Cloudland History
Cloudland Ballroom
Cloudland, originally called “Luna Park”, was constructed in 1939-40, and opened in 1940, along with an “alpine railway” constructed to take patrons up the hill to the venue.The rollercoaster at Luna Park was destroyed before the fair grounds were opened.When Cloudland was re-opened after the war, the name Luna Park was dropped and the building was thenceforth known as Cloudland Ballroom. The funicular was dismantled in 1967 and the area was turned into a car park.
Cloudland "alpine" railway
”Cloudland Dance Hall” at the time, builders declared, “With its private alcoves, upholstered seating, dressing rooms, and perfect ventilation… the ballroom will be the finest of its kind in Australia”. It was no exaggeration, and Cloudland was without doubt one of the best dance and concert venues in the country. The venue was a classic World War II structure. Inside it had hard timber floors, decorative columns, sweeping curtains, domed skylights and chandeliers. Cloudland also had an upper circle of tiered seating which overlooked the floor and stage.
On a commanding hilltop site in the Bowen Hills above Brisbane, Cloudland’s distinctive parabolic laminated roof arch, nearly 18 meters high, was visible for miles, and was illuminated at night. Inside, as the photo clearly shows, it was famed for elegant decoration and its sprung dance floor, reputed to be the best in Australia. Cloudland was significant as a landmark, and as a place where generations of Brisbane residents went for entertainment
As a pop/rock music venue, it hosted thousands of dances and concerts in the 50s, 60s and 70s, including some quite famous events. Cloudland hosted three of the six concerts performed by rock’n'roll legend Buddy Holly on his only Australian tour in February 1958. In the seventies, ballroom dancing became unpopular and “filthy rock concerts” were the only thing to adorn Cloudland’s floor
Cloudland was also used as an exam venue by the University of Queensland.
school children sitting for their final exams in the Cloudland Ballroom in 1964
Despite strenuous public calls for its preservation, the building was demolished overnight on 7 November 1982 by the Deen Brothers, a ‘no-questions-asked’ outfit favored by the state government and Brisbane City Council for such controversial demolition jobs. Midnight Oil, who had played at Cloudland many times, immortalized the demolition in their song Dreamworld “Cloudland into Dreamworld Falls. Sun comes up and we all learn, those wheels must turn” (from the Diesel and Dust LP).
FROM the air ... remains of Brisbane's Cloudland Ballroom which was demolished without a permit in the early hours of the morning of December 17, 1982
Courier Mail Newspaper Monday 8th November 1982
Marie & Trevor at Cloudland CLOUDLAND LUNA PARK BALLROOM - 1956Marie actually met her husband to be Trevor at ‘Cloudland’ Ballroom in 1956. (Pictured above) In 1997, they couldn’t keep away from their beginnings and purchased one of the penthouse’s in ‘Cumulus’ The residential complex built on the Cloudland grounds, having done the full circle so to speak… Ironically, the first night of their honeymoon was spent at the Bellevue Hotel - demolished by the Dean Brothers (now Marriott) as was ‘Cloudland’ Ballroom.Cloudland entrance
moment in time music movement and the post war spirit is captured at a ballroom dancing festival in 1952 at cloudland
ballroom dancing festival in 1952 at cloudland
Wiki Cloudland to learn more about our history
Pictures from the National Library
by Francesca Berger
by Peter Dunn
(Song Lyrics) by Tim Kelly 2002
Well I was just fourteen
Innocent and a little green
But from innocence we all must fall
Me, I landed on a sprung dance floor
The whole room was swaying
And the Sports were playing
“Strangers on a Train”
I learnt to stand
In a place called CloudlandThey’d catch a tram from Adelaide Street
And with their brothel creepers on the seat
They’d head for the blue-lit arch
And try to sneak their gin passed
And they were always letting
“Golden Wedding”
carry them away
Billo Smith led the band
Every night at CloudlandWe Rise, We fall
We used to have a ball
She was too pretty
For such an ugly city
Unsound, unseen
Thanks to the brothers Deen
I lost my thrill
Up on Cintra HillWell they came at four a.m.
