The Longest Book in the World - Meet the artist

No bookings requried

Drop into the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre to meet with the artist Fern Smith as she talks through the process of creating The Longest Book in the World. See the book unfurled before your eyes.

What to expect: See the unfurling of the Longest Book in the World at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre with the project's facilitator, Fern Smith, in attendance. Fern will talk you through the construction of the project and how the Greater Geelong community banded together to create this work of art in the aftermath of COVID 19, and which was completed in 2026.

Bookings and supervision: Bookings are not required - you are welcome to drop in on the day! Fern will be at the library at the following dates and times for drop in sessions:

Friday 16 October 11am- 1pm,  Thursday 22nd 11am-1pm,  Saturday 24th October 11am-1pm and Saturday 31st October 11am-1pm.  

About the project: The Greater Geelong community, over a four year period, produced the longest environmentally friendly concertina book in the world by one thousand and forty-seven illustrators and authors, over a four year period. It is the longest environmentally friendly concertina book in the world, at 697.75 metres in length. Each individual page interprets favourite places within the City of Greater Geelong, celebrating local landmarks and spaces cherished.

The project was facilitated by, artist, Fern Smith designed the book to be environmentally friendly, ensuring that its creation would minimise impact on the environment with the use of recycled materials such as rolls of recycled paper donated by Sealed Air, pencils, and handmade wheaten-cornflour glue. Fern cut and glued the 2791 pages together from recycled pre-consumer waste of Tuff bag paper donated by Sealed Air.

This project was made possible through 139 free workshops, space by Geelong Regional Libraries (GRLC), Drysdale Museum, Bellarine Landcare Nursery, Wangala Primary School, Cultura School Norlane, Bellarine Catchment Network, Swan Bay Environment Group, Geelong Writers Inc, Geelong Embroiders Guild, Queenscliff Marine Discovery Research Centre.

Upcoming events