The Royal Melbourne Show is an agricultural show

Agricultural show

An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...

 held at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds

Royal Melbourne Showgrounds

The Melbourne Showgrounds is located in the inner north-western suburb of Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia, next door to Flemington Racecourse. Is the home of the annual Royal Melbourne Show, as well as major exhibitions, trade shows, and music concerts....

 every September. The Royal Show began in 1848. The focus of the show is the display of rural industry, including livestock

Livestock

Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...

 and produce

Produce

Produce is a generalized term for a group of farm-produced goods and, not limited to fruits and vegetables . More specifically, the term "produce" often implies that the products are fresh and generally in the same state as where they were harvested. In supermarkets the term is also used to refer...

. There are associated competitions and awards. It is a time when the country comes to the city, and the foundation of Australia's economy in rural industry is celebrated.

Like other Royal Shows, the show features amusement rides

Funfair

A funfair or simply "fair" is a small to medium sized travelling show primarily composed of stalls and other amusements. Larger fairs such as the permanent fairs of cities and seaside resorts might be called a fairground, although technically this should refer to the land where a fair is...

 and 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'...

, as well as the peculiarly Australian tradition of 'Showbag

Showbag

The showbag is a themed bag of commercial merchandise, and a distinctive feature of Australian shows...

s', carry bags full of goodies produced by various commercial enterprises.

A prominent feature during showtime are the many rides including a permanent wooden Mad Mouse

Wild Mouse roller coaster

A Wild Mouse roller coaster is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces...

 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...

 which resided at the grounds till 2001, owned by Wittingslow Amusements

Wittingslow Amusements

For many years Wittingslow was Australia's largest travelling carnival operations, spanning more than 60 years in the outdoor entertainment industry....

. A permanent chairlift

Chairlift

An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...

 also resided onsite until 2005. The site has its own railway station

Showgrounds railway station, Melbourne

Showgrounds is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Flemington Racecourse railway line in the suburb of Flemington, adjacent to the Melbourne Showgrounds....

, used during special events located on the Flemington Racecourse line.

While the Royal Show is the main show in Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

, many cities and towns in regional Victoria host smaller shows, such as the Royal Geelong Show, Bendigo Show, Ballarat Show, Warragul Show

Warragul Show

The Warragul Show is agricultural show held on the first Friday and Saturday of March annually since 1885 in Warragul, a town in the West Gippsland region of Victoria in Australia...

, Whittlesea Show and the Shepparton Show.

Displays

Competitions

The major rural competitions of the show include Alpaca

Alpaca

An alpaca is a domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance.Alpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of southern Peru, northern Bolivia, Ecuador, and northern Chile at an altitude of to above sea level, throughout the year...

 competitions, Beef

Beef

Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...

 Cattle

Cattle

Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...

 Competitions, Beef

Beef

Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...

 Carcase

Carrion

Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...

 Competitions, Dairy Cattle

Dairy cattle

Dairy cattle are cattle cows bred for the ability to produce large quantities of milk, from which dairy products are made. Dairy cows generally are of the species Bos taurus....

 Competition, Dog

Dog

The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...

 Competitions, Angora goat

Angora goat

The Angora goat is a breed of domestic goat that originated in Ankara , Turkey and its surrounding region in central Anatolia...

 Competitions, Boer

Boer

Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...

 Goat

Goat

The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...

 Competitions, Dairy

Dairy

A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...

 Goat

Goat

The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...

 Competitions, Horse

Horse

The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...

 Competitions, Poultry

Poultry

Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and/or feathers. These most typically are members of the superorder Galloanserae , especially the order Galliformes and the family Anatidae , commonly known as "waterfowl"...

 Competition, Sheep Competition, Domestic Animal

Animal

Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...

 Competitions, Fleece

Wool

Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....

 Competitions and Woodchop Competitions.

The major equestrienne competition of Australia is the Garryowen trophy which is held here. This is a memorial trophy to Mrs Murrell's bravery in attempting to save her hack, Garryowen. The competition is judged on mount, costume, saddlery, riding ability and general appearance of horsewomen.

There are also Art

Art

Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....

, Craft

Craft

A craft is a branch of a profession that requires some particular kind of skilled work. In historical sense, particularly as pertinent to the Medieval history and earlier, the term is usually applied towards people occupied in small-scale production of goods.-Development from the past until...

 and Cookery Competitions.