So nobody could bother them
No not even City Hall
Could stop that wrecking Ball
And all they left behind
Was an empty skyline
Oh and the memories
Town houses now stand
In this place called Cloudland
Love the lyrics to Tim Kelly’s song ‘A Place called Cloudland’. Have not heard of this before – but would love to listen to the music if possible.
Keep up the good work Tony!
By: Therese Chappell on October 21, 2008
at 1:47 am
So much enjoyed your ‘history of Cloudland’ where I spent most of my leisure time – Wednesday nights (modern) Thursday nights – Mater 60/40 – then Saturday nights – mostly jive – to say nothing of the Balls thoughout the winter months – also it was used as a flea market in the early eighties…
Many thanks….Tony
By: Marie Warnock on October 28, 2008
at 11:53 pm
Hello.
Just a quick response to Therese. You can hear a recording of ‘A Place Called Cloudland’ at http://www.myspace.com/gifthorsemusic.
Cheers
Tim
By: Tim Kelly on February 25, 2009
at 12:25 pm
Oh how lovely – a section on the history of Cloudland. Photographs are now all that is left after this piece of Brisbane history was ILLEGALLY demolished . Greed in action. thanks for the trip down memory lane…
By: Steve on March 27, 2009
at 6:33 am
In 1982 I worked for a company called Stewart & Co (Private Investigations). The afternoon before Cloudland was demolished my then boss Henry Stewart-Koster asked me to go with him to check something out. This was quite unusual but I was always up for an adventure. He didn’t tell me where we were goingand was quite secretive. We drove up the rear lane to the top of Cloudland Hill and around to the front entrance. It was quite eerie – there was no-one there. It didn’t occur to me that it was about to be demolished and if I had any idea of it I would have called the media. Unfortunately we didn’t get out of the car to have a walk around – all I remember is the sign that said TAXIS TO THE REAR. He then dropped me off at the train station some cryptic comment about it all making sense by Monday. The next morning I woke up to read of the demolition in the Courier Mail and he was right – our little trip on the previous afternoon did make sense.
Tracey Dunnett (McDougall)
By: Tracey Dunnett on March 27, 2009
at 7:57 am
Great song & lyrics.
Really fascinating (and a bit sad) this whole Cloudland story..
Anyone have any scans of newspaper articles of the time? Who love to read the paper articles on this, on the days after the demolishion.
Cheers… JB
By: John Baxter on March 28, 2009
at 1:35 am
I’ve got some photocopies of the Courier Mail articles. I can scan them and send them on, if anyone’s interested.
By: Tim Kelly on March 28, 2009
at 9:11 am
Not the best quality, stills from an old movie camera.. but good all the same..
http://www.members.optushome.com.au/~test.area/cloudland.homemovie.stills.zip
By: John Baxter on April 12, 2009
at 9:36 am
Thank you all for the lovely memories of my “other home” – Cloudland. I was involved in Ballroom dancing with the studio of Dick & Noela Orchard for many years and spent almost all my free nights at Cloudland in the early 50′s. Many nights my cousin and I walked home when we missed the last tram to kedron. Never had any fears – what a lovely era. One of the members of band, the late great Eric Hall who played alto sax and clarinet worked with me in the Insurance Industry and brought the dancers to the edge of the stage when he and Harry Lebler played the Golden Wedding – what a band with Billo Smith and Nessie – ah!! those certainly were the days.
By: Bev Bailey on May 23, 2009
at 9:28 am
Hi I am absolutely delighted to know of a website for Cloudland. My mother is 87 this year and she loved Cloudland. She has told me of the very special times she had there in the early 50′s. Her name then was Mary Carley. I wonder if anyone out there remembers her?
By: Kathy on March 16, 2011
at 10:50 am
My father was also in insurance and went to many balls at Cloudland. Our conversations regarding Billo Smith etc inspired the second verse of my song.
By: Tim Kelly on June 9, 2009
at 11:37 am
Cloudland was the beacon crown of Brisbane and glowed at night like a lighthouse from the past.
I find Brisbane such an ugly city now, a limp copycat of countless others.
We have nothing anymore we can say is originally ours, all our picture palaces are gone, majestic buildings being plundered, without a thought of (so called) heritage listing.
