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Koorong
Founded1978
FoundersBruce and Olive Bootes
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
Number of locations
15
ParentBible Society Australia
Websitekoorong.com

Koorong is a Christian bookstore chain operating across Australia. It is the largest retailer of Bibles, Christian books and media in Australia. Koorong currently operates online and at 15 stores across the country.

History

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Koorong began as a family-owned company over 40 years ago[1] in Marsfield, Sydney, in the garage of the Koorong Street home of Bruce Bootes - a retired veterinarian and Reformed Baptist pastor - and his wife Olive.[2] In 1978, their son, Paul began the management of his family's bookshop business.[3]

Koorong opened their first Sydney store in Ryedale Road, West Ryde in 1978, moving to larger premises in West Parade, West Ryde in 1995.[4] In August 2005, Koorong took over the three Church Army bookstores at Newcastle, Tamworth and Gosford.[5] Koorong now operates 14 stores across Australia,[6] including Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Fyshwick, Toowoomba and Launceston, with approximately 400 staff, Australia-wide[7] and a brochure mailing list of about 120,000.[8]

Koorong was described in 1994 as theologically conservative in terms of the books it sold, which was consistent with its Reformed Baptist roots.[9] Since that time, Koorong's product range has expanded[10] to a broader coverage of the diverse sub-groups and movements associated with contemporary evangelical Christianity, including, for example: Church Growth movement, Charismatic Movement, Progressive Christianity, neo-Calvinism, Emerging church, and the Missional Church movement. Denominational streams represented include Reformed/Presbyterian, Baptist, Anglican, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Anabaptist, and Wesleyan.

A Koorong bookstore in the Melbourne suburb of Blackburn

In addition to a comprehensive range of Bibles, the subject categories and themes of Koorong's product range include: practical guidance on Christian living; popular devotionals; apologetics; academic theology and biblical studies; ministry resources; romance, suspense, and historical fiction; inspirational giftware; classic authors; Bible reference works and commentaries; contemporary worship music.[11]

In December 2009 Koorong purchased UK based book publisher Authentic Media and Paternoster Publishers from IBS-STL.[12] In 2014, Koorong acquired a significant share of BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC, with a creative HQ based in Minneapolis MN, USA.

In August 2015 Koorong was acquired by Bible Society Australia.[13] Bible Society Australia's CEO Greg Clarke had said: "We will now be able to share our important Bible work with, and garner support from, Koorong customers. What’s more, those who shop at Koorong can now know that their purchases will fund even more important Bible mission projects here and around the world.".[14] The Bootes family retained ownership of Authentic Media, Paternoster Press and their share of BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC.

After 40 years in the Christian bookselling industry, Paul Bootes retired as managing director of Koorong in July 2017 and his brother, Rob Bootes became CEO.[15] In July 2018, after Rob Bootes stepped down, David Foster took over the reins at Koorong as general manager.[16] In February 2020 Koorong announced a brand refresh which has commenced the rollout across digital platforms and stores.

Notes

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  1. ^ ASIC. "Company Name Search". Retrieved 5 November 2008.
  2. ^ See the Koorong General FAQ webpage Archived 29 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 May 2009.
  3. ^ See a brief profile of Paul Bootes on the Gospel Music Association Board Profile webpage Archived 28 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 8 May 2009.
  4. ^ See the Koorong History page Archived 11 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine for these dates.
  5. ^ See the Church Army August 2005 newsletter. Archived 18 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 7 May 2009.
  6. ^ "Koorong: Stores". Koorong. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. ^ As reported on 2 August 2005 in a Mitel Press Release Archived 19 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 7 May 2009.
  8. ^ Koorong also operates a busy online store. As at November 2004, the Australian Prayer Network Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine thanked Koorong for mailing out its prayer newsletter in Koorong's monthly catalogue, with a size of 120,000. Retrieved on 11 May 2009. The August 2005 Mitel case study Archived 24 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine also gave a figure of about 120,000. Retrieved on 12 May 2009.
  9. ^ See the Association for Research in Education 1994 paper by Robert Long Archived 28 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 11 May 2009.
  10. ^ Koorong advertises on its website that it has 150,000 Christian products.
  11. ^ See "New & Bestselling Christian products. Buy Christian products Online from Koorong". Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
  12. ^ "STL Distribution: IBS-STL UK Trade Announcement". 21 December 2009.
  13. ^ "Bible Society Australia partners with Koorong in match made in heaven". 17 August 2015.
  14. ^ See Bible Society Australia acquires Koorong in partnership to increase access to God’s word. Archived 16 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 17 August 2015.
  15. ^ "Koorong CEO: 'We like the notion that ideas can fight it out graciously on the shelves'". 8 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Bible Society appoints David Foster to head Koorong - Bible Society Australia". 16 July 2018.
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