Pavilions

Located all around the show grounds are a total of fifteen pavilion

Pavilion (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 and arena

Arena

An 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...

s. These include:-

• The Grand Pavilion where you can buy produce
  Produce
  Produce is a generalized term for a group of farm-produced goods and, not limited to fruits and vegetables . More specifically, the term "produce" often implies that the products are fresh and generally in the same state as where they were harvested. In supermarkets the term is also used to refer...
  
   including wine
  Wine
  Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
  
  , cheese
  Cheese
  Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
  
  , smallgoods, sauce
  Sauce
  In cooking, a sauce is liquid, creaming or semi-solid food served on or used in preparing other foods. Sauces are not normally consumed by themselves; they add flavor, moisture, and visual appeal to another dish. Sauce is a French word taken from the Latin salsus, meaning salted...
  
  s, fresh fruit
  Fruit
  In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
  
   and vegetables. There is also homemade ice cream
  Ice cream
  Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
  
  , cheese
  Cheese
  Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
  
  , hand made chocolate
  Chocolate
  Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
  
  s and more.
• The Grand Boulevard is a boulevard
  Boulevard
  A Boulevard is type of road, usually a wide, multi-lane arterial thoroughfare, divided with a median down the centre, and roadways along each side designed as slow travel and parking lanes and for bicycle and pedestrian usage, often with an above-average quality of landscaping and scenery...
  
   with selected themed commercial
  Commerce
  While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
  
   sites scattered along the spine sweeps across the full length of the site.
• The Herald Sun Town Square has large open grassed areas with food stalls and daily entertainment.
• The Coca-Cola
  Coca-Cola
  Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
  
   Arena is a 9,000 square metre open air arena where crowds can watch the special events and entertainment.
• nab Animal Nursery Discovery Farm has baby animals, a shearing shed, a milking shed and a chook shed.
• The Woodchop Pavilion has woodchopping competitions during the day and music at night. .
• The Livestock
  Livestock
  Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
  
   Pavilion. this is a huge pavilion where you can see the animals or watch what’s happening on the judging rings.
• The Showbag Pavilion. is a large 3,000 square metre Hoecker building. Primary site for Showbag
  Showbag
  The showbag is a themed bag of commercial merchandise, and a distinctive feature of Australian shows...
  
   sales.
• The Rural Life Pavilion is full of crafts such as clothing, leather goods, home made and hand-crafted jewellery and glass decorations.
• The Weekly Times AgriTech where companies, government agencies and educational institutions come together to present a showcase of the latest innovations in agriculture, spanning everything from cropping to machinery.
• The Wonderful World of Pets
  PETS
  PETS may be an acronym for:* Pet Travel Scheme, which allows animals to travel internationally without quarantine* Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act...
  
  promotes products and services directly targeted towards pet owners, including grooming products, pet foods and pet equipment.
• The Victorian Government Expo.
• The Kids Zone Pavilion, Incorporating stalls selling toys and merchandise, and activities for Kids.
• The Sports and Leisure
  Leisure
  Leisure, or free time, is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It is also the periods of time before or after necessary activities such as eating, sleeping and, where it is compulsory, education....
  
   Pavilion where you can take part in the interactive sports and leisure activities located next to the Showbag Hall.
• The Market
  Market
  A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
  
   Bazaar has a variety of knick knacks and novelties. Products range from mobile phone accessories, novelties, jewellery, magic, clothing, artwork and other items.
• The Arts and crafts
  Arts and crafts
  Arts and crafts comprise a whole host of activities and hobbies that are related to making things with one's hands and skill. These can be sub-divided into handicrafts or "traditional crafts" and "the rest"...
  
   Pavilion has art, craft and photography displays.

Entertainment

Entertainment consists of multiple live performances, activities and displays. Entertainers have included Dorothy the Dinosaur from the children's group The Wiggles

The Wiggles

The Wiggles are a children's group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Their original members were Anthony Field, Phillip Wilcher, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. Wilcher left the group after their first album...

, Play School

Play School (Australian TV series)

Play School is an Australian educational television show for children produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It is the longest-running children's show in Australia, and the second longest running childrens show in the world. An estimated 80% of pre-school children under six watch the...

 concert, Sampson the Monster truck

Monster truck

A monster truck is a pickup truck, typically styled after pickup trucks' bodies, modified or purposely built with extremely large wheels and suspension...

, clown

Clown

Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...

s, caricature

Caricature

A caricature is a portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. In literature, a caricature is a description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others.Caricatures can be...

 artists and many more. in addition to 774 ABC Melbourne

774 ABC Melbourne

774 ABC Melbourne is an ABC Local Radio station in Melbourne, Australia. Originally known by its callsign 3LO, it began transmission on 13 October 1924 – Melbourne's second radio station after 3AR.-History:...

 radio outside broadcast. There is a nightly fireworks

Fireworks

Fireworks 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...

 display and live performances. Lights, colours and sound provide a unique atmosphere in the Carnival precinct at night.
The views from the Ferris wheel

Ferris wheel

A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...

 across Melbourne’s skyline and the Showgrounds are significant and if you're lucky enough to be on the top as the fireworks display begins you’ll enjoy the best seats in the house. The show grounds houses an abundance of rides ranging from dodgem cars to 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...

s and helicopter

Helicopter

A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...

 rides.

