With a keen eye for detail, we strive to blend tradition with innovation, creating an annual show that captivates the spirit of Warialda. Our commitment to excellence ensures that every aspect of the show ground reflects the values and aspirations of our community.

Warialda Show History

The Town & Country Journal, March 1, 1873, Page 263 [Mitchell Library] has the following record:

Bingara Feb. 20, 1873,

On Friday the first Gwydir Pastoral and Agricultural Show took place at Warialda, some fifteen miles away; although in a more isolated district, it is most gratifying to say that the result Shows a more than satisfactory return leaving no room for “enemies to blaspheme”  or say hard things for those who are really entitled to consider credit for having given the Association what it has got. The Show of stock and produce was good in extreme, the attendance very numerous, and in a portion of land like Warialda, away from everywhere, almost, away from railways or any communication except by horse-back or shank’s pony, was a miracle, and the quiet township bore a holiday appearance to all intents and purposes, Showing the interest taken by a public show of beeves [sic] and sheep. The most active member or working bee, was the Secretary, Mr. Fullerton, who has here, there, and everywhere; promised to forward you a list of the successful competitors for publication in the ‘ Town and Country Journal’ , which is an immense favourite there as a family paper , as it is in almost every household one enters wherever he travels in New South Wales.

 

This Show was a result of a meeting held in Moree where it was decided to hold alternate Shows between the two towns. Mr. Fullerton, the Warialda District Police Magistrate stationed in Warialda from June 1, 1871, until August 21, 1875, and was their first Secretary, and Mr. Macansh of ‘Gurley” was the first President with Messrs. A.A. Adams “Gineroi”, R. King “Boolooroo” and R. MacKenzie a Moree storekeeper the first Vice Presidents.

 

There are no records of any other shows held at Warialda, but the extract in the Town and Country Journal stated that the Gwydir Pastoral and Agricultural Association Shows alternated between Warialda and Moree.

The Warialda Pastoral and Agricultural Association came into existence in 1889. A public meeting was called by Mr. James Scott at the School of Arts Hall on April 27, 1889 and he moved the following motion, seconded by Mr. Charles Mott

that a Pastoral and Agricultural Association be formed provided the townspeople support the movement in a proper manner.

A temporary committee of Messrs. J. Shelton, G. E. Wright, C. Mott and S. Cavanagh were appointed to canvass the town & district for support.  Subsequently at a meeting at Adam’s Hotel on May 25, 1889 Mr. Cavanagh proposed that a Show be held at Warialda.

1890 Show

The first Show of the Warialda P & A Association was staged on Wednesday and Thursday May 14 and 15 1890. 500 copies of the Prize Schedule were printed in Maitland NSW which was the main business source for this district.

 

The support of the small community was vital for the survival of the Show and P & A Association.

Early minute books record that most of the prize money was given generously by the committee and its members. Numerous sub committees were formed to accept tenders, make financial decisions and draw up plans for all that was needed to erect building, fences, yards, etc. on the Racecourse for the beginning of our first Showground. The Annual meetings were in July each year to elect the committee for the following year. Names were drawn up from nominations received and the Scrutineers were appointed to count the votes. The meetings were adjourned so that the counting could take place, and

 the new committee announced.

 

Show dates were flexible and varied between February to May. They were Shows held during the week.

 

The Warialda Standard reported on the 1908 Show and the good improvements to the ground and convenient facilities for stock owners.

 

In preparation for the 1910 Show plans were drawn up for 42 poultry pens to protect birds at night.

 

Draught Stallions were scarce, but other events such as the Amateur Brush Jump introduced by Mr. Thos. Walker had no less than 30 entries. The Special prize for Boy Rider up to 9 years was won by Norman Onus, where the first honors in Girl Rider was divided between E. Stewart [Ashford] and Gladys Allison.

 

The committee meeting held late December 1915 decided to abandon the 1916 Show owing to Australian involvement in The Great War.

 

Early in 1921 at a Municipal Council meeting the Mayor [Mr. Allison] suggested reviving the Warialda Show.

