An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show (a judged event or display in which breeding stock is exhibited), trade fair competitions and entertainment. The work and practices of farmers, animal fanciers, cowboys and zoologists may be displayed. The terms agricultural show and livestock show are sometimes used synonymously.
A show is the Commonwealth term for an annual country fair.
Overview of the Agricultural Show Organised in Australia:
In Australia, the show is an important part of cultural life. Shows range from small events in small country towns usually lasting two days, through medium-sized events of three days, to the all-encompassing Royal Shows in state capitals, which may run for up to two weeks and combine many elements of an amusement park with those of an agricultural show.
Although increasingly under pressure due to finances and insurance concerns, all main towns have a Show Society and in some areas, several towns and villages in the area all have an annual show. Larger shows often include live entertainment and fireworks in the main arena.
A distinctive feature of Australian shows is the showbag, a themed carry bag of commercial goods.
1. Royal Adelaide Show:
The Royal Adelaide Show also known as the Royal Show or simply The Show, is an annual agricultural show/fair held in Adelaide, South Australia that begins on the first Friday in September, or the last Friday in August, and runs for 9 days. It is held at the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, located in Wayville and is attended by thousands. It features food, rides, a Ferris wheel, competitions and animal races.
The Royal Show is primarily an opportunity for the State’s farmers to show examples of their livestock. There is Horticulture on display with the freshest fruit and vegetables. It also includes rides, competitions, demonstrations and food of all tastes (i.e. gourmet food as well as waffles, hot dogs, hot chips, sausage on a stick, cinnamon donuts, sausages, sausage rolls, pies, pasties etc.) and styles.
History:
The first Show staged by South Australia’s Agricultural Society (later called The Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society) was held in the yard of Fordham’s Hotel, in Grenfell Street, Adelaide, on 8 December 1840. It was a produce show consisting of wool, wheat, oats, barley, maize, cheese, potatoes and onions and was non-competitive.
In 1843, the fourth produce show and the first livestock show were held. The two shows—the Autumn Produce Show and the Spring Livestock Show were held separately from 1843 to 1923.
February 1844 saw a combined show held under marquees and tents among the gum trees in Botanic Park. The Botanic Park site became an ever expanding display of marquees, stalls, booths and amusements until 1859. A permanent exhibition building was built at a cost of £2,000 near the old marquee site and contained the largest floor area of any building in the Australian colonies. It was completed by the end of 1859 and was ready for the 1860 Autumn Show.
In 1887, the Government built the Jubilee Exhibition Building to celebrate the jubilee of Queen Victoria’s reign. The show was moved to there in 1895. In 1911 the Government purchased vacant land at Wayville, but with the intervention of the First World War and with no funds to spare, the move to Wayville was not made until 1925.
The Show Today:
Today, the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of South Australia organises the biggest community event in the State. The Royal Adelaide Show attracts almost half of the population of the entire State and even interstate and overseas visitors attend. The economic impact on the State is considerable with the latest study showing an annual economic impact of over (AU) $148 million.
Showbags:
One of the most notable and well known aspects about the Show is the Showbags. They are usually bags that are sold in the Showbag Pavilion next to the Main Arena, and are mainly promotion for the companies that produce the products contained within the bag, although some Showbags contain a variety of products that are made by various companies. Showbags originally started as free sample bags that were given to visitors at the Show. As the original Showbags grew in popularity, they eventually ceased to be free and a small fee of three pence or six pence applied to those who wished to have one.
Nowadays, a single Showbag can range from $1 to $40 depending on its contents and the company promoting it. The Showbags are mostly popular with young children and teenagers although there are some more contemporary Showbags such as the Charlesworth Nuts and Darrell Lea Chocolates aimed at an adult market.
Rides:
The rides are extremely popular among young people and teenagers, many attending the Show for the single purpose of going on the rides. Some larger rides range in price from $5 to $30 (for the Slingshot ride – where you receive a video of yourself on the ride). The most well-known ride at the show is the Ferris wheel.
In 2004, ‘The Wine Tunne’ was introduced to showcase South Australia’s Wines. There are tastings at The Wine Tunnel, which is located in the area that also has cooking demonstrations and food samplings. The Wine Tunnel is generally popular with over 35s but younger adults also attend.
