Iceland in Ringwood played host to Australia’s biggest bands in the 1970s

THEY are one of the world’s biggest bands, but more than 40 years ago AC/DC shook a Ringwood ice rink all night long while members of the public skated around.

AC/DC were just one of the big Aussie bands to rock out at Iceland in the 1970s.

IT’S long gone now, but more than 40 years ago an ice rink in suburban Melbourne was the venue of choice for some of Australia’s greatest bands.

Ringwood’s Iceland ice-skating rink, on Maroondah Highway, was a popular hangout for kids from all over the eastern suburbs, and some of the biggest bands of the era kept them entertained on Saturday nights.

Robyn Burley, whose parents Pat and Nancy started Iceland in 1971, said bands such as AC/DC, Johnny Young, Billy Thorpe, Daddy Cool, Skyhooks, Rose Tattoo and Cold Chisel all rocked out at the rink.

“People from the neighbourhood complained about the noise from the bands, it was really loud, you could hear the bass, ‘boom boom boom’, but I think people got used to it it was only Saturday nights,” she said.

AC/DC after they played at Iceland in Ringwood some time in the 1970s. Picture: Pinterest

Angry Anderson and Rose Tattoo performing at Iceland in Ringwood in 1978. Picture: rosetattoo-fanpage.com/Melbourne Sharps

People used to skate around while bands were playing on a stage.

“AC/DC still talk about (the gig) occasionally and mention it (as their first big concert).

“They were up on stage in the corner, not on the ice rink, and people would skate around the ice rink.”

AC/DC’s set list in those 1975 concerts included High Voltage, It’s a Long Way to the Top, The Jack and TNT.

“It was such an atmosphere it was fun, great fun,” Ms Burley said.

“We used to have live bands every Saturday night and it worked really well.

Iceland was popular in the 1970s and ’80s.

Robyn Burley at Iceland.

“It was a fabulous, fabulous time; on a weekend the queue for the ice-skating rink would go around the corner.”

The Burleys ran the rink, which was on Maroondah Highway, until 1982. It was popular until it closed in 2005.

Ms Burley, who won the World Professional Figure Skating Championships in 1979, said she had fond memories of Iceland.

“Most of the Australian champions came to our rink; not only in figure skating but in ice hockey as well — it was a wonderful time,” Ms Burley said, who took time out last week to visit the temporary ice rink at Eastland’s town square.

“I think that it was the best rink that has ever has been in Australia; it was amazing.”

Ms Burley and her sister Sharon, who represented Australia in the Olympics, both started ice-skating when they were young.

“By age nine I was hooked,” Ms Burley said.

“I just loved to skate; I loved every second of it.

“To have something like that in your life, not everybody has that, when you just love to do something with every breath of your being.”

Robyn Burley, at the new ice rink at Eastland, is Australia's only World Professional Ice Skating champion.

As well as becoming the world champion in 1979, Ms Burley toured with ice-skating legends Torvill and Dean, and performed on The Mike Walsh Show.

She is a member of Australia’s Ice Skating Hall of Fame, along with her parents and sister, and coaches at the O’Brien Group Arena at Docklands.

Eastland’s Town Square ice rink is open until August 31.