 

The response from the district was amazing and by the meeting of March 29, 1922, 151 persons had promised to join the Association with 101 subscriptions in hand. These financial members then voted to elect a committee of 42.

 

In 1924 the Show was held in March with a glowing report printed in the Warialda Standard that it was an all-round success. Recent rain after a long period of droughty conditions had contributed to an excellent Show.

 

It was evident that the Committee was not ready to accept change when after a lengthy discussion at their meeting in September 1925 a motion was moved to appoint Ladies to the General Committee but was defeated.

Plans went ahead with seven meetings held from September to the end of March 1926 in preparation for the 1926 Show. It was abandoned because of the adverse weather conditions but the committee decided to hold a Show Ball during winter.

Prickly pear afflicted many landholders and £5 was spent in 1926 to eradicate this weed from the Showground.

The Annual Meeting of July 31, 1926, saw the retirement of Mr. John Lanagan as President a position he held from 1913. The Association recorded their appreciation of his valuable services and rewarded him with a Life Membership in 1927. Mr. Lanagan was the first member of this Association to receive this honour.

1929 saw more changes being made and structures receiving improvements. The interior walls and the Pavilion were painted at a cost £22. Voluntary labor was used to erect a small yard near entrance to the Ring. This was the first reference to voluntary labor from the Committee.  Changes in the Sheep Section meant that Sheep competing in all sections must be shorn not earlier than August 1st and that Men be employed by the Stewards on behalf of the Committee to hold their Sheep and that owners be barred from doing so.

 

Hard times fell on the Society again with their Balance Sheet presented at the Meetings on 23rd July 1938 showing debt of £34/7/9d. Mr. S W Kent and C C Bayley moved that the Trustees attend the next committee meeting to arrange an overdraft. Again, the town and district were canvassed for donations which showed the debt slowly decrease to a credit balance in March 1939.

 

For fifty years the district had exhibited their splendid array of stock and produce at the Annual Show, so the committee organized special classes to celebrate their 50th Anniversary Show in May 1939.

 

 

After the War

World War II ended in 1945, so the members enthusiastically prepared for a Victory Show in March in 1946. A Field Wheat and Fodder Conservation Competition was discussed, and Telephone facilities were to be installed on the ground.

 

The Trustees were informed of the Society’s intention to borrow money to build a Kitchen and Soft Drink Booth in 1946. Mr. Wisken’s tender of £247/10/0d was accepted. There is no evidence of the finances being borrowed, but the builder was paid that amount on April 4th, 1949.

In 1947 the Bullock Riding yards and a Cattlecamp were built, and water was laid on for a new Cattle Pavilion. 50 feed and water improved the sheep section. The Committee’s fund-raising Rodeo and Sports Day was held on a very hot January day, followed by a Grand Ball. The carnival was memorable after seven steers escaped overnight. They were still a. w. o. l. in February.

 

 

In 1954 committeemen purchased 79 head costing £1476, at the Coolatai Saleyards and agisted on “Kia-ora”  at 2/6d a head a week. There is no evidence of any ledger transaction for this amount, but a cheque was received from McGregor's in December for £142/14/1d for profit on the sale. It is presumed that McGregor's carried the debt of this transaction for the society.

 

The horse events continued to be very strong in the mid-1950s. More than 100 horses converged on the Warialda Showground in perfect conditions for the 65th Show in 1954, the  following year 206 horse stalls were booked. One hundred and fifty of those of those had to be built temporarily for the Show. In fact, there were so many entries in the horse events on the Saturday, some events had to be postponed until the Sunday, and it prevented the parade going ahead.

 

Despite the lack of attendance at meetings, the 1959 Show was a success although it didn’t break any records. One interesting issue was raised after the Show however, when the retiring committee suggested the incoming office-bearers consider banning side-Shows at future Shows. It never went ahead.

 

The 1960 Show was marred by wet weather. Heavy rain, which fell on the Wednesday prior to the Show, caused the postponement of the first day of the Show the next day and the competitors battled mud and boggy conditions throughout the following two days of the Show. Entries were down due to the rain and judging in many sections were delayed to allow competitors who had been bogged or delayed by rain to arrive.