In 2000, the ‘Spin Dragon’ collapsed; injuring around 40 people, whilst in 2006, part of the ‘Twin Flip’ ride collapsed.
At the end of the 2007 Show on 15 September, the “Mad Mouse” roller coaster was retired from service. The track will be dismantled, the cars due to be auctioned off (one will be donated to the Royal Show’s archives).
Plans are being made to replace the Mad Mouse with a roller coaster that can be dismantled at the end of each show and reassembled. It has been replaced with a large roller coaster, “The Big Dipper”, imported from Italy. It features steep climbs and drops, as well a loop. It was very popular at the 2008 show, drawing record crowds. Other new additions for the 2008 show include a new logo (replacing Banjo the Border collie dog, will now feature fireworks) and other new rides.
2. Royal Canberra Show:
The Royal Canberra Show is an agricultural show that has been staged annually in Canberra since 1927 by the Royal National Capital Agricultural Society. The show has agriculture at its core, however it is moving into new fields every year, with the addition of rides, competitions and educational facilities. This is the place where it is said that “city meets country” and “country meets city”.
Each year, more and more people are entering their livestock and other agricultural goods into the various competitions. This reflects the important role that the Show plays in attracting people from all over the surrounding area into Canberra for the event.
3. Geelong Showgrounds:
The Geelong Showgrounds in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, are the home of the Royal Geelong Show, an agricultural show held every year since 1855. The current showgrounds are located in the suburb of Breakwater.
The focus of the Royal Geelong Show is the display of rural industry, including livestock and produce, with associated competitions and awards. The show also features amusement rides, a sideshow alley, and showbags, carry bags full of goodies produced by various commercial enterprises.
The Geelong and Western District Agricultural and Horticultural Society were formed in February 1855. Their first showgrounds site was in East Geelong, south of Eastern Park, and was bounded by Ryrie, Garden, Myers and Normanby Streets. The second showgrounds opened in October 1891, on a new site that ran south from Ormond Road to St Albans Road. A 40 metre long wooden grandstand was provided on this side.
In 1907, the showgrounds were again moved, this time to the new Geelong Racecourse. April 14, 1907, saw the grandstand transported from the old site by Messrs McCoy and Son. Weighing 100 tonnes, it was moved as a whole by a traction engine across the Queenscliff railway line after being placed onto 52 large rollers. The stand remained at the current racecourse until at least the early 1990s.
The agricultural society shared the Geelong Racecourse until 1954, when it moved to the current site.
4. Royal Hobart Show:
The Royal Hobart Show is an annual event held at the Royal Showgrounds in Glenorchy in October. The event focuses on the rural exploits of Tasmanians with events such as livestock judging and wood chopping. Also popular at the event are show bags and rides.
The show runs for four days, Wednesday through to Saturday, ending on the fourth Saturday in October. Thursday is a public holiday in the south of the state, known as Show Day. Saturday is known as family day and usually involves many discounts and savings on showbags and rides from the other days.
It is the largest of the Royal Shows held in cities and towns around the state by the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania.
In many ways it can be considered similar (although smaller) to the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
5. Royal Launceston Show:
The Royal Launceston Show is an annual event held at the Launceston Showgrounds in Inveresk in October and is hosted by the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania. An average of 15,000 people attend this show each year. The show marks a public holiday that is observed in northern Tasmanian only.
The Royal Launceston Show is principally an agricultural event which focuses on the primary industries of Tasmania, and rural lifestyle of many Tasmanians with events such as livestock judging, equestrian events, animal breeders competitions, produce competitions and wood chopping, although it also incorporates live entertainment, sporting events, food tasting, and fashion shows. A popular feature of the show is the sideshows which feature showrides, foodstalls, games of skill, and showbag stalls.
Like its southern counterpart, the Royal Hobart Show, over recent years the event has shifted towards more of a carnival atmosphere than its previously more agrarian focus.
6. Royal Melbourne Show:
The Royal Melbourne Show is an agricultural show held at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds every September. The Royal Show began in 1848. The focus of the show is the display of rural industry, including livestock and produce. There are associated competitions and awards. It is a time when the country comes to the city, and the foundation of Australia’s economy in rural industry is celebrated.
