It starts simply — a set of books — but the story behind them runs much deeper. Books from Estonian Australian artist Gunnar Neeme’s private library are now finding new homes across the community, free to a good home (just cover postage).
Some books you buy. Others… find you.
The family of Estonian Australian artist and writer Gunnar Neeme is offering books from his personal Estonian-language collection to the community — a collection shaped over decades of reading, thinking, and staying connected to Estonia from afar.
These aren’t books written by Neeme himself, but they reflect the world he lived in — the ideas he gravitated towards, the culture he held close, the language that stayed with him. Now, they’re ready to move on, shelf by shelf, into new homes.
The Estonian Archives in Australia have already selected a number of titles, and the rest are being shared more widely. It’s less of a clear-out and more of a quiet handover — from one Australian Estonian home to another.
How to browse and request
Everything you need sits neatly in one shared folder. This includes a spreadsheet of available books, along with photos grouped into clearly labelled lots and a request form. You can browse what’s available, check the latest updates, and submit a request form — all in one place.
The books themselves are free. The only cost is postage within Australia — or, for those in Melbourne, a chance to arrange collection from Footscray or the University of Melbourne.
Books are offered on a first come, first served basis. Requests are held for up to seven days while postage is arranged, and the spreadsheet is updated as things move along — so if something catches your eye, it’s worth not waiting too long.
Books will be available until Friday, 12 June 2026, or until allocated.
📎 Browse the collection and request books: here
Who was Gunnar Neeme?
Gunnar Neeme (1918–2005) was one of those quietly extraordinary figures — the kind of person whose work you’ve likely seen even if you didn’t realise it at the time.
Born in Tartu and trained at the Pallas Art School, his early life was shaped by war and displacement before he eventually made his way to Australia. From the 1950s onwards, Melbourne became home — and also the base for a creative life that stretched across decades and disciplines.
He worked as an artist, graphic designer, teacher and illustrator, but his contribution went far beyond his job titles. Neeme was deeply embedded in the Estonian Australian cultural scene — organising exhibitions, contributing to literary life, and helping keep creative expression alive in a community
A creative force across disciplines
Gunnar Neeme didn’t stick to one lane — and thankfully so. His work ranged from painting and graphic art to poetry, essays and plays, often exploring the relationship between art and inner life.
Many will recognise his legacy in a very tangible way — through the murals and wall panels in Estonian Houses across Australia. These are not small works tucked away in corners; they’re part of the spaces where gatherings, celebrations and everyday moments have unfolded for generations.
He also illustrated Kalevipoeg, the Estonian national epic, in a powerful visual interpretation that later helped inspire an English translation. It’s one of those rare moments where art quietly shifts something bigger — opening a cultural doorway for others.
Why this matters now?
At first glance, this might feel like a simple book giveaway. But it’s a little more layered than that.
These books have lived a life — sitting on shelves, being picked up, put down, returned to. They’ve been part of someone’s thinking, someone’s routine, someone’s connection to language and identity over time.
Somewhere in there, you can almost picture it — Gunnar Neeme, reading by a dim light, turning these same pages, letting ideas settle and resurface… the kind that don’t stay on the page, but quietly become something more.
And perhaps that’s the real value here — not just owning a book, but becoming part of its next chapter.
Give me all the links
Request form here
List of books here
Photos of books here
Thank you
Thank you to Imbi Neeme and Matti Kiviväli for this information and photos.
More information
Gunnar Neeme | Estonian Writers’ Online Dictionary
If you have questions, please contact Imbi Neeme via email: imbi.neeme(at)gmail.com
