Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales

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 since 1823.

History

Eleven officers were elected and the Society staged its first Show at Parramatta 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 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, hosting some of the new code's first matches. The Royal Agricultural Society Shield was designated the newly formed NSWRFL Premiership'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 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 – President (1889–1890)
* Sydney Burdekin – President (1890–1891)
* Sir John See – President (1891–1907)
* Sir Francis Suttor – President (1907–1915)
* Samuel Hordern – President (1915–1941)
* Sir Archibald Howie – President (1941–1943)
* Sir Colin Sinclair – President (1943–1954)
* Sam Hordern – President (1954–1960)
* William Parry-Okeden – 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 – Committee member for many years
* Major Bill Chaffey – 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