Like other Royal Shows, the show features amusement rides and a sideshow alley, as well as the peculiarly Australian tradition of ‘Showbags’, carry bags full of goodies produced by various commercial enterprises.
A prominent feature during showtime is the many rides including a permanent wooden Mad Mouse roller coaster which resided at the grounds till 2001, owned by Wittingslow Amusements. A permanent chairlift also resided onsite till 2005. The site has its own railway station, used during special events located on the Flemington Racecourse line.
While the Royal Show is the main show in Victoria, many cities and towns in regional Victoria host smaller shows, such as the Royal Geelong Show, Ballarat Show, Warragul Show, Whittlesea Show and the Shepparton Show.
Displays:
a. Competitions:
The major rural competitions of the show include Alpaca competitions, Beef Cattle Competitions, Beef Carcase Competitions, Dairy Cattle Competition, Dog Competitions, Angora goat Competitions, Boer Goat Competitions, Dairy Goat Competitions, Horse Competitions, Poultry Competition, Sheep Competition, Domestic Animal Competitions, Fleece Competitions and Woodchop Competitions.
The major equestrienne competition of Australia is the Garryowen trophy which is held here. This is a memorial trophy, to Mrs. Murrell’s bravery in attempting to save her hack, Garryowen. The competition is judged on mount, costume, saddlery, riding ability and general appearance of horsewomen. There are also Art, Craft and Cookery Competitions.
b. Pavilions:
Located all around the show grounds are a total of fifteen pavilions and arenas.
These include:-
(i) The Grand Pavilion where you can buy produce including wine, cheese, small goods, sauces, fresh fruit and vegetables. There is also homemade ice cream, cheese, hand-made chocolates and more.
(ii) The Grand Boulevard is a boulevard with selected themed commercial sites scattered along the spine sweeps across the full length of the site.
(iii) The Herald Sun Town Square has large open grassed areas with food stalls and daily entertainment.
(iv) The Coca-Cola Arena is a 9,000 square metre open air arena where crowds can watch the special events and entertainment.
(v) nab Animal Nursery Discovery Farm has baby animals, a shearing shed, a milking shed and a chook shed.
(vi) The Woodchop Pavilion has wood chopping competitions during the day and music at night.
(vii) The Livestock Pavilion is a huge pavilion where you can see the animals or watch what’s happening on the judging rings.
(viii) The Showbag Pavilion is a large 3,000 square metre Hoecker building. It is a primary site for Showbag sales.
(ix) The Rural Life Pavilion is full of crafts such as clothing, leather goods, homemade and hand-crafted jewellery and glass decorations.
(x) The Weekly Times Agri-Tech where companies, government agencies and educational institutions come together to present a showcase of the latest innovations in agriculture, spanning everything from cropping to machinery.
(xi) The Wonderful World of Pets promotes products and services directly targeted towards pet owners, including grooming products, pet foods and pet equipment.
(xii) The Victorian Government Expo.
(xiii) The Kids Zone Pavilion, Incorporating stalls selling toys and merchandise, and activities for Kids.
(xiv) The Sports and Leisure Pavilion where you can take part in the interactive sports and leisure activities located next to the Showbag Hall.
(xv) The Market Bazaar has a variety of knick knacks and novelties. Products range from mobile phone accessories, novelties, jewellery, magic, clothing, artwork and other items.
(xvi) The Arts and crafts Pavilion has art, craft and photography displays.
c. Entertainment:
Entertainment consists of multiple live performances, activities and displays. Entertainers have included Dorothy – the Dinosaur from the children’s group, the Wiggles – Play School concert, Sampson the Monster truck, clowns, caricature artists and many more, in addition to 774 ABC Melbourne radio outside broadcast. There is a nightly fireworks display and live performances.
