History of Ariah Park Show

From a public meeting held in October 1908 the decision was made to hold the  first Ariah Park Annual Show on the 8^th September 1909.

The show has changed dramatically from the early years when it was held on a Wednesday which was a half-day holiday and residents from near and far travelled to attend the show which was an annual social event.  The show date was moved to a Saturday with a dance being held in the evening.  After 2000 the show date was moved to a Sunday to avoid clashing with the local football finals of the Farrer League.

Over the years attractions and events have changed – the boxing tent made way for sideshows such as dodgem cars and jumping castles, the Field Wheat competition was extended with an alternate crops competition (canola, pulses, oats, barley and triticale) introduced in 1995. 

In 1962, the year of the Golden Jubilee Show, the inaugural Miss Showgirl was judged.

The state wide Rural Achiever was first held in 1990.  However it was not until 2001 that Ariah Park had its first entrant who went on to become a State Finalist.

The Luncheon Pavilion has always been well supported by show patrons – in 1967 the show committee increased the price from 70 cents to 80 cents despite great opposition from the catering committee.

With the suspension of shows during World War II, the Ariah Park Show ground became the headquarters and parade ground for the local unit of the Volunteer Defence Corp.

The unit was made of three or four platoons each comprised of 20 to 30 men.  Troops were issued with uniforms and service rifles.  The rifles became the personal responsibility of each individual and were taken home after each exercise.

Troops were trained in the use of the Bren gun, Trench mortars, hand grenades and instructed in Bayonet drill and the use of camouflage.

Broken Dam area and the Mirrool Creek, were the scene of various military exercises.  Occasional Company Parades and joint exercises were held, alternating between Ariah Park and Ardlethan, the showground being the Parade Ground and assembly point.

September can bring all manner of weather and in 1968 the ring program went down in history as the first held while it was snowing.

 In the 1970s there were up to 40 clydesdales competing in classes at Ariah Park Show however due to the relocation of two major Clydesdale studs, entries declined and the Clydesdale section was reluctantly taken from the show.  This year, Clydesdales will make a return to the showground with five classes for working Clydesdales.

Trotting races were also a feature of the show, however were discontinued in the 1990s because of the introduction of new licencing rules and regulations by the NSW Trotting Authority.

The first showjumping events were held in 1960 and are still a crowd pleaser.  Show driving for horses in harness have disappeared from the program and three rings cater for show riders, hacks, show hunters and Australian Stock Horses.

Nowadays the Annual show has classes for Horses, Yard Dog Trials, Tractors, Crop Competition, Maiden Ewe Competition, Farm Produce, Food and Vegetables, Preserves, Flowers, Needlework, Cookery, Photography, Art, Handicraft, Poultry, Recycling, Lego and Wool

Compiled by Rita Bromfield

Publisher & Author:  Ariah Park Show Society & Renee Mutton

Temora Independent