The shop located at 56-58 Bourke St defies all common principles of order. Established in 1952, the ramshackle treasure trove that is Job Warehouse is a reminder of the fact that, for a considerable portion of last century, the streets on and around Flinders Lane were home to Melbourne’s vibrant garment trade, led in no small part by post-WWII Jewish migrants and refugees. You would be forgiven for thinking that it’s not the easiest place to go browse for fabric while listening to poetry but, then again, Anna Fern did warn you.

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This poem is a part of The Long Story.