Lights, colours and sound provide a unique atmosphere in the Carnival precinct at night. The views from the Ferris wheel across Melbourne’s skyline and the Showgrounds are significant and if you’re lucky enough to be on the top as the fireworks display begins you’ll enjoy the best seats in the house. The show grounds houses an abundance of rides ranging from dodgem cars to roller coasters and helicopter rides.
d. Rides—
(i) Wave Swinger
(ii) Claw
(iii) Cliff Hanger
(iv) Crazy Coaster
(v) Dodgem Cars
(vi) Dominator
(vii) Ferris Wheel
(viii) Rockin’ Tug
(ix) Hard Rock
(x) Techno Jump
(xi) Taipan
(xii) No Limit
(xiii) Thunderbolt
(xiv) Sea XPIorei
(xv) Mad Mouse
(xvi) Chaos
(xvii) Alibaba
(xviiii) Roller Ghoster
(xix) Breakdance
(xx) Speed
(xxi) Mega Mix Ride
(xxii) Kamikaze
(xxiii) Space Roller
(xxiv) Twin Flip (possibly no more due to an accident at Royal Adelaide Show in late 2006)
The children’s rides include:
(i) Grand Carousel
(ii) Jump Around
(iii) Taxi Jet Car
(iv) Circus Swing
(v) Harley Hog Motor Bike Ride
(vi) Rockin’ Tug
(vii) Flash Dance
(viii)Shark Inflatable
(ix) Tiger Inflatable
(x) Elephant Jet
(xi) Miniature Railway
(xii) Go Gator Coaster
(xiii) Circus Circus
(xiv) F1 Euro Slide
(xv) Undersea Mini Wheel
(xvi) City Bridge Convoy
(xvii) Samba Balloon Ride
(xviii) Aladdin Mini Jet
(xix) Cup & Saucer Ride
(xx) Outback Pony Rides
(xxi) Outback Rattler
(xxii) Free Fall
(xxiii) Mini Jet
(xxiv) Train Ride
(xxv) Ferrari 500 Racers
(xxvi) Magic Swans
Last year’s prices dropped because there were no horses at the event due to the flu crisis. This year, there should be horses at the event raising prices by a couple of dollars.
e. Partners & Sponsors:
The Royal Melbourne Show is sponsored by a large number of companies and organisations. These are – Coca-Cola, Safeway, National Australia Bank (NAB), Pedigree and Kubota. The show is proudly sponsored by KR Castlemaine, The Weekly Times, Rural Finance, ProCal Dairies, Herald Sun; Tooheys, Bundaberg, Stock and Land, Cleanevent, Whiskas, City of Melbourne, Channel Nine, Highpoint, Peters and ITC (disambiguation needed). Royal Melbourne Show is a media partner of ABC & Channel 31 Melbourne.
7. Perth Royal Show:
The Perth Royal Show is an annual show held in Perth, Western Australia at the Claremont Showgrounds. It features informational exhibits, agricultural competitions and display animals, a fairground and rides, and showbags. It has been held for over 100 years and is organised by the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia. It currently occurs during the spring school holidays (either the last week of September or the first week of October) and attracts around 500,000 people a year.
History:
The Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia, established 1831, has held the annual show at the Claremont grounds since 1894. The Show has been named an icon of Western Australia.
The primary purpose of the Show was to showcase Western Australia industry, primarily agriculture. It has been the venue for the display of new animal breeds and sports.
The first Show included equestrian events, sheep dog trials, wood chopping, and prizes for cattle and sheep. These events are still part of the Show today.
The Modern Show:
Today, the show is open from the 25th of September to the 2nd of October. The 2010 show will be known as “the 2010 smoke free Perth Royal Show” in comparison to the IGA Perth Royal Show.
Transport and Parking:
The Show attracts around 500,000 people. This has created new problems for the Claremont venue, which was selected over 100 years ago.
Parking at the Show is notoriously difficult. To facilitate the growth of the Show, parking space is hired on private front lawns and school / club parking lots in areas proximate to the Show. This activity is community natured, and is often organised by school children or run as a fundraiser for a school or club.
A rail station at the grounds is open for the brief period of the Show. The Fremantle line on the public transport system provides transport during the Show and other notable events at the Showgrounds. A bus service also operates to the nearby area. A Family going to the show can purchase a Family Rider ticket from the ticket machines located at Showgrounds Station or on the bus.
Showbags and Sideshow Alley:
The scope of the Show has also expanded. Although it includes traditional events – such as animal competitions – its agricultural focus has been somewhat replaced by a commercial fairground atmosphere.