 

 

The 1962 Show won’t be remembered for its record-breaking feats, but rather its comic act on Saturday night that had the place in an uproar. The nights big entertainment was a chariot race. In the first race, officials hitched the chariot to a buckjumper using a belly strap. The horse took off, carting his chariot through the log fence.

 

By 1967 the Dog Section had grown to a record 144 entries and it continued to grow in popularity through the late 1960s and the early 1970s until Chief Dog Steward, Mrs. Macey left Warialda in 1972. The committee decided to abandon the Dog Show as a result, partly due to the fact it was getting so big it was becoming too expensive to run.

 

In 1967 the Warialda Show featured its first night programme, with the Main Event the crowning of the Showgirl, Miss Isabel Holzigal of “Green Valley”, Warialda. One hundred and fifty children from Warialda district schools performed folk dancing and singing. There was also an Olympic Jump, a Junior Bullock Ride and a Milking the Wild Cow Contest.

 

21 acres of Crown Land was allocated for the P & A Showground and more land across the Highway was added to this. In the 1960s a number of developments took place on the western side of Warialda and these had quite an impact on the area of the Showground.  in 1967 the Department of Lands revoked 2 acres 32 perches for the construction of the Public Baths; in return another 3.4 acres from the old Police Paddock was given to the Association. At about the same time land west of the Showground was resumed for the Sewerage Plant. In the 1968 the Department revoked another 4 acres 2 rods 10 perches with the land designated for a Motel.

In 1974 the Showground Trust, after a request from Yallaroi Shire Council, agreed to relinquish a small area for the construction of a Caravan Park. It was on this site that the Caretakers Cottage was situated so it was demolished about this time.

It was three years in the planning, but the Warialda Show finally introduced a Pig Section at the 1969 Show. It took the form of a Show and sale, and was organized by the North Western Sub-Branch of the Australian Pig Society. Members were so keen they built a steel Pavilion on the Showground for the entrants and by 1970 had to extend the building to cater for increased entries. It was officially opened in 1971.

 

Drought-breaking rain fell throughout the district in time for the 1982 Show, which saw admission costs rise from 80 cents for Adults in 1973 to $2, while Children paid 50 cents to enter. Despite the increases, the P & A President Mr. Stuart Nicholson said the Show was “one of the best for many years” and gate takings were the highest on record.

 

Meanwhile the P & A Association was battling ever rising costs, forcing gate charges up twice in the 1980s. Adults admission charges rose $1 to $3 for the 1985 Show, and then up another $1 to $4 for the 1987 Show. But by the turn of the decade, finances were looking good. The treasurer in 1990, Don Mowbray reported a profit of nearly $5000 at the Annual General Meeting, and a little more in 1991.

 

The Rodeo yards were rebuilt in 1991, while in 1992 a new permanent Barbecue area was erected. Work began on extensions to the Shearing and Stud Cattle complexes the Secretary’s office was lined. In 1993 a new Sheep Pavilion went up, despite the area being in the grip of possibly the worst drought in living memory. In fact, the Showground in that year also hosted a drop of 200 tonnes of donated fodder to help livestock owners survive the drought.

 

 

February 26, 2001 saw the first working bee for the erection of a new kitchen. The old one had to be demolished and a new erected on the present site. This had to be aligned to the existing Lunchein Pavilion and old Art Pavilion. This was a massive task being carried out by voluntary  labour with expert advice and assistance from local builder Glen Gunn. Grants and Loans were provided by the Department of Lands. The committee was able to get it in working order for the caterers to use for the 2001 Show.

 

A storm caused havoc to some Horse Stalls in late 2001 with a claim for Insurance for repairs to the stables amounting to $5,600. Repairs were just completed in time for the Show in May 2002. Mr. Peter Corish, the newly elected National President of the National Farmers Federation opened the show that year on the Friday night.

 

On the 3rd March, 2004, John Coulton was elected the President of Agrricultural Societies Council of NSW, a timely and fitting tribute as Warialda P & A celebrates its 100th Show.David now holds the position of Vice President. The Committee of the Warialda P & A is justly proud and fortunate to have these two gentlemen representing it at State level.

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