Bon Scott Blew the Roof Off: Were You There?

Published on 04 August 2025

In 1974, a small Sydney band called AC/DC (perhaps you’ve heard of them!) were doing some serious touring. They had one album under their belt, and another one on the way, and they were playing everywhere. They even opened for Lou Reed at Festival Hall.

At some point in 1974 or ‘75, they played a gig at the Kingston City Hall in Moorabbin. It's a surprisingly small room - not even the main hall. In 2025 it’s difficult to imagine AC/DC playing anything other than an arena. But, when they hit town, Rennie Ellis was on hand to create this iconic image.

The photo captures so much energy and activity in the room. Leaning across the front of the stage are young girls, entranced, enthralled and enraptured by the spectacle of Bon Scott in his tight leather pants and a leather vest over his t-shirt. The quintessential rock man of the ‘70s.

There’s also a whole lot of people not even looking at what’s happening on stage. Was something happening to the side of stage? Is that where Angus was? Bon seems to be looking up, as is a bloke in the audience, is there something wrong with the lighting? Did something hit the ceiling?

Kingston City Council holds this image in its visual arts collection. It hangs on the wall only metres from where the original gig was held. We want to celebrate this image and are looking for somebody who was there on the night.

We know they played a few gigs in Moorabbin during 1974 and '75, they were touring hard all over the country. But we're specifically looking for anyone who was at the City Hall gig.

If you, or someone you know, were there, please send a message to our Heritage Specialist.

Image: Bon Scott, Moorabbin Town Hall c.1974, photo by Rennie Ellis, image courtesy of Rennie Ellis Archive