The ‘showbag’, which became part of Australian shows as an advertising gimmick, are now sold at $1 to $75 each and contain a number of cheap novelty toys and candy. Showbags are related to a particular candy product, television show, brand name (e.g. Coca-Cola), or may be ‘jumbo’ bags containing a number of brands (e.g. ‘the Mighty Mammoth’ bag). They are a focal point of the Show for many younger children.
The Show also hosts a sideshow alley. Rides are paid for at the venue. Rides include several haunted houses and dodgem cars, among others. The show features the Python Loop, which is a medium-sized roller coaster. Sideshow Alley also features numerous show games.
These include fishing, shooting, and tossing games. In fishing games the player must use a fishing rod to fish out a small plastic duck or other object, which has a prize number on the bottom. Shooting games, common at many shows, involve shooting down tin cans using a low-powered air rifle and usually, corks as ammunition. ‘Tossing’ games involve throwing balls into buckets.
Shows and Performances:
An entry fee applies to enter the grounds. This fee covers the more ‘traditional’ aspects of the show in providing information to Western Australians.
For example, free events at the show include:
(i) Various events in the main arena including wood-chopping, equestrian events such as horse racing and more recently – monster trucks.
(ii) A large number of various shows in pavilions, exhibiting such things as animals (including sheep, alpacas, cats, dogs, domestic poultry, pigeons and goats) and new products (foodstuffs, gardening and household tools and massages are common displays).
The fee also covers such events as:
(i) The Peters and Brownes Fireworks Spectacular, starting every night at 9pm.
(ii) The ‘Yellow Brick Road’ (costs $9), which consists of a yellow cardboard box or bag (the ‘brick’), a few food items, a checklist and a map. Following the map takes the showgoer to various ‘stations’ around the IGA Fresh Food Pavilion where a sample of some sort of food can be obtained upon presentation of the checklist. In recent years, Girl Guides have operated these stalls. Common food available includes fruit, cooked sausages, Guide Biscuits, orange juice and fried mushrooms.
Funding the Show:
The show was originally funded entirely by the Royal Agricultural Society. The current show is funded by the Society, the Western Australian Government, visitors’ entry fees, competitors’ fees, and commercial sponsorships.
Government funding has been used to lower entry fees rather than provide an extra revenue stream. In September 2004, the Gallop Labor government announced that children would receive free entry to the 100th Perth Royal Show. This occurred through coupons offered in the weekly Sunday Times newspaper (rather than the daily paper, The West Australian). The gesture was to mark the naming of the Royal Show in a list of “Icons” for the 175th anniversary of Western Australia’s self-governance.
8. Ekka:
The Ekka is the annual show of Queensland, Australia. Its formal title is the Royal Queensland Show. It was originally called the Brisbane Exhibition; however it is usually shortened to Ekka. It is the last public holiday of the year before Christmas.
History:
The first show, held from 22 to 26 August 1876, attracted 17,000 visitors. The show was a spin-off from the famous International Exhibitions being held in Britain and worldwide dating from the Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851. During a time when the Ekka was still young, the main purpose of the agricultural show, as its name suggests, was to show off many agricultural and industrial exhibits.
It was a chance for people to show off newly invented agricultural and industrial devices such as ultra-modern plowing, sowing and harvesting artifacts. Cattle and other farm animals were also exhibited during the show, a practice that remains to this day, the animal nursery is still a place for children and adults alike to go and witness all the baby animals in all their glory.
Since its opening, the show has only been cancelled twice, in 1919 throughout the time of the Spanish flu pandemic, during this time; the grounds were employed as temporary hospital wards for the sick, and in 1942, due to the war effort.
Location:
The Ekka is held in Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane, for ten days each August at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground. The Ekka is organised by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA), and is held at the RNA Showgrounds in the inner-city suburb of Bowen Hills approximately two kilometres north-east of Brisbane’s city centre. The Ekka is Brisbane’s most popular event of any sort, with over 600,000 visitors attending the show in recent years.
Attractions:
Attractions at the Ekka include fairground rides, a Side Show Alley, animal parades, wood chopping competitions, agricultural displays and equestrian events. Showbags, usually containing food items (such as confectionery) and novelty items are sold in the Showbag Pavilion.
The content of the showbags are tested to ensure they comply with safety standards. Side Show Alley in particular has been an integral part of the Ekka, however back in the earlier years of the Ekka, side show alley was a place for people to witness actual sideshows, such as freaks of nature, people carrying out superhuman feats of strength and illusionists performing for delighted audiences.
