Claremont Showgrounds

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Claremont Showgrounds
Location Claremont, Western Australia
Coordinates 31°58′32″S 115°47′07″E / 31.97556°S 115.78528°E / -31.97556; 115.78528
Opened 1905
Owner Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia[1]
Operator Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia
Capacity 40,000 (Big Day Out 2011)[2]
Tenants
Big Day Out (til 2014)
Perth Royal Show
Claremont-Cottesloe Football Club (1926)
Supanova Pop Culture Expo

The Claremont Showgrounds are home to the annual Perth Royal Show. In 1902, 32 acres of land were reserved in the Perth suburb of Claremont for new showgrounds to replace the Guildford Showgrounds. The Royal Agricultural Show, of three days, was first held there in October and November, 1905.[3]

History

In 1929 a pavilion was built for the State of Western Australia Centenary, as well as other features in the grounds.[4]

The Claremont Showgrounds are serviced by a special events railway station on the Fremantle line. Opened on 20 September 1995, it has direct connection with the showgrounds.[5] The original Showgrounds Station, opened in 1954, was located 350 metres further east with platforms on either side of the line, and required negotiating road crossings to access the showgrounds.

The Showgrounds have in the past been regularly used for WAFL football matches. Perth won its first premiership against East Fremantle there in 1907.[6] They were the original home of Claremont-Cottesloe Football Club in its first year in the WAFL before moving to Claremont Oval in 1927. On 19 March 2005, the venue was used to host a one-off WAFL match between Claremont and West Perth, with Claremont winning in front of 7,812 spectators.

Claremont Speedway

From 1927 the 550 metres (600 yd) Claremont Speedway operated on a track around the edge of the main oval of the showgrounds. Its size saw it the largest speedway in weekly operation in a state capital in Australia. Barriers and fences were improved over time to prevent out of control vehicles from entering the spectator areas. During its 72 year operation the speedway hosted numerous Western Australian championships as well as national championships including the Australian Sprintcar Championship, the Australian Speedcar Championship, the Australian Super Sedan Championship and the Australian Individual Speedway Championship (Solos).

In 1987, Claremont Speedway held the first, and to date only, Sprintcar World Championship. The meeting featured the top drivers from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, as well as drivers from the US based World of Outlaws series including the "King" of Sprintcar racing (and regular Australian visitor) Steve Kinser, and the youngest driver in the event, 15 year old Jeff Gordon. The event was won by legendary Australian driver Garry Rush from local Perth driver Alf Barbagallo, with American driver Danny Lasoski finishing third.[7]

After 72 years of operation, the Speedway closed in 1999 and the sport moved to a new, 520 metres (570 yd) venue at the Quit Motorplex, near Kwinana which opened in 2000. This allowed the main showground arena to be redeveloped into a more open area, suitable for large music events such as the Big Day Out and other festivals.

See also

References

  1. ↑ RAS history
  2. ↑ The Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia (31 Mar 2011). "Annual Report 2011" (pdf). Retrieved 2012-07-05. 
  3. ↑ "Vigilans et Audax" (3 Nov 1905). "The West Australian". The West Australian. p. 4. Retrieved 2012-07-05. 
  4. ↑ State reference library images of exhibits at the 1929 royal show
  5. ↑ Charlton, Eric (20 Sep 1995). "Claremont Showgrounds Railway Station opened". Ministerial Media Statements (Government of Western Australia). Retrieved 2012-07-23. 
  6. ↑ "Wing" (23 Aug 1945). "Australian Rules Football - Further facts about early days". The Western Mail. p. 47. Retrieved 2012-07-05. 
  7. ↑ 1987 Sprintcar World Championship

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 0-646-43969-3

External links

Clubs
Former clubs
Grounds
Former grounds
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