Ballarat Showgrounds

The Ballarat Showgrounds (officially Ballarat Showgrounds and Recreation Reserve) is a multi-purpose venue in Wendouree, a suburb of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia owned by the City of Ballarat and since 1934, the home of the Ballarat Show and agricultural show[1] (an official public holiday in Ballarat). [2]

The focus of the Ballarat Show is the display of rural industry, including livestock and produce, with associated competitions and awards. The show also features amusement rides, a sideshow alley and showbags, which are carry-bags full of novelties and sweet-meats produced by various commercial enterprises.

The facilities are used all year round for Trash and Treasure market (since 1979) as well as occasional collectors markets, show and shine displays and other events.

In 2013-2014, the City of Ballarat initially proposed to redevelop the showgrounds and in 2015, the Council and agricultural society further proposed relocation of the showgrounds to Victoria Park in Newington. During the State Election of 2014, the Andrews Government committed $5.5 million (AUD) toward the development of the Showgrounds, however to date this money has not been accessed pending a final decision as to the future of the venue.

Site

Beggs Avenue from the ferris wheel during the 2010 Ballarat Show

The 10 hectare site includes Eureka Stadium which hosts Australian rules football and a number of other display areas and enclosed pavilions.

There are a number of sealed roads servicing the site which are used as pedestrian thoroughfares during the show. The main entrance is located at the corner of Creswick Road and Howitt Streets.

The main thoroughfare is Beggs Avenue which runs diagonally across the site and feeds into Bolte Place which leads to kost of the animal displays. Along this avenue and the crescent of Cairns Drive is where the majority of sideshow rides are normally situated. Whykes Street runs east-west along the southern border of the site and contains the Howitt Street Pavilion which is used as a permanent market stall shed throughout the year and is used during the show for the sideshow alley and to house static displays.

There are a number of large pavilions that are used to house merchandise stalls, show animals, static, craft and machinery displays.

Eureka Stadium

History

The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society was formed in 1856 and based in Learmonth. The first agricultural show in Ballarat city was held in 1859. The Society's showgrounds site was relocated to Lake Wendouree on the North East flank of the lake in an area bounded by Wendouree Parade, Burnbank and Gregory Streets in 1861. In 1934 the present site was chosen at the corner of Howitt Street and Creswick Road, Wendouree, and all shows since have been held at this location.

Following World War 2, some surplus huts and buildings were relocated from the Ballarat RAAF Base for use as administration buildings and pavilions. Many of those buildings remain in use today.

In 1951 a 670 yard long, sand-based harness-racing arena was built that featured two large light towers and overhead lighting gantries. [3] The arena became the home of the Ballarat and District Trotting Club and regularly hosted meetings between 14 April 1952 to December 1965. The Ballarat and District Trotting Club subsequently relocated to a new state of the art, purpose built facility (Bray Raceway) in the Ballarat suburb of Redan in February 1966 which remains in use to this day. The showgrounds arena largely fell into disrepair and was finally removed in 1990 being replaced by the Eureka Stadium and North Ballarat Sports Club.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society, Ballarat Show". Ballarat.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  2. ↑ http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/council/communications-and-publications/media-releases/july/ballarat-show-day-named-public-holiday.aspx
  3. ↑ http://www.classicfamilies.net/cf/TrackList.aspx

Official website


Coordinates: 37°32′25″S 143°50′53″E / 37.54028°S 143.84806°E / -37.54028; 143.84806

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