Showbags are also an integral part of the Ekka experience. Today there are almost 500 different showbags available for visitors to spend their money on and enjoy samples of products. Showbags range from $1 (the Blinky Bill Bag), $2 (the famous Bertie Beetle Bag) and up $50, providing companies the opportunity to show off their merchandise to the public.
The Ekka, due to its large attendance, raises a large amount of revenue. Estimates of this number average around the $100 million mark, yet this amount may fluctuate with weather in Brisbane at the time (a particularly wet August may reduce attendance significantly).
Because of the cultural significance of the Ekka, the city of Brisbane holds a public holiday on the Wednesday (the 7th day) which is known as “People’s Day”. School students are also involved in the entertainment of the Ekka, often schools organise excursions for students in their school band or choir where they perform and represent their school, one such including the Urban Upbeat Festival, which showcases school’s musical ensembles. Other South East Queensland local government areas hold public holidays for the Ekka on the Monday or Tuesday (the 5th and 6th days).
9. Sydney Royal Easter Show:
The Sydney Royal Easter Show, also known as the Royal Easter Show or simply The Show, is an annual show held in Sydney, Australia over two weeks around Easter. It is run by the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales and was first held in 1823.
Queen Victoria, (1837-1901), awarded the society and its show the right to use the word “Royal” in its name. The Show is historically an event where “city meets country” and the rural industries of Australia can be shown and celebrated once a year.
The Show comprises an agricultural show, an amusement park and a fair and combines the elements of each, showcasing the judging of livestock and produce. This comprehensive fair has many competitions including arts and crafts, photography and cookery, as well as tests of strength and skill such as wood chopping.
The Show also has shopping, restaurants, commercial stands and exhibits, a horticultural display, a national accredited conformation dog show and cat show, and stage and arena shows. The Show currently attracts one million people per year.
History:
The Sydney Royal Easter Show is the largest event held in Australia, and the sixth largest in the world. The first Easter Show was held in 1823 by the newly formed Agricultural Society of New South Wales, with the aim of encouraging the colony’s rural industries. The site was at Parramatta, 24 kilometres west of the town of Sydney, and the display included horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry.
In 1869, the venue was moved from Parramatta to Prince Alfred Park until 1881 when the Government of New South Wales provided land for the Royal Agricultural Society at Moore Park where the show was held for 116 years. In 1998, the Show moved to a new showground in Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush Bay. The former Sydney Showground at Moore Park has since been converted into Fox Studios Australia with associated development known as The Entertainment Quarter.
The Show has been held every year since 1869 except during the severe outbreak of the Spanish flu in 1919 and between the years of 1942 and 1946 when it was interrupted by World War II. Traditionally, the Show began on the Friday before Easter, was closed on Sundays and Good Friday and packed up the Tuesday following Easter, the Tuesday being “Children’s Day” when goods such as showbags were reduced in price.
At the RAS Showground at Moore Park, the largest single event of the Show was the Grand Parade on Easter Saturday when hundreds of beasts representing the various classes of livestock were paraded in a series of concentric circles. To the public eye, this spectacular sight, which involved creatures ranging from newborn lambs and Shetland ponies to Brahman bulls and Clydesdale stallions, was staged with such skill that it invariably took place without a hitch. However, on one memorable occasion a steer broke loose and plunged into the quarters of the Royal Agricultural Society. The Grand Parade continues to take place, though on a somewhat smaller scale, at the Sydney Stadium venue.
Yielding to pressure from the public, the Show was later to be opened on Sundays and Good Friday. With the move to Homebush Bay, the Show was extended to two weeks. In 2007, a revised program took into account changes to NSW School Holidays, the Show commencing on the Thursday before Good Friday in order to increase the holiday time for families to attend.
Overview:
Rural Industry:
a. Horticulture:
The first purpose of the Show is specifically to encourage agriculture. Although other aspects of the show have developed including competitions, entertainment and commerce, the display of the products of rural industry remain of major importance, the RAS claiming 30,000 rural exhibits in 2007. One of the most popular sights at the show is the “District Exhibits” competition.
