Ballarat Showgrounds
Encyclopedia
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, an agricultural show
which since 2010 has had its own public holiday in Ballarat.
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 showbag
s, carry bags full of goodies produced by various commercial enterprises.
The showgrounds are used all year round, including a Trash and Treasure market since 1979 as well as occasional collectors markets and other events.
There is a current proposal to redevelop the showgrounds.
which hosts Australian rules football
and a number of other sports ovals which are used during the show.
There are a number of access roads servicing the site which are used as pedestrian thoroughfares during the show.
The main entrance is at the corner of Creswick and Howitt Streets and is a permanent covered structure with two turnstile
s and booths for entry payment.
The main thoroughfare is Beggs Avenue which runs diagonally across the site and feeds into Bolte Place. Along this avenue and the crescent of Cairns Drive is where the majority of rides are situated.
Whykes Street runs east-west along the southern border of the site and the Howitt Street Pavilion is a permanent market stall shed which is used during the show for sideshow alley.
The largest pavilion is a large sheltered structure bordered by Russell Street which continues north along a reserve with a row of permanent animal shelters along the fence; Greenfield Street which runs north and forks into Presidents Drive which and Scotts Street.
Hendersons Street continues Greenfield Street north from Presidents Drive and is the westmost street and connects with the sports ovals. Siemering also runs north from Presidents Drive; to the west of it is the Harry Smith Pavilion and to the east is the site of the showbag stands. It also forms a triangular area with Presidents Drive and Bolte Place.
Scott Street runs north to Beggs Avenue forming Fisken Square at its junction with Bolte Place. Off Scott Street heading south is Ford Lane which meets the Hancock Pavilion and Animal Nursery.
. Their first agricultural show in Ballarat was held in 1859. Their showgrounds site was relocated to Lake Wendouree
in 1861. In 1934 a new site was chosen at Creswick Road, Wendouree.
Wendouree, Victoria
Wendouree is a large suburb on the north western rural-urban fringe of the City of Ballarat, in Victoria, Australia. It is the most populated suburb in urban Ballarat with a total of 10,752 inhabitants counted at the 2006 Census....
, a suburb of Ballarat, 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....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
owned by the City of Ballarat
City of Ballarat
The City of Ballarat is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia around Ballarat. It is located in the western part of the state. It has an area of 740 square kilometres. In 2001 it had a population of 81,000...
and since 1934, the home of the Ballarat Show, 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...
which since 2010 has had its own public holiday in Ballarat.
The focus of the Ballarat 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...
, with associated competitions and awards. The show also 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...
, 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'...
, and 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.
The showgrounds are used all year round, including a Trash and Treasure market since 1979 as well as occasional collectors markets and other events.
There is a current proposal to redevelop the showgrounds.
Site
The 10 hectare site includes Eureka StadiumEureka Stadium
Eureka Stadium, formerly known as Northern Oval, is an Australian rules football ground in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.Eureka Stadium is the home ground of the North Ballarat Football Club of the Victorian Football League and the North Ballarat Rebels of the TAC Cup.The ground has been flagged as...
which hosts Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
and a number of other sports ovals which are used during the show.
There are a number of access roads servicing the site which are used as pedestrian thoroughfares during the show.
The main entrance is at the corner of Creswick and Howitt Streets and is a permanent covered structure with two turnstile
Turnstile
A turnstile, also called a baffle gate, is a form of gate which allows one person to pass at a time. It can also be made so as to enforce one-way traffic of people, and in addition, it can restrict passage only to people who insert a coin, a ticket, a pass, or similar...
s and booths for entry payment.
The main thoroughfare is Beggs Avenue which runs diagonally across the site and feeds into Bolte Place. Along this avenue and the crescent of Cairns Drive is where the majority of rides are situated.
Whykes Street runs east-west along the southern border of the site and the Howitt Street Pavilion is a permanent market stall shed which is used during the show for sideshow alley.
The largest pavilion is a large sheltered structure bordered by Russell Street which continues north along a reserve with a row of permanent animal shelters along the fence; Greenfield Street which runs north and forks into Presidents Drive which and Scotts Street.
Hendersons Street continues Greenfield Street north from Presidents Drive and is the westmost street and connects with the sports ovals. Siemering also runs north from Presidents Drive; to the west of it is the Harry Smith Pavilion and to the east is the site of the showbag stands. It also forms a triangular area with Presidents Drive and Bolte Place.
Scott Street runs north to Beggs Avenue forming Fisken Square at its junction with Bolte Place. Off Scott Street heading south is Ford Lane which meets the Hancock Pavilion and Animal Nursery.
History
The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society was formed in 1856 and based in LearmonthLearmonth, Victoria
Learmonth is a town in western Victoria, Australia. The town is located on the Sunraysia Highway, west of the state capital Melbourne, near the regional centre of Ballarat. At the 2006 census, Learmonth had a population of 289.-History:...
. Their first agricultural show in Ballarat was held in 1859. Their showgrounds site was relocated to Lake Wendouree
Lake Wendouree, Victoria
Lake Wendouree is a suburb of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia located immediately west of the Ballarat CBD and encompasses the man-made recreational lake Lake Wendouree after which it is named...
in 1861. In 1934 a new site was chosen at Creswick Road, Wendouree.