Member News – March 2025

After a six year absence, Billy Hyde Music has returned to Adelaide’s CBD with a brand new Superstore on Waymouth St in the West End of Adelaide. Previously located just outside of the city in the suburb of Marleston, their building was marked for demolition to make way for the new North-South Corridor (a major roads project), but as Store Manager Mark Oosterveld explains, every cloud has a silver lining.

“The Marletson Superstore was a fantastic store that Adelaide’s musicians really loved, and when we first heard it was set to be demolished, of course we were disappointed. But I have to say, our new Superstore in the city is, without question, even better. More room, more open space, more instruments – the feedback we’ve had from the industry is that it’s easily one of the best looking music stores in Australia!”

The Billy Hyde Music brand dates back to 1962 but has been owned by the South Australian Cleves family since 2019. Their history in music retail dates back almost as far, to 1964 when Dale Cleves OAM, a recent inductee into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame, opened his first store in South Australia’s second biggest city, Mt Gambier, in the state’s southeast.

“A lot of people see the ‘Billy Hyde Music’ name and don’t realise it’s a family owned business again. There was a period where it was taken over by corporates, but it’s back where it belongs now, in the hands of a family with a long musical history. And now back in the Adelaide CBD too” Oosterveld said.

Adelaide’s Lord Mayor Dr Jane Lomax Smith AM was on hand to officially open the store, and said “Having a Billy Hyde Music store in the epicentre of Australia’s only UNESCO Creative City of Music – not to mention within a stone’s throw from our favourite live music venues – is a real bonus.” “The new store will complement the city’s other long-standing music stores and provide one more place for people of all levels to purchase their products.”

With Adelaide celebrating it’s tenth year as an official Unesco City of Music, it seems only fitting for Billy Hyde Music to return to the city. It was thought echoed by Adelaide City of Music General Manager Joe Hay: “Adelaide’s UNESCO City of Music designation is underpinned by our historic and ongoing commitment and love for music culture, and by individuals and companies such as Billy Hyde Music who call Adelaide home. The City of Music office was proud to attend the opening and congratulate Billy Hyde on the opening of their new Superstore on Waymouth Street.” With more residents set to call Adelaide home in the coming years, The Grace Emily hotel just up the road, and premier live venue the Crown and Anchor relocating to the Ed Castle literally just 400m away, it certainly seems the time is right for Billy Hyde Music to take it’s place back in the CBD as Adelaide’s premier destination for music equipment.

With all the usual offerings including drums, guitars, keyboards, PA gear, home recording and DJ equipment, the new Superstore also features a dedicated amp room and acoustic guitar room, as well as a number of try out rooms where customers can try before they buy. It’s all part of the experience that simply can’t be replicated online, and why a bricks and mortar store like this one still has a place in an increasingly online world says Oosterveld.

“Of course there are some customers who know exactly what they want and are happy to buy online, and we have a website for that also. But music is one of those things that you really need to experience. It has spirit and soul, and we find people buying instruments really want to touch and play something before they buy it, which is where a store like ours is so important. There’s a lot of instruments here to check out, and just as importantly, helpful staff who can offer advice for those who need it” he said.

The Billy Hyde Music Adelaide team includes musicians from everything from ‘Reputation – The Ultimate Taylor Swift Show’, to the globally successful Hindley Street Country Club who now boast more than 1.2million subscribers on YouTube with more than 750 million video views.

While the plan to move into the CBD may have been prompted by the unexpected demolition of the previous store, the timing and location have actually made it the perfect opportunity to become an even more integral part of South Australia’s music scene.

The new Billy Hyde Music Superstore is located at 198 Waymouth St, Adelaide.

Dale Cleves Music Group is an AMA member.