These displays are set up by four districts of NSW and South East Queensland. A theme is selected and created pictorially on a large scale, to strict rules and using only the produce of the particular district which typically includes wool, wheat, apples, pumpkins, sugarcane, citrus fruit, vegetables and brightly coloured bottles of preserves. Also displayed are other primary products such as fleeces, carcases of beef, wine, honey, cheese and sausages. There is also a flower show at which are judged both horticultural specimens and floral displays.
b. Livestock:
During the course of the show, a large range of livestock is judged. This includes the famous Merino sheep, whose fine wool was a major source of Australia’s wealth in the 19th and 20th centuries. Also shown are dairy cattle of which the major breeds are the Australian Illawarra Shorthorn, Friesian, Ayrshire, Jersey and Guernsey. Beef cattle are predominantly Hereford, Aberdeen Angus and Murray Grey with other breeds including Brahman, Devon and Charolais. Other livestock judged at the show include a variety of sheep, pigs, goats, alpacas and poultry of all sorts.
c. Horses:
The Central Arena of the showground is used throughout the show for equestrian judging and events. The classes of judging include horses and riders, pairs, teams, show jumping and driving. Horses shown include Australian National Saddlehorses, Australian Stock Horses, Buckskins, Clydesdales, Hackneys, Miniature Horses, Palominos, Percherons, Pintos, Shetland Ponies, Shires, and Warmbloods. A large section of the ridden classes are Pony, Galloway and Hack height classes, and “Sydney Royal” is considered one of the hardest and most prestigious shows in Australia. A popular sight in the arena is the Carlton & United Brewery wagon, drawn by the team of “Carlton Clydesdales”.
d. Domestic Animals:
As part of the Royal Easter Show there is a Dog Show in which about 3,000 dogs are displayed and judged. There is also a Cat Show and competitions for caged birds, rabbits, mice and rats. There is a large pigeon show. Displays are given by working dogs, Australian Kelpies, Border Collies and Australian Cattle Dogs.
e. Animal Nursery:
One of the most popular exhibitions of the Show is the Animal Nursery. In this large purpose-built shed a great variety of common and uncommon domestic animals are put on display, in a way that is highly accessibly to families with young children. Animals are shown with their young.
Children are allowed to pat most of the animals and areas are reserved where children can enter the enclosures with explainers and get closer to small animals such as rabbits, lambs and ducks. Popular features are the chick hatchery and the duckling water slide.
f. Rural Competitions:
“The Woodchop” is one of the most popular demonstrations and competitions, taking place in a purpose-built stadium. The timber used is Australian hardwood so the splinters really fly.
Other popular events are the Tent Pegging and the Polocrosse with the NSW Mounted Police on their well-matched bay horses always competing. The Dressage and Show Jumping are the culmination of Australia-wide gymkhanas held at the annual circuit of local agricultural shows, with successful competitors going on to Olympic competition. The equally demanding but less fastidious skills of buck-jumping and steer-roping draw young men from across Australia and Northern America to compete in the Rodeo.
g. Art and Crafts:
Since the 19th century, competitions have been held “for the ladies”. These competitions have traditionally included the making of scones, fruitcake and preserves. Crafts have traditionally included three – crocheted doilies, a smocked baby’s dress and a man’s knitted sleeveless sweater.
Over 100 years the classes have been expanded to include a vast range of cooking and crafts in which men may also compete. Among the crafts are the spinning, weaving and dying of wool, woodwork, leatherwork, enameling, lacemaking, embroidery, toy-making and patchwork.
The various fashions in craft have changed dramatically over the years and these changes are reflected in the number of exhibits and in the classes. From 1960 until about 1990 one of the most popular crafts was cake decorating, with numerous expert decorators vying for fineness in their “extension work” and creating designs of extraordinary delicacy and intricacy. In the 21st century these technical skills have almost disappeared. On the other hand, the art of paper role, also requiring of much fine control, has become a popular craft, as witnessed by the large number of entries to the competition.
Associated with the Show, and displayed in the same pavilion as the craft competitions is an Art Show with classes for rural subjects, Still Life, Water colour and Figurative painting. There are competitions for sculpture, photography, silverwork and ceramics.
