renovated the convict built cellars under the main building with the intention of opening an independent bookshop in a unique heritage setting. The Book Cellar was born on Christmas Eve, 2010 and has become a popular destination for Tasmania’s book lovers, as well as interstate and overseas visitors.

In 2023 The Book Cellar was recognised as “among the most remarkable bookstores in the world, each having a unique story to tell” in the international publication “150 Bookstores to Visit Before You Die”.  Michael said he and Catherine were “gratified to be recognised in such esteemed company.”

The Book Cellar has become a favourite destination for many Tasmanian booklovers, as well as visitors from interstate and overseas.

The Book Cellar stocks new, used and antiquarian books across many genres with a special emphasis on books by Tasmanian authors and about Tasmania. It’s also a great place to pause a trip north or south and grab a coffee.

The Book Cellar, 132 High Street, Campbell Town is open Monday – Friday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.