E. W. (Edward William) Cole

Born in Kent in 1832, he had little formal schooling and emigrated first to South Africa and then to Australia during the gold-rush era. After early struggles in farming, selling, and land ventures, he eventually found his calling in books and built a career as an energetic bookseller and publisher in Melbourne.

His lasting fame came from Cole’s Book Arcade, a hugely popular and unusual bookstore that became known for its lively displays and broad appeal. He also compiled and published widely read works including Cole’s Funny Picture Book and Cole’s Fun Doctor, reflecting his belief that books could be both useful and enjoyable.

Accounts of his life describe him as optimistic, eccentric, and strongly committed to self-improvement, education, and reform. That combination of showmanship and idealism helped make him one of the most distinctive figures in Australia’s book trade of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.