Other Contributors:
a. Government Displays:
The State and Federal Governments both contribute exhibitions to the show though their presence has diminished significantly since the relocation to Homebush Bay in 1998. Many government departments such as NSW Lotteries, City rail and NSW Health have axed their annual displays. However bodies such as The Rural Fire Service, the NSW Police, the Ambulance Service, and the Army Reserve continue to set up displays to inform and promote goodwill to the public.
b. Services:
Foremost among the charitable bodies and service organisations with an active presence at the Show are the St. John Ambulance Australia who not only provided on the spot attention for sunstroke but also injuries sustained while steer-roping. Providing sustenance of another sort is the Country Women’s Association or C.W.A. who have a prominently placed cafe selling Devonshire Teas and other home-baked goodies.
c. Commercial:
An important tradition of the Royal Easter Show since 1900 is the selling of merchandises known as showbags. Originally called ‘Sample Bags’ (and free), they were a means for manufacturers to market their products to the general public, today showbags often come in the form of promotional merchandises, as well as toys targeting children.
Apart from Showbag Hall there are many other commercial enterprises who are “stall holders” at the Royal Easter Show. These range from international companies providing finance and agricultural plant to purveyors of fairground ephemera, fairy floss and meat pies.
Many of the manufacturers represented are providing goods closely associated with rural industry such as work boots, woolen sweaters and the iconic Akubra hat and Driza-Bone raincoat. S. John Ross, master of the silhouette, (pictured right) won the Legend Award at the 2007 Royal Easter Show. S. John Ross worked until his death at age 89.
d. Entertainment:
The Royal Easter Show has a sideshow alley along which are the amusement rides, sideshows and competitive stands. The provided entertainment includes pop music concerts and, in 2007, a staged sideshow program has been introduced as well.
In 2009, the show debuted three new amusement rides, Pirate’s Revenge (a Reverchon Log Flume), Buried Alive (a motion simulator simulating being buried alive) and the Haunted Hotel (Ghost Train). These join such traditional delights as Frank Laurie’s Steam Merry-Go-Round, built in the 1890s and touring Australia for 80 years.
In the evening the NAB Arena becomes the venue for spectacular entertainment which regularly includes the NSW Mounted Police Musical Ride and the Holden Monaro Precision Driving display. The entertainment culminates with fireworks.
e. Pricing:
The Show organisers received public criticism for the pricing of the 2006 show. The cost was approximately AUD$30 per adult and AUD$20 per child for entry, but including food and souvenirs the estimated cost per person ran to AUD$80. It was widely expressed that the Show was out of reach of low income earners and poor families.
The 2007, pricing was even higher than 2006, with adults at $AUD 31.00, with a discount of 10% ($27.90) if purchased online, children’s tickets were $AUD 21.50 or $19.30 with an online purchase, and concessions are $25.50 or $22.90 when bought online. The tickets in 2008 were $32 for adults, 25.50 for concessions. There was a “kids’ day” on the last day with admission at for children at $10.
Tickets for the Show can be bought through Post Offices and at Railway Stations where the pass includes travel.
In 2007, Showbags were priced from AU $2.00 to AU $25.00, with over 300 different varieties to choose from. In 2008, showbags ranged from $3 and up to $30.
10. Newcastle Regional Show:
The Newcastle Regional Show (or just Newcastle Show) is an annual agricultural show held by Newcastle A.H. & I. Association Inc. at the Newcastle Regional Showground in Broadmeadow, a suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia.
The Newcastle and District Agricultural Horticultural and Industrial Association was formed in 1899 and held the first Newcastle Show in May 1902. It has been held each year since with breaks for World War I, the 1919 influenza epidemic and World War II. The show was not held in 2007 after losses in 2006, however it returned in 2008. With improvements to the showground and expanded entertainment, the show crowds in 2008 were up by 50 per cent.
The show comprises a ring show with livestock parades, show jumping and various attractions such as speedway cars, marching bands or fireworks; an agriculture pavilion with displays and judging of livestock and produce; commercial stands and exhibits; a Hall of Industry with art, photography, handcrafts, cookery etc.
There is also live entertainment, a showbag pavilion, a sideshow alley with carnival rides, shopping, food courts etc. The Newcastle Entertainment Centre is located inside the showground and is used for the show. Newcastle Show Day is a public holiday which applies to the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas.