The world-wide trend, in part spurned along by the success of high-profile intricate colouring books, is well and truly thriving in central Victoria. 

Strath Village Newsagency and Bookstore owner Kylie Kay said the number of colouring-in books for adults in her shop now far-outstripped those for children. 

But the colouring-in isn’t just for fun, with avid scribblers saying the practice is soothing and therapeutic. 

Local colouring-in enthusiast Leonie Walker said she found it calming. 

“I suffer from depression and anxiety and it’s really helping me a lot,” she said. 

“It’s really therapeutic – you can just concentrate on the colours.”

In something of a role reversal, Bendigo teacher Raelene Gooch said she takes mindful colouring for grown-ups into classrooms across various demographics and socio-economic areas.

“The difference in their behaviour after a meditation session is astounding,” she said.