Fine Music Australia Pty Ltd

Darling Dance Studios
13 Glass Street Kew 3102, 31 Tyne Street Box Hill North

"VIN...I TOLD you ..." Joining these two businesses were the Showbusiness Book Shop (run by Vin Foster) and the Church Music Department.

Fine Music was originally established around 1960 by Reuben Fineberg, who saw the need for a retailer that could supply classical music to professional musicians and the general public. The company was incorporated in 1968 and found a home in the basement of York House at 294 Little Collins Street with like-minded tenant Discurio, (founded by Peter Mann) who specialised in classical & folk music r

ecordings. The church department dates back to the 1930s when it was successively part of the Diocesan Book Society and the General Board of Religious Education Bookshop. In the 1930s it was run by Harry Scott Simmons (precentor of St Paul’s Cathedral) and later by Bruce Naylor (who left to join the priesthood). When purchased by Reuben Fineberg in the early 1970s, he was advised to take Miss Dorothy Watson who ran it, along with the stock. Fine Music together with the Showbusiness Bookshop were sold by Reuben to Peter Mann in the 1970s. These businesses came together under one company name, Musicmann Pty Ltd, when they moved into 20 & 22 McKillop Street, opening on the 1st of May 1979. The buildings dating from the 1880s had for many years been the printing works of Arbuckle Waddell. The two companies, Fine Music & Discurio stayed in this location successfully providing all types of music to the general public & institutions throughout Australia, gaining a reputation as the most specialist supplier of classical music. The Showbusiness Bookshop gained a separate reputation as a supplier of playscripts and drama related text books to the theatrical community of Australia. Together, Vin Foster & Grahame Murphy (manager of Fine Music) had formed the Gravin Theatre Agency who were agents for a number of US play publishers, mostly for the school market. This was an agency for collecting royalties, all the stock being sold through Fine Music. Following the deaths of first Vin & later Grahame, this agency eventually closed although the selling of playscripts continued. When Discurio moved away from McKillop Street in the early 1990s, the Fine Music business was changed slightly when the wholesale division became a separate entity under the name Encore Music. When in August 1999 the building at 20 & 22 McKillop Street was sold, Encore Music moved out to a warehouse in Fitzroy and Fine Music remained in McKillop Street, finding a new home at number 17, the former home of Phillips Antiques and before them, Joel’s Auctions. This store opened on January 2nd 2000. The business was sold in December 2002 to Billy Hyde Music, Blackburn and closed at McKillop Street in December 2006 when all the stock was transferred to Billy Hyde Music, Blackburn

Here is a list of staff in roughly chronological order:

Grahame Murphy dec
Vin Foster dec
Dorothy Watson dec
Frank Prain
Ellis Ebell
Norma Patterson
Leonie Germaine
Roland Yeung
Danny
David Wilson
Pam Norton
Mark Foster
Brad Carle
Simon Colvin
Lucas de Jong
Luke Doherty dec
Ron Smith
Andrew Dunne
Alex Pittendrigh
Sandra Oldis
Samuel Adamson
David Warne
Jodie
Lucy Larobina
Michael Munson
Phil Lambert
Claude
Janette Clark
Michael Jongebloed
Sheryl Madsen
Kelly Kjos (McGregor)
Andrew Stenford
Jonathan Morton
Margaret
Mark
Steven Ritchie
Scott Board dec
Jenn Walter
Brendan Castle
Barbara
Adrielle Spence
Daniel Kilby
Jennifer
Larry Taffe
Richard Snape
Rodney
Julian

27/10/2025

With assistance from Simon Colvin, here is a best effort list of all known former staff from Fine Music Australia Pty Ltd in very approximate chronological order.

If any followers of this page are able to provide further details e.g. surnames, corrections, overlooked names, deceased etc please do so in the comments.

Do you remember any of these people or have any interesting stories or anecdotes to share?

Grahame Murphy dec
Vin Foster dec
Dorothy Watson dec
Frank Prain
Ellis Ebell
Norma Patterson
Leonie Germaine
Roland Yeung
Danny
David Wilson
Pam Norton
Mark Foster
Brad Carle
Simon Colvin
Lucas de Jong
Luke Doherty dec
Ron Smith
Andrew Dunne
Alex Pittendrigh
Sandra Oldis
Samuel Adamson
David Warne
Jodie
Lucy Larobina
Michael Munson
Phil Lambert
Claude
Janette Clark
Michael Jongebloed
Sheryl Madsen
Kelly Kjos (McGregor)
Andrew Stenford
Jonathan Morton
Margaret
Mark
Steven Ritchie
Scott Board dec
Jenn Walter
Brendan Castle
Barbara
Adrielle Spence
Daniel Kilby
Jennifer
Larry Taffe
Richard Snape
Rodney
Julian

Send a message to learn more

Photos from Fine Music Australia Pty Ltd's post

12/09/2025

On holiday in Madrid something above the entrance to a café caught my eye! Fine Music Pty Ltd used to stock a good number of titles from UME catalogue.

Photos from 3MBS Melbourne 103.5FM's post

09/09/2025

Belated congratulations Simon, and apologies this wasn’t posted earlier. What a landmark!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B9Yb9mJWX/?mibextid=wwXIfr

23/11/2023

40 years ago today our unfailingly affable colleague Simon Colvin commenced his career at Fine Music Australia in McKillop Street, Melbourne.

He is still working in the print music industry - a remarkable achievement.

Here’s to you Simon! 🥂🍾 🎉

11/09/2023

The very loved Discurio Fine Music staff member, Brian Crossley played Flowerpots in this series 💜

Adventure Island premiered on September 11, 1967, 56 years ago on this day. Some exciting news coming regarding the show's preservation. Stay tuned.

‘It’s a tragedy’: Basement Discs to spin last in-store record

07/12/2022

So sorry to read this news 😔

‘It’s a tragedy’: Basement Discs to spin last in-store record Legendary Melbourne record store Basement Discs, downstairs in the CBD’s Block Arcade, will close its bricks-and-mortar shop in January.

14/11/2022

Our Annual Sale is back! Our sale will run in store this Friday and Saturday, and online Friday from 8am until Sunday at midnight. Here is the special doorbuster list, and we will have 25% off print music, 30% off reeds, and 25% off accessories*.

See you there!

*Excludes concurrent promotions. In stock items only.

16/03/2022

🎶

Do you know more about music than this guy?

Join the Fine Music Team in Hawthorn!
We are looking for a full-time sales assistant to work Monday – Friday, 9am – 5.30pm. Duties will include processing and dispatching online sales, delivering orders, and assisting with customer enquiries.

The successful candidate must possess:
• The ability to play a musical instrument and read music
• Have a good general knowledge of music
• Be well-presented and a confident communicator
• Ability to work independently, show initiative and be self-motivated
• The ability to work as part of a small team
• A current driver's licence

If this sounds like you or someone you know, email [email protected]