Words by Alex Watts Photography by Indya Connley If you learnt an instrument while growing up in Australia there’s a good chance you would have some memories of visiting either Allans or Billy Hyde, the two giants of musical retail that amalgamated in 2010.  When Allans Billy Hyde announced its closure in 2012 it seemed to mark the end of large-scale music stores in the face of online competition.  At the last minute Con Gallin, the managing director of Australian Musical Imports (AMI), the founder of Gallins Musician’s Pro Shop and the current CEO of the company,  made a winning bid to claim the lion’s share of Allans’ assets, including the trading names and leases on seven stores. The once competing brands of Allans and Billy Hyde now sit comfortably together in the one building.  “Our business is divided in two: classical, where you’ve got print music – and Allans have always been the biggest in print – brass, woodwind, strings and pianos and then the Rock ‘n’ Roll side: guitars, amps, PA’s, etc.” The convenience of having everything under one roof has always been one of its winning factors.  “It’s all connected up. If you’re a country band, you’re … Continue reading NEVERENDING PLANS