Rides

• Wave Swinger
• Claw
• Cliff Hanger
• Crazy Coaster
• Dodgem Cars
• Dominator
• Ferris Wheel
• Rockin' Tug
• Hard Rock
• Techno Jump
• Taipan
• No Limit
• Thunderbolt
• Sea XPlorer
• Mad Mouse
• Chaos
• Alibaba (until 2010)
• Roller Ghoster
• Breakdance
• Speed
• Mega Mix Ride
• Kamikaze
• Space Roller
• Twin Flip (possibly no more due to an accident at Royal Adelaide Show
  Royal Adelaide Show
  The Royal Adelaide Show also known as the Royal Show or simply The Show, is an annual agricultural show/fair held in Adelaide, South Australia that begins on the first Friday in September, or the last Friday in August, and runs for 9 days. It is held at the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, located in...
  
   in late 2006)

The children's rides include:

• Grand Carousel
• Jump Around
• Taxi Jet Car
• Circus Swing
• Harley Hog Motor Bike Ride
• Rockin' Tug
• Flash Dance
• Shark Inflatable
• Tiger Inflatable
• Elephant Jet
• Miniature Railway
• Go Gator Coaster
• Circus Circus
• F1 Euro Slide
• Undersea Mini Wheel
• City Bridge Convoy
• Samba Balloon Ride
• Aladdin Mini Jet
• Cup & Saucer Ride
• Outback Pony Rides
• Outback Rattler
• Free Fall
• Mini Jet
• Train Ride
• Ferrari 500 Racers
• Magic Swans

Partners & Sponsors

The Royal Melbourne Show is sponsored by a large number of companies and organisations. These are; Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...

, Safeway, National Australia Bank (NAB)

National Australia Bank

National Australia Bank is one of the four largest financial institutions in Australia in terms of market capitalisation and customers. NAB is ranked 17th largest bank in the world measured by market capitalisation...

, Pedigree

Pedigree Petfoods

Pedigree Petfoods is a subsidiary of the american group Mars, Incorporated specializing in pet food, with factories in Great Britain at Melton Mowbray, Peterborough and Birstall, Leeds; and offices at Waltham-on-the-Wolds.-Manchester:...

 and Kubota

Kubota

, is a tractor and heavy equipment manufacturer based in Osaka, Japan. One of its notable contributions was to the construction of the Solar Ark. The company was established in 1890.The company produces many products including:...

. The show is proudly sponsored by KR Castlemaine, The Weekly Times, Rural Finance, ProCal Dairies, Herald Sun

Herald Sun

The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...

, Tooheys

Tooheys

Tooheys is a brewery in the suburb of Lidcombe, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It produces beers under the Tooheys and Hahn trademarks, and is part of the New Zealand Lion Nathan beverages group.-History:...

, Bundaberg, Stock and Land, Cleanevent, Whiskas

Whiskas

Whiskas is a brand of cat food sold throughout the world. It is owned by the American group Mars, Incorporated. It is available either as meat-like pieces in cans, pouches, or dry biscuits. Most packaging is a recognisable purple colour.-History:...

, City of Melbourne

City of Melbourne

The City of Melbourne is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the central city area of Melbourne. The city has an area of 36 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 93,105 people. The city's motto is "Vires acquirit eundo" which means "She gathers strength as she...

, Channel Nine

Nine Network

The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...

, Highpoint

Highpoint Shopping Centre

Highpoint Shopping Centre is a major shopping centre located in Maribyrnong, Victoria, in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The centre has over 400 stores including a four-level Myer department store, Target, Big W, Harris Scarfe, Safeway supermarket, Best and Less, Rebel...

, Peters and ITC.
Royal Melbourne Show is a media partner of ABC

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...

 & Channel 31 Melbourne.

See also

• Showgrounds Railway Station
  Showgrounds railway station, Melbourne
  Showgrounds is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Flemington Racecourse railway line in the suburb of Flemington, adjacent to the Melbourne Showgrounds....
  
  
• Sydney Royal Easter Show
  Sydney Royal Easter Show
  The Sydney Royal Easter Show, also known as the Royal Easter Show or simply The Show, is an annual show held in Sydney, Australia over two weeks around Easter.It is run by the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales and was first held in 1823...
  
  

External links

• Royal Melbourne Show website
• Live at Night at the Royal Melbourne Show
• http://www.royalshow.com.au/information-2006.asp
• http://www.royalshow.com.au/competitions-2006.asp
• http://www.royalshow.com.au/showbags-2006.asp
• Photos from the 2006 Royal Melbourne Show (post renovations.)