Albert Ullin

Albert Henry Ullin (29 April 1930 – 12 September 2018) was a German Australian bookseller and the founder of Australia's first children's bookstore, The Little Bookroom. He nurtured emerging children's writers and illustrators.

Early years Ullin was born in Frankfurt, and arrived in Melbourne in 1939 as a nine-year-old, escaping pre-war Germany via Italy with his family.

Career Ullin developed his interest in children's picture-books while working for booksellers Robertson & Mullens in Melbourne. Ullin promoted Australian children's books at the Bologna Book Fair. Ullin served as judge on both the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award and the Children's Book Council of Australia Crichton Award.

The Little Bookroom Ullin founded Australia’s first children’s bookstore, The Little Bookroom, opening on 13 October 1960. Ullin sold the business to staff in 2004. The bookstore was first established in the Metropol Arcade before moving to an Elizabeth St location, opposite the GPO. The store later relocated to Carlton with a small branch at Degraves Street.

Children's Book Council of Australia Ullin held various positions in the Children's Book Council of Australia Victoria Branch between 1979 and 1988. Ullin served as judge on both the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award and the CBCA Crichton Award for New Illustrators. 1997 Medal of the Order of Australia for services to children's literature in Australia and beyond 2009 Leila St John Award by the Children's Book Council of Australia, Victorian branch Honorary Life Member of the Children’s Book Council of Australia Jane Tanner and Judith Rossell won in 2022 and 2024 respectively.