One of Australia’s longest-standing independent music and pro audio retailers, Turramurra Music, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month, marking five decades since founder Rob Stevens started the business in 1976.
The milestone will be marked with a 50th Birthday Sale from 3-11 September and a special in-store celebration on Saturday 5 September. Customers and friends are invited to drop in for free coffee all morning, catch up with founder Rob Stevens and the Turramurra Music team, check out a display of special vintage instruments from the store’s past, and take advantage of some fantastic birthday sale specials.
The story began when 21-year-old Rob Stevens opened a small store in Turramurra, where the business remains today. Music tuition and record sales helped pay the bills in the early years as the store gradually expanded into neighbouring premises and grew into a major specialist music and professional audio retailer.
“When I started in 1976, I certainly wasn’t imagining where we might be 50 years later,” said founder Rob Stevens. “Reaching this milestone is a real honour, but what means the most is the people who have been part of the journey. We’ve had wonderful staff, past and present, loyal customers who have supported us for decades, and great friendships across the music industry. I’m enormously grateful to them all.”
Music history has regularly crossed paths with the store. Future Midnight Oil members Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey taught guitar at Turramurra Music in its early years, while bands including INXS, The Angels and The Radiators were among those known to stop by the store as they headed north out of Sydney.
Today, the family-owned business has a team of specialist musicians, engineers and technicians covering instruments, recording and professional audio, alongside in-house repairs, hire, system design and installation, training and technical support.
Despite the enormous transformation of music technology and retail over 50 years, General Manager Mat Stevens says the principles behind the business have remained remarkably consistent.
“The way people discover music, make music and shop for gear has changed enormously since 1976, but the fundamentals of looking after people well have not,” said Mat. “We still believe in having knowledgeable people customers can actually talk to, letting them try and experience equipment for themselves, and building relationships that last well beyond a single purchase.”
Those relationships now span generations, with customers who first visited as students and young musicians returning years later with their children – and sometimes grandchildren – of their own.
The anniversary follows another landmark moment earlier this year, when Turramurra Music was named NAMM Best Community Retail Store at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, USA, and recognised as one of three global finalists for NAMM Music Retailer of the Year.
“To be celebrating our 50th birthday in the same year that we’ve been recognised alongside some of the best music retailers in the world is pretty special,” Mat said. “We’re enormously proud of our history, but we’re also excited about where we go from here. Fifty years is a chance to celebrate and say thank you, but we feel the best is yet to come.”
About Turramurra Music
Founded in 1976, Turramurra Music is an independent, family-owned Australian musical instrument and professional audio retailer based on Sydney’s Upper North Shore. The business supplies musicians, students, educators, schools, churches, venues and professional users throughout Australia, supported by specialist retail, repairs, hire, system integration, training and technical services.
More information: www.turramusic.com.au
