Cloudland, more than any other Live Music venue in Australia, if not the world, played host to a plethora of artistic talent during its 40 year lifespan; During the 50’s Rock’n’Roll Pioneers Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny O’Keefe, in the 60’s The Bee Gees, Tony Worsley and the Blue Jays amongst others.

Throughout the 1970’s, Iconic Australian bands such as Dragon, AC/DC, Split Enz, The Angels, Australian Crawl, Icehouse (The Flowers), The Sports, Cold Chisel, Mental as Anything, The Saints, Railroad Gin and The Go Betweens, all placed Cloudland on their touring schedule. The golden era of the Australian Live music scene and Cloudland, the venue of choice for another generation of youths.

Cloudland not only appealed to the touring Australian bands as a venue. International acts such as Simple Minds, Madness, The Clash, The Stray Cats, UB40, Echo & the Bunnymen understood the imposing, yet intimate, qualities this venue possessed.

It wasn’t just the bands that made Cloudland unequalled. Architecturally the building was imposing. An 18 metre high Archway adorned the entrance, which, at night, would light up in multi-coloured neon and could be seen for miles around Brisbane. From its spiral staircase entryway and exquisitely decorated gothic columns to the enormous sprung timber dance floor, every part of Cloudland was unique. Visitors from across the country and in fact the world were drawn to the illuminated archway high on the hill, like moths to a flame.

Cloudland, both architecturally and culturally, wasn’t just another building or venue. It was a significant landmark. The epicentre of enormous change of Australian society and culture during the period of its existence.

The overnight demolition of Cloudland Ballroom in 1982 stunned not only the local residents, but people from all corners of the globe who had attended the venue during its lifetime.