Perth Royal Show
Encyclopedia
The Perth Royal Show is an annual show held in Perth
, Western Australia
at the Claremont Showgrounds
. It features informational exhibits, agricultural competitions and display animals, a fairground and rides, and showbag
s. It has been held for over 100 years and is organised by the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia. It currently occurs during the spring school holidays (either the last week of September or the first week of October) and attracts around 500,000 people a year.
The primary purpose of the Show was to showcase western Australia industry, primarily agriculture. It has been the venue for the display of new animal breeds and sports.
The first Show included equestrian events, sheep dog trials, wood chopping, and prizes for cattle and sheep. These events are still part of the Show today.
Thanks to the State Government’s support of CHOGM 2011, all children aged 12 years and under will receive free entry to this year’s IGA Perth Royal Show when accompanied by an adult.
Parking at the Show is notoriously difficult. To facilitate the growth of the Show, parking space is hired on private front lawns and school / club parking lots in areas proximate to the Show. This activity is community natured, and is often organised by school children or run as a fundraiser
for a school or club.
A rail station at the grounds
is open for the brief period of the Show. The Fremantle line on the public transport system
provides transport during the Show and other notable events at the Showgrounds. A bus service also operates to the nearby area. A Family going to the show can purchase a FamilyRider ticket from the ticket machines located at Showgrounds Station or on the bus.
The ‘showbag
,’ which became part of Australian shows as an advertising gimmick, are now sold at prices ranging from $1 to $150 each and contain a number of cheap novelty toys and candy. Showbags are related to a particular candy product, television show, brand name (e.g. Coca-Cola), or may be ‘jumbo’ bags containing a number of brands (e.g. ‘the Mighty Mammoth’ bag). They are a focal point of the Show for many younger children.
The Show also hosts a sideshow alley
. Rides are paid for at the venue. Rides include several haunted house
s and bumper cars, among others. The show features the Python Loop, which is a medium-sized roller coaster
. Sideshow Alley also features numerous show games. These include fishing, shooting, and tossing games. In fishing games the player must use a fishing rod to fish out a small plastic duck or other object, which has a prize number on the bottom. Shooting games, common at many shows, involve shooting down tin can
s using a low-powered air rifle and usually, corks as ammunition. ‘Tossing’ games involve throwing balls into buckets.
The fee also covers such events as
Government funding has been used to lower entry fees rather than provide an extra revenue stream. In September 2004, the Gallop
Labor government
announced that children would receive free entry to the 100th Perth Royal Show. This occurred through coupons offered in the weekly Sunday Times newspaper (rather than the daily paper, The West Australian
). The gesture was to mark the naming of the Royal Show in a list of "Icons" for the 175th anniversary of Western Australia's self-governance
.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
at the Claremont Showgrounds
Claremont Showgrounds
The Claremont Showgrounds were built in 1905 in the Perth suburb of Claremont. The Showgrounds are home to the annual Perth Royal Show. They were also the original home of Claremont-Cottesloe in its first year in the WAFL before moving to Claremont Oval....
. It features informational exhibits, agricultural competitions and display animals, a fairground and rides, and showbag
Showbag
The showbag is a themed bag of commercial merchandise, and a distinctive feature of Australian shows...
s. It has been held for over 100 years and is organised by the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia. It currently occurs during the spring school holidays (either the last week of September or the first week of October) and attracts around 500,000 people a year.
History
The Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia, established 1831, has held the annual show at the Claremont grounds since 1902. The Show has been named an icon of Western Australia.The primary purpose of the Show was to showcase western Australia industry, primarily agriculture. It has been the venue for the display of new animal breeds and sports.
The first Show included equestrian events, sheep dog trials, wood chopping, and prizes for cattle and sheep. These events are still part of the Show today.
The Modern Show
In 2011, the show is open from the 1st until the 8th of October. The 2011 show will be known as 'The IGA Perth Royal Show' and is a Smoke Free event.Thanks to the State Government’s support of CHOGM 2011, all children aged 12 years and under will receive free entry to this year’s IGA Perth Royal Show when accompanied by an adult.
Transport and parking
The Show attracts around 500,000 people. This has created new problems for the Claremont venue, which was selected over 100 years ago.Parking at the Show is notoriously difficult. To facilitate the growth of the Show, parking space is hired on private front lawns and school / club parking lots in areas proximate to the Show. This activity is community natured, and is often organised by school children or run as a fundraiser
Fundraiser
A fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
for a school or club.
A rail station at the grounds
Showgrounds railway station, Perth
Showgrounds Train Station is a Transperth train station 8.6 km from Perth Train Station, in Western Australia, on the Fremantle Line. It is opposite the Claremont Showgrounds, and is used only during special events, such as the Perth Royal Show....
is open for the brief period of the Show. The Fremantle line on the public transport system
Transperth
Transperth is the brand name of the public transport system in Perth, Western Australia. It is operated by the Public Transport Authority.-History:...
provides transport during the Show and other notable events at the Showgrounds. A bus service also operates to the nearby area. A Family going to the show can purchase a FamilyRider ticket from the ticket machines located at Showgrounds Station or on the bus.
