Ellene Lye is book obsessed. 

If there’s one hobby that she’s never strayed too far from, it’s reading. 

After relocating to Brisbane’s Victoria Point, there was one thing the avid reader felt was missing from the suburb – a bookstore. 

With 15 years as a teacher under her belt and a love of literacy and independent bookstores, Lye has translated the classroom into a small (but mighty) vending machine, Whoa Nellie Vending. 

The machine opened at Victoria Point Shopping Centre on August 18. It allows shoppers to tap their cards before watching their next read drop into the collection bucket via a gentle mechanical lift.

Asked for the motivation behind the concept, Lye said it was exciting to walk into a bookstore brimming with so many options – and it was also overwhelming. 

“Sometimes you just want something picked out for you,” she said.

Working alongside her husband James, and Han Dodd of Odd Hand Co, the machine was brought to life by a custom wrap of three fantastical worlds including James’ drawings of the named “machine mascots” Nellie the Sassy Snail and Professor Emelius the Mouse. They bounce around a flurry of colourful worlds and characters curated by Dodd, who drew inspiration from 1970s magazines and books. 

“It’s the idea that adults should have joy and whimsy in their lives,” Lye said.

“We wanted the characters to be whimsical, cute and slightly unhinged, and the worlds to feel like the fictional realms we dive into while reading.” 

Inside that world and resting on the spirals, shoppers will discover a rotating curation of Lye’s favourite novels, picture books and quirky gifts, pre-selected by her and the team.

“[The machine] will feature around 16 different titles and there’ll always be two picture books for children, and special edition clothbound books,” she said.

The opening selection includes a collection of cosy fiction, fantasy and classics such as Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer, Matcha on Monday by Michiko Aoyama, Shadow Reaper by Lynette Noni and Macmillan Collectors Classics. Although the categories will remain largely the same, Lye will prioritise Australian authors and books that she can personally recommend. 

Aside from hot-ticket reads, the machine will also offer a clutch of Australian-made novelty gifts including washi tape, stickers, keyrings, notepads and one-of-a-kind glass Poochy Pets from Lawn Bowls. 

“They’re like really random glass pet rocks, it’s a weird gimmicky thing,” Lye said.

Speaking of fun, yet slightly gimmicky things, Lye will also try to align the vending machine with seasonal celebrations, including spooky-themed reads for Halloween and Christmas-inspired gifts. 

“I hope [people] feel that comfort and joy that you get when walking into a bookstore, knowing that these things are selected for them with joy and love,” she said.