Lifestyle & Entertainment
19 January, 2026
AC/DC memories live on
In January 1976, Malcolm Fraser was Prime Minister of Australia, Rupert Hamer was Premier of Victoria and Cr Jim Dunn was Mayor of the City of Ararat. It was a time of cultural vibrancy and turmoil, defined by the rise of disco and punk music, iconic bell-bottoms and flamboyant fashion. 15th January 1976 was the day when internationally recognised band AC/DC appeared live on stage at Ararat Town Hall. It was a huge coup for our town, and there are plenty of people still around to tell their story about seeing the great band and its antics up close and personal.
The event presented by the Ararat Apex Club was to take place on 15th January 1976 at the Ararat Town Hall.
Tickets were available from Majors Men's Wear Ararat and Minors Pic Stawell.
The cost of admission was three dollars.
Speaking to the Advertiser on 13th January 1976, David Leeke from the Ararat Apex Club said ticket sales for the event were going extremely well.
A large crowd is expected as this will one of the last opportunities to see AC/AC live as they are expected to tour Europe next month. "
Mr Leeke also advised that a total of 25 Apexians will be in attendance "to man the doors and supervise the dance."
The band line up included Angus Young , Malcolm Young , Phillip Rudd , Mark Evans and Bon Scott.
On the afternoon prior to the concert the Advertiser caught up with the bands lead singer Bon Scott at the Golden Gate Motel.
While most of the band were catching up on some sleep, Bon was watching his favourite television show Flipper.
He said the music business is a pretty hectic life with packing , sleeping, travelling and rehearsing taking up most of the day.
"The business is so hectic the November has been the first time I have seen my parents in two years and it looks like it will be another two years before I will see them again."
He said the band was excited that their new single "TNT", which was to be released in three weeks, and told the reporter of a second single on the way - "Jail Break".
The Ararat Advocate recently spoke to some Ararat residents who attended the concert fifty years ago to recall some of their memories.
Peter Cunningham who was 21 at the time said he was a big fan of AC/DC.
"It was a great night. One of my memories was Angus Young being carried around the hall on Bon Scott's shoulders,” he said.
Joanne Hutchinson went to the concert with her friends Debbie, Sharon and Wendy.
"I was only fourteen at the time and I can't believe mum let me go. After the show we went back stage and for autographs and the bands address. We made a poster and sent it to Bon and were thrilled to get a letter back from him," Joanne said.
Paul Bulger told his father he was going to the pictures but he and his older brother headed off to the Town Hall to see AC/DC.
"We didn't have tickets but we crowded into the foyer to hear the band. The noise was deafening and there were quite a few scuffles out the front of the hall. Someone said the boys from Stawell started the fight, Paul said.
Robert Shea, who was 18 years old at the time recalled it was an electrifying experience.
"It seems a long time ago and my memories are a bit hazy. The Town Hall was packed and I remember the antics of Bon and Angus Young."
“They were only on stage for about three quarters of an hour,” Rob said.
Following the concert David Leeke reported that the event been very successful with 800 Ararat and district teenagers attending and the Apex Club had made a profit of about $600.
AC/DC started in Sydney in 1973 and despite some personnel changes over the years it is still performing today.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 and have sold over 200 million records worldwide, making them one of the best selling artists of all time.
Sadly Bon Scott passed away in February 1980 aged 33 years.
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