About Billy Hyde Music
ABOUT US
When it comes to music stores in Australia, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more trusted or well-known name than Billy Hyde’s. Billy Hyde himself — the man who started it all — was a true Aussie music legend. He opened the first Billy Hyde’s Music store way back in 1962. Since then, countless Australian music icons have passed through our doors.
Just as importantly, thousands of dreamers, beginners, enthusiasts, buskers, bands, and future legends have relied on us for expert advice and quality equipment at fair prices — helping them make the music they love. That’s what we were about back then, and it’s what we’re about today.
Billy wasn’t just a businessman; he was a musician through and through. He knew what it was like to work hard and follow your passion, and that spirit continues to drive everything we do.
Our History
When Billy first started drumming back in the 1930s, he didn’t let a little thing like the Great Depression stand in his way. He would cart his drums to and from gigs on trams and trains, and went on to become one of Australia’s premier drummers — performing on television and radio shows, playing with symphony orchestras, and working alongside numerous international artists.
A true music lover and innovator, Billy created the world’s first tube steel practice kit and designed the iconic Billy Hyde moulded practice pad — still used by drummers around the world today — before opening his first music store.
As significant as these innovations were, his greatest contribution to music was helping Australian musicians get what they needed at great prices. It’s a tradition we proudly continue today. While the brands and equipment may have evolved over the years, our passion for music — just like Billy’s — remains at the heart of everything we do.