I think the destruction of Cloudland and most of Brisbane was criminal and the sad thing is I’m sure I’m not alone in that thought.
By: Tony James on June 22, 2009
at 5:39 pm
I was so sad when they illegally demolished Cloudland. My Mum and Dad met and danced at Cloudland. My Mum dragged me Ballroom Dancing the year the icon died, and I only wish that I had the opportunity to dance in that beautiful building.
Mum and Dad speak of it with such fondness. I totally love Ballroom Dancing now and have been competing for years. I also danced at Dick & Noela Orchards where I started competition dancing.
I agree with you Tony, Brisbane doesn’t seem to be a big fan of Heritage – just demolitian for the future.
I know they have to move forward but truly, a place like Cloudland holds more memories for more people than Prime Real Estate ventures.
I would love a copy of the photo of everyone dancing from 1952 if someone could tell me where that one came from?.
Wish we all had the money to build another one just the same !
By: Madison Hebbard on July 1, 2009
at 1:09 am
Yes It was terrrible what happened to Cloudland. My mum passed away this Easter and going through the photos there was a few they had taken at Cloudland on their hoonymoon. It brought back some wonderful memories for my dad which he told us about. It was very special place for both of them.
By: Angela McDonald on August 9, 2009
at 5:25 am
I have memories of Cloudland and the fabulos girls that had a lot of class, the days when us young blokes could actually dance with and close to a girl. Now the guys have no romance , just a case of will you or won’t you. No respect and todays girls too fast for the likes of me.
Daivd
By: David Moss on August 16, 2009
at 8:05 am
I think it will be a very sad time for residents when all the specatular views disappear behind a wall of Skyscapers 25 storeys high.
Those beautiful views gone forever.
No wonder I have been seeing a flurry of selling activity at Cloudland recently.
http://www.members.optushome.com.au/~test.area/cloudland.pdf
By: John Baxter on September 5, 2009
at 1:55 am
Unfortunately John, no-one can own a view. There are a lot of residents here who will still retain their great views, due to the size of the complex and the different angles.
I’m a long-term resident and do not intend to sell as we are in a great location, close to the city and public transport. We are lucky to live in a community such as ours, and to have a website like this to share with those of you who have visited here in its former glory days of ballroom dancing.
By: Therese on October 15, 2009
at 1:28 am
Interesting stuff. Obviously the memory lives on. I worked at Cloudland playing sax & clarinet from 1947 until 56.
People still remember, in their mind, the ‘good ole’ days. I think, because they were young.
By: Billo Smith (Jnr) on February 5, 2010
at 5:30 am
I’ve heard a great deal about you. My parents used to go to balls at Cloudland during your era. I mentioned you in my song (see above). My father says about ‘Golden Wedding’ as a highlight of night.
By: Tim Kelly on February 23, 2010
at 11:34 am
Hi Did you know my mother Mary Jean Carley nee Rose? I have some photos of her at Cloudland. I wish I could transport her back to the beautiful days that she loved so much when she danced.
By: Kathy on March 16, 2011
at 10:57 am
During the 70′s, my entire familly would often go up to Cloudlands on a Saturday nignt. We would dress up in our long dresses and my brothers would wear good shirt and long pants.
We would dance the night away to the music of two popular bands – Sounds of Seven, and Seasons of the Witch. One band provided music for The Gypsy Tap, Pride of Erin, The Progressive Barn Dance, and other such dances. The other band would play more modern music to jive to.
It was a magical time. The large ‘disco’ ball that revolved from the ceiling and the soft ‘ultra-violet’ lights created a wonderful atmosphere for a fun evening.
My entire family (parents included) would go home at the end of the night feeling very contented with the evening as there had been music and dancing to satisfy all ages.
Happy memories indeed!
Margaret Stevenson
By: Margaret Stevenson on May 23, 2010
at 12:29 am
Could you please tell me if there in a book about the Cloudland Ball Room. Also where I can purchase it. Thank yolu Sylvia Ross
By: Sylvia Ross on July 12, 2010
at 8:59 am
Did you ever find out where to get a book on Cloudlands? Would also love to give a copy to my parents-in-law who often used to visit there.