Showbags and Sideshow Alley
The scope of the Show has also expanded. Although it includes traditional events – such as animal competitions – its agricultural focus has been somewhat replaced by a commercial fairground atmosphere.The ‘showbag
Showbag
The showbag is a themed bag of commercial merchandise, and a distinctive feature of Australian shows...
,’ which became part of Australian shows as an advertising gimmick, are now sold at prices ranging from $1 to $150 each and contain a number of cheap novelty toys and candy. Showbags are related to a particular candy product, television show, brand name (e.g. Coca-Cola), or may be ‘jumbo’ bags containing a number of brands (e.g. ‘the Mighty Mammoth’ bag). They are a focal point of the Show for many younger children.
The Show also hosts a sideshow alley
Sideshow alley
A sideshow alley is an Australian term for the cluster of attractions that may accompany public events such as agricultural shows. It is similar to the American term 'midway'...
. Rides are paid for at the venue. Rides include several haunted house
Haunted house
A haunted house is a house or other building often perceived as being inhabited by disembodied spirits of the deceased who may have been former residents or were familiar with the property...
s and bumper cars, among others. The show features the Python Loop, which is a medium-sized roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
. Sideshow Alley also features numerous show games. These include fishing, shooting, and tossing games. In fishing games the player must use a fishing rod to fish out a small plastic duck or other object, which has a prize number on the bottom. Shooting games, common at many shows, involve shooting down tin can
Tin can
A tin can, tin , steel can, or a can, is a sealed container for the distribution or storage of goods, composed of thin metal. Many cans require opening by cutting the "end" open; others have removable covers. Cans hold diverse contents: foods, beverages, oil, chemicals, etc."Tin" cans are made...
s using a low-powered air rifle and usually, corks as ammunition. ‘Tossing’ games involve throwing balls into buckets.
Shows and performances
An entry fee applies to enter the grounds. This fee covers the more ‘traditional’ aspects of the show in providing information to Western Australians. For example, free events at the show include:- Various events in the main arenaArenaAn arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
including wood-chopping, equestrian events such as horse racingHorse racingHorse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and – more recently - monster trucks - A large number of various shows in pavilionPavilion (structure)In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
s, exhibiting such things as animals (including sheep, alpacas, cats, dogs, domestic poultry, pigeons and goats) and new products (foodstuffs, gardening and household tools and massages are common displays).
The fee also covers such events as
- The PetersPeters Ice CreamPeters Ice Cream is an Australian ice cream brand developed by American expatriate Fred Peters in 1907, using his mother's recipe. The company was established in Redfern, Sydney as the Peters' American Delicacy Company...
and Brownes FireworksFireworksFireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
Spectacular, starting every night at 8pm - The 'Yellow Brick Road' (costs $9), which consists of a yellow cardboard box or bag (the 'brick'), a few food items, a checklist and a map. Following the map takes the showgoer to various 'stations' around the IGAIGA (Australian supermarket group)Independent Grocers of Australia, or IGA, is a chain of independent supermarkets in Australia. It is the local variant of the international Independent Grocers Association...
Fresh Food Pavilion where a sample of some sort of food can be obtained upon presentation of the checklist. In recent years, Girl GuidesGuides AustraliaGirl Guides Australia is the national Guiding organisation in Australia. It provides a girls only space and its mission is to enable girls and young women to grow into confident, self respecting members of the community. Membership is open to all girls and young women from all cultures, faiths and...
have operated these stalls. Common food available include fruit, cooked sausages, Guide Biscuits, orange juice and fried mushrooms.
Funding the show
The show was originally funded entirely by the Royal Agricultural Society. The current show is funded by the Society, the Western Australian Government, visitors' entry fees, competitors' fees, and commercial sponsorships.Geoff Gallop
Geoffrey Ian Gallop, AC is an Australian academic and former politician. He was the Premier of Western Australia from 2001 to 2006. He currently resides in Sydney.-Early life and education:...
Labor government
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
announced that children would receive free entry to the 100th Perth Royal Show. This occurred through coupons offered in the weekly Sunday Times newspaper (rather than the daily paper, The West Australian
The West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
). The gesture was to mark the naming of the Royal Show in a list of "Icons" for the 175th anniversary of Western Australia's self-governance
Self-governance
Self-governance is an abstract concept that refers to several scales of organization.It may refer to personal conduct or family units but more commonly refers to larger scale activities, i.e., professions, industry bodies, religions and political units , up to and including autonomous regions and...
.
Further reading
- Cooper,William., Moore, Garrick and Michael White.(2004) Adversity and achievement : a history of the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia Claremont, W.A.: The Society. ISBN 0646439693