Ann Wason Moore shocked by 1980s zone at Cooly Rocks On

Wait, are the 80s the olden days now? With nostalgia festival Cooly Rocks On adding a new 80s zone, it’s time to accept our past … and use it as inspiration for the future, writes Ann Wason Moore.

Australia’s largest nostalgia festival, Cooly Rocks On, which traditionally covered the music, lifestyle and cars from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, is this year unveiling a brand new precinct, covering all things 80s. Miss Roxanne La Roller bringing a different look to a classic Chevrolet at Coolangatta. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Cyclone Alfred might have crashed the Pacific Air Show, but Cooly Rocks On.

It is yet to be seen whether the rain makes an appearance for the event, ironically formerly known as Wintersun, but the show must go on for Australia’s favourite festival of nostalgia.

However, while the event is known for celebrating 1950s-style pin-ups, Elvis tribute contests and classic old-school cars, with that image attracting a crowd of 160,000 in 2024, there is a disturbing addition to this year’s line-up.

The 1980s.

Yep, the ever-popular Show’n’Shine display of automotive history – which runs from Wednesday through to Sunday – now includes vintage vehicles manufactured between 1980 and 1985 in its curated 80s zone.

Cooly Rocks On festival along the Coolangatta M

This means that my first car would be eligible for display … although I’m guessing a Hyundai Excel hatchback maybe doesn’t quite cut it when it comes to the definition of ‘classic car’, even if its year of manufacture now makes it akin to the Flintstones foot-powered vehicle.

“The idea of nostalgia means something different for each generation, and for many of our fans their 80s ride is a step back to bold fashion, 8-bit video games, rollerskates and a pop culture explosion,” said festival director Mark Duckworth.

Think Holden Commodores, Ford Falcons and, yes, even a DeLorean.

That’s right, the ultra-modern car from Back to the Future is now officially a relic of the past, with the film itself now 40 years old.

Look, I’m all for any celebration of the best decade to ever exist … but given I was born a few years before the dawn of 1980, it disturbs me on a cellular level that this era is now officially ‘the olden days’.

Even more disturbing, the difference in years between now and 1985 is the same as between 1985 and World War II.

What the actual heck?

While I have never truly let go of my love for the 80s – my Spotify playlist is full of New Wave classics – it seems the era is undergoing a retro renaissance.

You can see it everywhere: from hairstyles (witness the number of boys with perms – yes, it’s true – and mullets); to fashion (see windbreakers, bomber jackets, giant blazers and mum jeans); to home design (apparently glass blocks are back?); and even politics (what are global tariffs but the start of a new Cold War?)

Lulu Doughty is a 20-year-old uni student who dresses in vintage clothes 24/7. Ms Doughty enjoys a shake at the Pancake Diner in Coolangatta as Cooly Rocks On tickets go on sale. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

I only wish we could bring back some of the Gold Coast’s own 80s glory.

Starting with the Grundy’s water slides.

I mean, come on, these babies put this city on the map – whether in terms of Australian crawl’s 1981 music video for Errol, or simply through word of mouth … aka urban legend. (Did people fall off the sides and break their backs? Were razor blades inserted in the joins of the slides? Who cares? Let’s bring them back.)

With all of our talk of ushering in a new era for Surfers Paradise, let’s start with a vintage baptism and get this holy water (slide) back where it belongs.

Then there’s Magic Mountain.

Given none of our theme parks are currently serviced by light rail, what a great time to bring back this piece of Nobby Beach history, perched atop Chairlift Ave.

Sure, there is a huge apartment complex there now … but all we need is a developer unafraid to go back for the future.

Finally, let’s bring back Bombay Rock.

Okay, this one was before my time but boy did I used to hear about it.

While the city is slowly building back its live venues (think the proposed new arena), it’s tragic that we let so many die.

I’m still not over the 1999 closure of the Playroom, a venue whose own heyday was back in the 1980s, along with Fisherman’s Wharf (again, RIP).

Worst of all is what has replaced these venues … nothing.

In fact, where the cultural icon of the Playroom once stood is now just car parks.

They literally paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

So let’s head south to Cooly this week and celebrate all the glory of the 1980s … and then see if we can’t bring back a little of that past magic for the Gold Coast’s future.

Dyllon Foley, Mitch Van Egdom and Jake Maloney with a 1959 Coupe DeVille Cadillac. Australia's largest nostalgia festival, Cooly Rocks On Tuesday May 14, 2024. Picture, John Gass

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Originally published as Ann Wason Moore shocked by 1980s zone at Cooly Rocks On