This would be greatly appreciated.
Vanessa
By: Vanessa on August 18, 2010
at 3:57 am
I have many very happy memories of balls at Cloudland in the late fifties, and especially of Harry Lebler on the drums playing Golden Wedding. Does anyone know if there was ever a recording made of Harry’s drum work on this? We are celebrating our golden wedding later this year, and I’d really love to play a CD of this at our party.
By: Margaret Taylor on August 26, 2010
at 5:27 am
I am working on painting a picture of the beautiful old Cloudland, my father was voted `Jive King of Cloudland` Colin Giese`. Mum said it was hard to get a dance with him as he was so fabulous at the Jive ladies were lined up. I am sad we no longer have this building, if it were in Melbourne, it would have been preserved Im sure. Is there any construction company willing to recreate the grand old ballroom? If you have any photos to help my research I would appreciate a copy. Many thanks Kerrith
By: Kerrith Giese` on November 4, 2010
at 5:14 am
Kerrith, I played in one of the Cloudland bands (Jim Diamond and the Lancers) in 1965 and have some photos I would share if you care to contact me. Cheers, David
By: David Cheales on April 23, 2012
at 6:04 pm
My main memories of Cloudland were seeing local and international band like Madness, The Cure and I think maybe The Clash, amongst others. Very good time on that sprung dancefloor!
I was in London by the time Cloudland was savagely demolished. I wasn’t too surprised to hear about it though but very saddened and maddened by the Joh government of the time, for its lack of both vision and empathy.
BTW Tim, couldn’t find the song on your myspace site
I’m working on a visual art project recalled some Brissy places and would very much appreciate images of Cloudland, inside, outside or portrait/figures in and around the site!
Grazie L
By: linda zucco on December 6, 2010
at 12:31 am
i always remember the back of cloudland where we parked our car on the dirt track and after the dance(sometimes during it) invite any girL we managed to win for a drink in the car NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED IN CLOUDLAND. Naturally the drink was lemonade although it didnt taste like lemonade. The progressive barn dance was one dance all the guys liked (i wonder why).Joh Bjelkie was very good at knocking things down. Bellvue was another one.
By: david h on March 4, 2011
at 4:24 am
I would have liked to see cloudland and i was 10 years old when it was demolished but it should have been heratige listed another building that should be heratige listed is the movie theaghter the regent in the queen street mall in Brisbane and not just the entrence it should be the whole building thats what i don’t like about brisbane and there are to interstred of nocking down old buildings for offices or home apartments and when i goto Hobart one thing i like is they keep there old buildings and they restore them and some of them are offices. Brisbane city councul and the Queensland state goverment have a lot of explaining to do to allow this to happen and if this happened in europe and there would be a lot of explaining to do and here in Australia it should be the same and brisbane has enough hi rise buildings and Festival Hall in Brisbane cbd is another exanple for hi rise apartments.
By: Sean on March 10, 2011
at 6:49 am
[...] One particular theatre in Brisbane which was very classy was the Regent Theatre, which is still there though it has been modified into a multi-plex model. It was built in 1929 and its décor is quite amazing. This is what Wikipedia has to say about it: The Regent’s entrance foyer is on the narrow Queen Street site, and the auditorium was constructed on the broader site in Elizabeth Street. The original interior decoration was a mixture of Spanish Gothic and Romanesque. The mezzanine foyer contains a white marble staircase, made from Queensland marble, along with vaulted cathedral ceilings. A total of 2,600 patrons were able to be seated in air-conditioned comfort. However my illusions have just been shattered as googling for further information I have just learned that this theatre is now closed, to be destroyed for a 38 storey office block. Really Brisbane has never learned to preserve its heritage…we have absolute disregard for our unique icons, whether it’s the iron-laceworked Bellevue or the historic dancehall (and exam venue) Cloudland! [...]
By: 52 Weeks of Personal History & Genealogy -Week 12: Movies « Family history across the seas on March 23, 2011
at 10:32 pm
My parents performed together in the music group The Sounds of Seven at Cloudland (John Lye on drums, Jeanette Burke vocals) so it was nice to come here and read stories of people who were there and enjoyed a place I heard so much about, but I never saw as I was born after it was demolished.
