The Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales was founded on 5 July 1822, when a group of Sydney's leading citizens formed the Agricultural Society of NSW, and is "a not-for-profit organisation committed to supporting agricultural development and rural communities in Australia." The society has been responsible for holding the
Sydney Royal Easter Show
First held in 1823, the Sydney Royal Easter Show, commonly shortened to The Easter Show or The Show, is an annual show held in Sydney, Australia over two weeks around the Easter period. It comprises an agricultural show, an amusement park and a ...
since 1823.
History
Eleven officers were elected and the Society staged its first Show at
Parramatta
Parramatta () is a suburb and major Central business district, commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney, located in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district on the ban ...
in 1823. However the Society lapsed in 1834 due to the pressure of drought and economic depression, but re-formed in 1857 under the name of the ‘Cumberland Agricultural Society.’ In 1859 the Society renamed itself the Agricultural Society of NSW. The Society's Shows, known at the time as Exhibitions, were held at Parramatta until 1868 and subsequently moved to Prince Alfred Park.
From the 1870s the Society faced financial difficulty and high rent and empty coffers forced the RAS to look for a new venue. The City Council offered 40 acres of unpromising, sandy scrub at Moore Park for an annual rent of £10. With the help of the NSW Government and public subscriptions the Society built
a showground, which saw the show move from Prince Alfred Park and remain for the next 115 years. The Society had become the Royal Agricultural Society in 1891, when
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...
gave her permission for the usage of "Royal". The Royal Agricultural Society Showground also became an important part of the history of
rugby league in Australia
Rugby league in Australia has been one of Australia's most popular sports since it started being played there in 1908. It is the dominant winter football code in the states of New South Wales and Queensland. In 2009, it was the most watched spor ...
, hosting some of the new code's first matches. The
Royal Agricultural Society Shield
The Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales Challenge Shield, or RAS Shield was the New South Wales Rugby Football League's first premiership trophy. It was presented to each year's premiership winning rugby league team, and was won by Sout ...
was designated the newly formed
NSWRFL Premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia and contributor to today's National Rugby League. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League (initially named the New Sou ...
's main trophy in 1908. During World War II the Sydney Royal Easter Show was cancelled when Moore Park was requisitioned for military use.
By the late 1980s the
Sydney Royal Easter Show
First held in 1823, the Sydney Royal Easter Show, commonly shortened to The Easter Show or The Show, is an annual show held in Sydney, Australia over two weeks around the Easter period. It comprises an agricultural show, an amusement park and a ...
had outgrown its Moore Park facilities. In 1994 the NSW Government approved its relocation to Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush. The first Show was held there in 1998.
Personnel
*
Sir John Robertson John, Jon, or Jonathan Robertson may refer to:
Politicians United Kingdom politicians
* J. M. Robertson (John Mackinnon Robertson, 1856–1933), British journalist and Liberal MP for Tyneside 1906–1918
*John Robertson (Bothwell MP) (1867–1926) ...
– President (1889–1890)
*
Sydney Burdekin
Sydney Burdekin (18 February 1839 – 17 December 1899) was an Australian politician.
He was born in Sydney to merchant Thomas Burdekin and Mary Ann Bossley. He was educated at Darlinghurst and graduated from the University of Sydney in 18 ...
– President (1890–1891)
*
Sir John See – President (1891–1907)
*
Sir Francis Suttor – President (1907–1915)
*
Samuel Hordern
Sir Samuel Hordern (24 September 1876 – 3 June 1956) was an Australian businessman, animal breeder and philanthropist. Born into the prominent Sydney trading family, Hordern directed the family company of Anthony Hordern & Sons from 1909 t ...
– President (1915–1941)
*
Sir Archibald Howie – President (1941–1943)
*
Sir Colin Sinclair – President (1943–1954)
*
Sam Hordern
Sam, SAM or variants may refer to:
Places
* Sam, Benin
* Sam, Boulkiemdé, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Bourzanga, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Kongoussi, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Iran
* Sam, Teton County, Idaho, United States, a populated place
People and fictional ...
– President (1954–1960)
*
William Parry-Okeden
William Edward Parry-Okeden (13 May 1841 – 30 August 1926) was a public servant, Police Commissioner and Protector of Aborigines (1895-1903), as well as a horseman, in Queensland, Australia. He stood tall.
Early life
William Edward Par ...
– Executive Director for many years
* Lieutenant Colonel
Roy Morell – Hon. Treasurer for 23 years
* Major-General
Sandy Pearson – Executive Director (1976–1983)
*
Winter Warden – committee member for many years
*
Lord Livingstone Ramsay
Lord Livingstone "Livie" Ramsay (11 December 1867 – 18 July 1924) was an Australian architect active in the first quarter of the 20th century. He was known professionally as L L Ramsay. His work encompassed the styles of the Federation Bung ...
– Committee member for many years
* Major
Bill Chaffey
Major William Adolphus Chaffey (18 February 1915 – 4 March 1987) was an Australian farmer, distinguished soldier and long serving member of the Parliament of New South Wales.
Chaffey represented the electoral district of Tamworth from 194 ...
– Councillor (1951–65) and Vice-President (1966–79). Made Honorary Vice-President in 1979.
* Mr Prosper Nicholas Trebeck - Treasurer for an eleven year period
See also
*
Sydney Royal National Poultry Show
References
{{Reflist
External links
Royal Agricultural Society of NSW
Agricultural organisations based in Australia
Organisations based in New South Wales
Organisations based in Australia with royal patronage
1822 establishments in Australia
Agriculture in New South Wales