Ipswich Show

The Early Years

The Ipswich Agricultural and Horticultural Society was formed on the 14th March 1866 at a public meeting, convened by Mayor John Murphy at the School of Arts.

Murphy spoke to the gathered audience of the need for Ipswich to form an agricultural society, as the country around Ipswich "was well adapted for agricultural purposes, in fact there was no better in the colony."

Of the several resolutions put forward at the meeting, one, made by a Mr. Thomas, summarised the intentions of the group:

the object of the Society shall be the promotion of the growth of all agricultural and horticultural productions, the improvement in the breeding of all live stock, the fostering of new industries, the dissemination of information to agriculturalists and others, the distribution of seeds and plants, &c., and the acclimatisation of new plants and animals.

Calls were made at this first meeting for the society to produce 'an exhibition worth seeing', with displays of poultry, flowers, fruits, soap, and tobacco as well as cotton, which, at that time was hoped to become a major industry for Ipswich.

It was hoped that the proposed society would enable farmers from across the district the opportunity to meet and discuss subjects of mutual interest, such as new plants and various soil types.

It would take a few more years before the society, renamed the Queensland Pastoral and Agricultural Society in 1872, held their first show at the Churchill saleyards, on 2nd April 1873.  

The Queensland Times heralded the show as a success:

Many little improvements will be effected before the second exhibition is held, but for a first essay it was exceedingly satisfactory and encouraging to its promoters.  The benefits this society will confer not only on the pastoral but on the agricultural interest of the district are almost incalculable. 

Improvements were made in time for the second show, held on the 13th May 1874, with a two-day race meeting and a cricket match included.   By 1875, the prize schedule was enlarged and included a cup, presented by Messrs Lord and Co of Eskdale, won by Richard Watson for the best five fat cattle.

The Ipswich Show was not held in 1876.  Instead, the Intercolonial Exhibition (22-26 August) was held at Bowen Park, Gregory Terrace.  The precursor to the Ekka,  the Intercolonial Exhibition attracted 17,000 people from a Brisbane population of a little over 20,000.

Ipswich Showgrounds

The Ipswich Show returned in 1877, now transferred to its present Warwick Road site.  A hardwood and pine exhibition building, designed by the Colonial Architect F.D.G. Stanley and built by Samuel Shenton, was constructed in time for that year's event, opened by Governor Sir Arthur Kennedy and featured 70 horse exhibits alongside exhibits of cattle, sheep, pigs, kangaroo dogs, and poultry.  A continuing drought meant the agricultural displays were limited, however the hay and maize was reported to be very good. 

Other exhibits that year included:

• agricultural labour-saving implements, displayed by Alfred Shaw & Company, Brisbane
• fine castings and finished works, supplied by the Railway Workshops at North Ipswich
• a collection of grasses, fibres and pot plants by Mr Walter Hill
• a fine collection of manufactured leather, by the Hon. T.B. Stephens
• numerous works of art, including paintings by Captain Townley
• a quantity of neatly stuffed birds
• wagons by McNichols
• silken materials by Chubb
• saddlery by Gorry
• aerated water and cordials from Hooper's
• and fibres and cordage, much commended, exhibited by Mr Weise.

Improvements were made to the showgrounds over the next few decades, including buildings and pens for the exhibition of stock, two parade rings and sale yards.  By 1904, the year Ipswich became a city, the showgrounds were lighted at night for the first time, enabling evening events to be held, including a united physical drill display by State school children, gymnastics, tug-of-war, a handicap pony jump, and a wrestling competition (with contestants mounted on horseback without saddles).

In 1929 a new exhibition building had been constructed, with an art-deco facade.  Its crows ash floor enabled the building's use as a dance hall and ballroom, when not in use as the Industrial Pavilion during showtime, with the exhibition building's annexe housing the Horticultural and Farm Produce displays.

The Show Must Go On, except for ...

There have only been a few years without a show.  In 1890 the show was cancelled due to drought. The 1919 show commenced despite difficulties brought on by recent drought, the 1918-1919 Influenza Pandemic, and heavy rain. On the second day, after being officially opened, poor public attendance and inclement weather caused the show committee to postpone the evening attractions, including the Grand Parade, with the hope of running the program later.

The Showgrounds were handed over to the Defence Department for use as hospital during the Second World War.  A show was held in 1940 and 1941, with the next show opening on 13th May 1947, once the Army had vacated the grounds.

As Covid-19 began its global spread in early 2020, and as the federal government announced restrictions to gatherings of no more than 100 people, the Ipswich Show Society announced that the 2020 Ipswich Show would not be going ahead. 

The pandemic was unable to stop the competitions, however.  The Show Society invited entrants to submit photos of the largest pumpkins, best scones, crafts, and animals to the Society's social media pages, for judging.

The public holiday, held on 15th May, went ahead with residents invited to decorate front yards and driveways for Front Yard Friday, as part of Ipswich City Council's Ipswich Together program -- a range of community and Council events that supported the community through the pandemic lockdowns.

On the evening of the 15th, the Show's fireworks display went ahead, with residents gathering at various high vantage points across the city to view.  With no crowds at the showgrounds, the fireworks display was able to include the largest fireworks shell ever to be fired in Ipswich.

In 2021, the Ipswich Show recorded a record attendance number of 40,000, following the 2020 cancellation of the show