If anyone has any photos of the Sounds of Seven could you please contact me via e-mail as I would love to see old photos of my parents back in the day
By: Susannah Lye on April 22, 2011
at 9:25 am
You all need to take a trip to Toowoomba to see a magnificent Theatre.
The Empire – it has the most amazing story behind it about fire and flood in it’s history. I lived in Toowoomba for ten years and loved getting dressed up for Opera’s and Ballet to attend one of the most beautiful Regional Theatre’s in Australia.
Sure you may sit beside someone in jeans, but when I go to the Theatre I dressed in respect of the performers. Often they hold Black Tie events and they are truly “Cloudland Quality”, with true old fashion values. Surely some wealthy entrepenaur can see the Value in re-building Cloudland Ballroom in it’s full glory on a hill somewhere in Brissy?.
By: Madison Hebbard on April 28, 2011
at 12:51 am
Hi I’m a private collector of rock ‘n roll memorabilia and I would dearly love to get hold of anything related to the Buddy Holly performances held at Cloudland in 1958 – programs, photos, tickets, stories – anything! I would be happy to pay a reasonable price for any of the above – I can be contacted by email at renekling@gmail.com or by phone on 0421314984.
Regards,
Rene Kling
By: Rene Kling on September 26, 2011
at 12:59 am
My uncle Jim Rix used to play Sax and clarinet in the band Wonderful memories of a great place and good music. 4KQ used to cross to Cloudland every Saturday night and I would listen glued to our old “His masters Voice” radio.
By: Cliff Rix on November 26, 2011
at 7:01 am
My Aunt and Uncle lived in a railway house above Bowen Hills station, I used to look at Cloudland at night, unfortunately I didn’t ever get to go to it, my parents spent a bit of time there as well, the same thing happened here in Tamworth with the Capitol Theatre, middle of the night demolishing job
By: Jen on December 16, 2011
at 7:05 am
I was devastated when Cloudland was demolished, I used to go to the
60′s nights on Friday nights, before it was torn down.I went with 3
friends, the men were mostly decent too! ‘Cloudland’ was a Brisbane
Icon that should have been preserved as part of our Heritage and not
torn down. I was in tears when I heard what had happened. I’d love to
get a book,(if there was one printed), about the history of ‘Cloudland’.
By: Ally on 27th January, 2012.
By: Alison Bateman on January 26, 2012
at 6:31 am
I only ever went there twice; once for a university exam and later for a concert by Ian Dury and the Blockheads! That was a bit of a crazy experience, given a really hot night (we are talking about Brisbane here). I also remember the remnants of the funicular still in place in the late 1960′s and hearing a lot of reminiscences about Cloudland’s glory days. It was all a bit faded and rundown as I recall it, but a wonderful fragment of a part of Australia’s history and popular culture that has now vanished. Along with the Regent Theatre and the Bellevue hotel we have lost something rather special. Sadly most of what made Brisbane very distinctive and strangely delightful is now gone (and of course, the trams).
By: Stephen L on March 21, 2012
at 11:14 am
Brisbane is unbelievable,,,,at the same time when Europe was rebuilding its historical buildings..to their past splendour,after the War,even right up to the 1990′s, Brisbane was doing the opposite,destroying its historical buildings,and on a rather large scale.
If you can ever get to view like 35mm color slides of Brisbane from the 1950′s/60′s especially landcape views, you can really gauge the large loss of not only the beautiful Cloudland,,but almost 100′s of other structures like halls,office buildings,pubs and the like,in and around Brisbane…..
By: alzadame on April 20, 2012
at 12:39 pm
Great place for an evening of romance although there wasn’t much of that one night in October 1970 when a typical Brisbane storm sent torrents of water through the roof and onto the sprung floor. The Sounds of Seven kept playing of course although the lead singer suggested to the dancers that they should stay away from the ‘deep end’. After the storm had finished there were no trains or buses and taxis were in short supply so quite a few people had to walk home.
By: Charles Costello on May 25, 2012
at 7:53 am