From Boronia to Bairnsdale — The MR Journey Continues
MR Retro first began in 2022 with our original store in Boronia. While we were proud of what we created there, we eventually realised it just wasn’t the right fit for what we wanted to build long term. We wanted something more connected to community, music culture and the lifestyle that truly reflected who we are. So, we made the decision to take a leap of faith and move forward with a new chapter.
That chapter officially began when we opened the doors to MR Retro - Bairnsdale in January, 2025.
As an independent Australian record label through MR Records, opening a physical record store always felt like a natural extension of what we do — creating a place where music lovers could connect, discover new artists, revisit old favourites and simply share the passion for music with us face to face.
What we didn’t expect was just how incredible the support from the local community would be.
Between us, we’ve each spent more than 40 years involved in the music industry, and music has always been more than just a business to us — it’s been a lifelong passion. From collecting records and supporting artists to working behind the scenes in the industry, we’ve dedicated decades to living and breathing music culture. MR Retro, MR Records and MR Touring are all built from that experience and love of music.
From day one, the people of East Gippsland welcomed us with open arms. Whether you’ve stopped in to browse vinyl, hunt down hard-to-find CDs, grab a band shirt, or simply have a chat about music, every visit has meant the world to us. Watching MR Retro grow into more than just a shop — but a real community hub for music lovers — has been one of the most rewarding experiences we’ve ever had.
Being involved in music through MR Records has always been about passion first. Supporting artists, helping create opportunities and building something genuine from the ground up has driven everything we do. After taking some time to focus on growing the label and establishing the shop, stepping back into live touring now feels like the perfect evolution for us.
Through XMUSIC and our touring arm, MR Touring, we’re excited to now bring more live music experiences to the region and beyond. From intimate theatre shows to full-scale rock events, we see touring as another feather in our bow — another way to connect artists and audiences through the power of live music.
Most importantly, we truly believe supporting up-and-coming talent is where it’s at. Today’s emerging artists are tomorrow’s headliners, and giving them a platform is something we’re deeply passionate about. Seeing local and developing artists share stages, grow their audience and build careers is a huge part of why we do what we do.
To everyone who has supported MR Retro, MR Records and now MR Touring — thank you. Whether you’ve visited the shop, bought a record, shared a post, attended a show or simply spread the word, you’ve helped us build something incredibly special.
We absolutely love seeing you walk through the doors of the shop… and we’d be ecstatic to see you at a show too.
The journey is only just getting started.