Show person poses for a portrait at the traditional laughing clown amusement, Hawkesbury Agricultural Show, Hawkesbury Showground, Clarendon, New South Wales, 15 April 2016, photograph by Louise Whelan
In 2022 the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales (RASNSW) will celebrate its 200th anniversary. One of the oldest organisations in the country, RASNSW has been a powerful force in the development of agriculture and rural communities in this state, especially through its annual shows. Today, there are almost 200 regional agricultural societies in NSW and more than 580 agricultural shows are held annually across Australia, with Sydney’s Royal Easter Show the biggest of them all.
Set up in July 1822, the Agricultural Society of NSW has always encouraged and promoted rural industry through regular competitive judging of animals and agricultural produce. The Sydney Show has grown from a small country fair, first staged at Parramatta in October 1823, to become the largest annual event in Australia still celebrating the best in primary produce and offering a glimpse of rural life to a million visitors each year.
As the new millennium approached, in 1998 the Royal Easter Show took up residence in a state-of-the-art premises at the Sydney Olympic Park Showground. Located in the geographical heart of metropolitan Sydney, construction of the 30-hectare site took less than two years including extensive purpose-built display facilities, a rail link and 10,000 car spaces for visitors.
Among the 20 pavilions at Sydney Olympic Park Showground is the Exhibition Building and dome — the largest timber span structure in Australia — which was specifically designed to house the traditional district exhibits alongside new food related displays. The single biggest change in direction of the Sydney Show since its move to Homebush has been its new focus on food. Keeping pace with renewed public interest in food preparation, quality and provenance, and placing a spotlight on agriculture, recent showgoers have been presented with steadily expanding categories of competition including Coffee, 1998; Olive Oil, 1998; Pasta, 1999; Small Goods & Charcuterie, 2000; Aquaculture, 2001; Specialty Foods, 2004; Beer & Cider, 2007; Professional Bakery, 2014.
Moreton Bay Fig Trees providing much needed shade, cnr Grand Parade & Orana Parade near Main Arena: Sydney Royal Easter Show, Olympic Park, 13 April 2017, photograph by D-Mo Zajac
In early 2020, as the global COVID-19 pandemic hit, all show societies around the country were affected by the forced closure of public events. The cancellation of the 2020 Sydney Royal Easter Show — only the third time in its history — was announced just weeks out from opening. Public health concerns and the ongoing economic impact on country people, rural industries, and the RAS itself, after a year of fire, drought and floods, made it difficult to decide if a 2021 show could go ahead. But the tickets went on sale and 12 days of fine weather saw a show-hungry public come out in support. When the gates were finally closed, and the animals had gone home, the Sydney Show had welcomed 800,000 people onsite once more.
In 2022 the RASNSW remains a vibrant active organisation, with more than 13,000 members working tirelessly to promote the viability of rural communities to ensure that Australia remains a thriving and innovative agricultural producer. Almost two hundred years down the track, the Sydney Show is bigger than ever and flourishing in its new venue. The RASNSW is well placed for another century of organising events and competitions, while continuing to safeguard the state’s agricultural heritage.
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An actor advertising the Outback Stockman's Show, Sydney Royal Easter Show{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/actor-advertising-outback-stockmans-show-sydney-royal-easter-show","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353340?itok=sy1cEgX2","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353340?itok=pPJGEaGo","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353340?itok=sy1cEgX2","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353340?itok=pPJGEaGo","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353340?itok=Z8Bnv0AF","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353340?itok=ctQi_10g","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353340?itok=5tUvSzj2"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL10353340&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
The Pollinators: Northern District display, Sydney Royal Easter Show{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/pollinators-northern-district-display-sydney-royal-easter-show","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353190?itok=ZDkmO2_a","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353190?itok=0AyzA_Lt","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353190?itok=ZDkmO2_a","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353190?itok=0AyzA_Lt","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353190?itok=qk-zVvvf","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353190?itok=84mwY4cT","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353190?itok=5Eqe7Ysk"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL10353190&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
National Wooding Chopping event, Sydney Royal Easter Show{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/national-wooding-chopping-event-sydney-royal-easter-show","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353205?itok=laKCfKt-","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353205?itok=p4DqM6Lf","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353205?itok=laKCfKt-","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353205?itok=p4DqM6Lf","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353205?itok=DIyTJlfO","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353205?itok=AC9l-4P6","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353205?itok=VB5WRa30"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL10353205&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"682","height":"1024"}
'Do Not Touch the Eggs' sign held by Show volunteer, Poultry Pavilion, Sydney Royal Easter Show{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/do-not-touch-eggs-sign-held-show-volunteer-poultry-pavilion-sydney-royal-easter","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353225?itok=TXk4F4Un","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353225?itok=AK4jzXkR","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353225?itok=TXk4F4Un","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353225?itok=AK4jzXkR","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353225?itok=X_hm7e_f","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353225?itok=aXHMYh5t","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353225?itok=5B2ot60t"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL10353225&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
Country Women's Association team selling merchandise, CWA Tea Rooms stand in Home, Garden and Lifestyle Pavilion, Sydney Royal Easter Show{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/country-womens-association-team-selling-merchandise-cwa-tea-rooms-stand-home-garden","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353170?itok=gJSI1ySI","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353170?itok=cSg9q2lj","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353170?itok=gJSI1ySI","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353170?itok=cSg9q2lj","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353170?itok=aAjTFq5L","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353170?itok=fbAkZJHz","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353170?itok=jEQ218-i"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL10353170&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
Family eating lunch, including show specialty of very large, marinated turkey legs, Sydney Royal Easter Show{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/family-eating-lunch-including-show-specialty-very-large-marinated-turkey-legs","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353130?itok=BLE-CAbM","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353130?itok=0G9EIFSu","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353130?itok=BLE-CAbM","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353130?itok=0G9EIFSu","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353130?itok=QeMCdYQ-","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353130?itok=ckQc_OTZ","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353130?itok=ml0DRAXw"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL10353130&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
Stand selling Aboriginal merchandise, Sydney Royal Easter Show{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/stand-selling-aboriginal-merchandise-sydney-royal-easter-show","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353185?itok=q-D4Ww94","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353185?itok=5neIlq9f","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353185?itok=q-D4Ww94","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353185?itok=5neIlq9f","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353185?itok=MG6JlMMh","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353185?itok=zs_sqbST","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353185?itok=NJ1Dnefm"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL10353185&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
Portrait of official national horse measurers, with equipment used for confirming horse identity, Sydney Royal Easter Show{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/portrait-official-national-horse-measurers-equipment-used-confirming-horse-identity","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353165?itok=v8S3iBDm","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353165?itok=J2ZO9SBk","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353165?itok=v8S3iBDm","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353165?itok=J2ZO9SBk","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353165?itok=DcAFBXx3","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353165?itok=kXadkY2W","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353165?itok=m2SSSfap"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL10353165&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
Prize winning animals posed against backdrop in Cattle and Alpaca Pavilion, Sydney Royal Easter Show{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/prize-winning-animals-posed-against-backdrop-cattle-and-alpaca-pavilion-sydney","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353215?itok=p8A8JRai","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353215?itok=FpVLS_wM","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353215?itok=p8A8JRai","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353215?itok=FpVLS_wM","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353215?itok=5rqbTJK4","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353215?itok=LiZB2EQC","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL10353215?itok=8vO1IGrC"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL10353215&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"682"}
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