Looking to our Past FUTURE OF SHOWGROUNDS

Transcription

1 Looking to our Past FUTURE OF SHOWGROUNDS

2 BRIEF OVERVIEW In the past 10 years in NSW: 1 Major show has gone. 2 Major shows have experienced unprecedented financial losses. A number of medium shows have lost money. 1 major show has gone into recess, with a slim chance of recovery. Between 3 & 5 showgrounds have experienced a threat to their existence. 1 small show was reformed after some 60 years in recess. Small shows have proven to be more resilient and able to cope with change.

3 POSSIBLE REASONS A number of circumstances have lead to this threat to Shows: Shows spent more and more money without a corresponding increase in gate takings. Not involving new blood Competing against other large scale local events. Date clashes and change of dates

4 THREATS. Across the Country Showgrounds face threats from not just Local Councils that see them as an expendable resource but also from pressure from urban sprawl. The lucky one s are the Shows who s grounds are on floodplains. Often showgrounds are a green oasis in a built up community. Rarely valued as a green space or for the contribution the show has made to the community.

5 SHOWS CONTRIBUTION Reason for Being: Agricultural shows in Australia contributed to the fledgling colony s continued existence. Competitions were staged showcasing the best produce with prizes for the winners. These competitions urged farmers to increase quality and quantity with prestige and prizemoney the incentive. Ultimately these competitions improved the ability of the colony being able to feed it s self and lead onto Australia becoming an agricultural product exporter.

6 SHOWS CONTRIBUTION (CONT.) As new and advanced methods and machines for agriculture became available Shows were the way of introducing farmers to innovation. Before Machinery Field Days, shows filled the role of showcasing everything from the latest more powerful tractor to new plant species. Shows were the annual local event where the people met and caught up with everyone from other farmers to agents and suppliers. In the 1800 s shows were the local event providing a significant contribution to the Australian Culture.

7 SHOWS CONTRIBUTION (CONT.) Some early competitions reflected farming activities, demonstrating skills and abilities of men and beasts leading to competitors practicing their skills at home and inadvertently leading to improved performance in their working activities. These competitions were a way of promoting a line of working horses, sheep dogs and or their handlers or trainers. Examples are: - Campdrafting First recorded at Tenterfield Show in Sheep Dog Trials. - Woodchopping. - Shearing.

8 SOME SIGNIFICANT EXAMPLES. Machine Sheep Shearing Mechanical shearing was introduced to the World via a show. The first recorded public demonstration was to a selected audience in Melbourne in A true public demonstration was held at the 1886 Sydney Royal Easter Show.

9 ANOTHER Innovations in Sowing While the disc seeder was not a new idea, the Mitchell Drill, dual disc sod seeder was new. Introduced at the 1955 Melbourne Royal Show. This design became commonplace in the years to follow.

10 ANOTHER Solar Hot Water We tend to think that Solar Hot water systems are part of an energy conscious 21 st century. This rather elaborate unit was displayed at the 1957 Brisbane Royal.

11 ANOTHER New Cultivator This new implement was displayed at the 1955 Sydney Royal. While the design may not have taken off the Sydney show was picked to introduce it to the farming community.

12 ANOTHER Howard Rotary Hoe Sid Howard had been designing and building tractor mounted rotary hoes most suited to intensive farming operations like Vegetable Growing. At the 1950 Sydney Royal Show Howards attempted to go large scale. While again of limited success, shows were the best place to introduce experimental machinery.

13 HERITAGE LISTING The ASC of NSW is currently investigating the listing of the Show Movement on the NSW Heritage, State Significant Register. Such listing would give Shows the recognition of the significant role they have played in Advancing Agriculture and contributing to the Australian Culture. Currently the guidelines for such a listing don t easily cover an application of this nature. The ASC heritage committee believe the way forward is to initially find an Author to produce a book covering the subject as there are no books that detail the role shows have played in the advancement of Australia.