Show Facts
1840 The first Show was staged in the yards of Fordham’s Hotel, Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
1842 Introduction of classes for the most deserving shepherd/female domestic/labourer/cottager/dairywoman.
1847 The first show entertainment appeared. There was dancing (music provided by the village fiddler), brass bands, games, and races.
1856 Society staged the Colony’s first Art Exhibition. There were 178 entries with 30 being from ST Gill.
1867 Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the Colony’s first Vice Regal visitor opened the Show
1882 Beginning of Horses–in-Action classes.
1893 Introduction of the best collection of produce grown on one farm- not less than twenty varieties. The winning entry exhibited 284 varieties.
1904 Egg laying competitions were introduced.
1914 First Sheaf Tossing Competition held.
1926 Cookery section commenced.
1954 A competition was included in the prize schedule for women, to be known as the ‘Make It And Wear It’ Competition, prize money - £100.
1960 Tractor and trailer driving contests were introduced – last held in 1972.
1965 First year for the Animal Nursery.
1985 Marked the first time that the Show was conducted on a Sunday and proved a huge success.
1988 An Australian first came in the form of the country’s first official private drive for harness horses. Eighteen sulkies rolled through nine kilometers of Adelaide’s streets after first having being judged on the Main Arena.
1991 Adelaide became the first Australian Royal Show to allow women to compete in the wood-cutting section.
1994 First time for the City Street Parade, commencing at the Torrens Parade Ground and ending at the south parklands. Having a flock of sheep led through the centre of the city was the highlight of the parade.
1995 Reintroduction of Alpacas – first time was in 1867.
1998 The Miss Showgirl competition was altered to Young Rural Ambassador’s Award allowing for both men & women aged between 20-30 to enter.
2001 Classes for chocolate were re-introduced, as was a Blacksmith & Farriers Competition. The latter first had classes in 1917.
2002 New areas of interest included Taste South Australia in the Royal Farm expo area, and The Golden Grains which was relocated to The Old Ram Shed. A Beaut Ute Competition was introduced which attracted over 40 entries from across Australia.
2003 The use of a giant screen near the Main Arena provided close-up views of events and entertainment.
2004 This year the usual Ladies Day afternoon tea, which has been held since 1927, changed to a fundraising brunch for charity.
2006 Introduction of a Barista competition, and classes for quilting. During the Australia v Ireland Sheaf Tossing International Challenge, a record toss of 17.5 metres was achieved by Irishman, Michael O’Brien.
2007 The outbreak of Equine Influenza and the subsequent severe restrictions imposed on the movement of horses throughout Australia, meant the cancellation of all horse events at the Show.
2008 Saw the Society's second highest number of entries - 29,926.
