Remembering the Easter Show

The sweet anticipation of showbags. The pungent smell of livestock. The strength and speed of the woodchoppers. The colour and racket of Sideshow Alley.

Visiting the Sydney Royal Easter Show has been a rite of passage for almost two centuries.

Founded in 1822 with the aim of improving the state’s produce, the Agricultural Society of NSW held the first Agricultural Show the following year. It was an opportunity for farmers and manufacturers to display their goods, compete for a medal and perhaps win a prestigious Royal Sydney Ribbon.

Today, the Easter Show has developed beyond livestock and produce to find a vital place in our cultural landscape.