Kiama Showground
Encyclopedia
The Kiama Showground is a sports and entertainment complex of the South Coast
-Illawarra
region in the coastal town of Kiama
. The complex includes two ovals, the Showring and Chittick Oval. The showground is the host site of the Kiama Show which has operated for more than a hundred years. The show is held in late January each year (around Australia Day
) and run by one of the five oldest Agricultural Show Societies in Australia. The showground's pavilion is the only community hall in Kiama. The pavilion and grandstand at the Kiama Showground has undergone a major re-development which was publicly opened by NSW governor Marie Bashir
in August 2009. Kiama Showground is also the home ground to Group 7 Rugby League
side, the Kiama Knights
, a club where international players Shaun Timmins
, Brett
and Josh Morris
learnt their trade. Kiama Rugby Union Club also plays its home games out of Kiama Showground. Kiama Touch Association also uses the ground for competition. As apart of Crown land, the surface is open to public, and many schools in the area also use the ground for sports events. The ground and pavilion are also used for various other concerts and special events. The pavilion itself can even be booked for corporate events, wedding receptions, conferences or other special functions, with facilities catering for 180 dining guests and a theatre setup for 330 people in the main Norfolk room. Smaller rooms, Saddlback room and Surf Beach room seat 80 people combined (or 40 each as separate rooms), as well as the Kendall room seating a further 35 patrons.
One of the other major events to be hosted at Kiama Showground is the Kiama Rugby Sevens tournament, which is generally held in late February and is used by New South Wales Country Rugby Union and Australian Rugby Union
as trials for future representative rugby sevens teams. Clubs from Illawarra District Rugby Union and Tooheys New Cup
gain invitation to the event as well as several other clubs from country, interstate, and the city. There have even been entrants from Tonga
. The entries are restricted to 48 teams and prizemoney is worth AU$20,000.
South Coast, New South Wales
The South Coast refers to the narrow coastal belt from Sydney in the north to the border with Victoria in the south in the south-eastern part of the State of New South Wales, Australia. It is bordered to the west by the coastal escarpment of the Southern Tablelands, which is largely covered by a...
-Illawarra
Illawarra
Illawarra is a region in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the Shoalhaven or South Coast region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and the town of Kiama. The central region contains Lake...
region in the coastal town of Kiama
Kiama, New South Wales
-Transport:The town is served by Kiama Station on the South Coast Line. It is served by road in the form of the Princes Highway and the Kiama Bypass.-Attractions:...
. The complex includes two ovals, the Showring and Chittick Oval. The showground is the host site of the Kiama Show which has operated for more than a hundred years. The show is held in late January each year (around Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
) and run by one of the five oldest Agricultural Show Societies in Australia. The showground's pavilion is the only community hall in Kiama. The pavilion and grandstand at the Kiama Showground has undergone a major re-development which was publicly opened by NSW governor Marie Bashir
Marie Bashir
Marie Roslyn Bashir AC, CVO is the present Governor of New South Wales since 2001 and also the Chancellor of the University of Sydney since 2007. Born in Narrandera, New South Wales, Bashir graduated from the University of Sydney in 1956 and held various medical positions, with a particular...
in August 2009. Kiama Showground is also the home ground to Group 7 Rugby League
Group 7 Rugby League
South Coast Group 7 Rugby League is the divisional boundary drawn from the Southern Illawarra and South Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia and is governed by the NSWCRL...
side, the Kiama Knights
Kiama Knights
The Kiama Knights are an Australian rugby league football team based in Kiama, a coastal town of the Illawarra and South Coast regions. The club was formed in 1914 as one of the founding members of South Coast Rugby League, and continue to participate in this league's local competition.-History:On...
, a club where international players Shaun Timmins
Shaun Timmins
Shaun Timmins is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
, Brett
Brett Morris
Brett Morris is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he is the son of St...
and Josh Morris
Josh Morris
Josh Morris is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League competition. A New South Wales State of Origin representative backline player, Josh is the twin brother of Brett Morris who plays first grade for his previous club...
learnt their trade. Kiama Rugby Union Club also plays its home games out of Kiama Showground. Kiama Touch Association also uses the ground for competition. As apart of Crown land, the surface is open to public, and many schools in the area also use the ground for sports events. The ground and pavilion are also used for various other concerts and special events. The pavilion itself can even be booked for corporate events, wedding receptions, conferences or other special functions, with facilities catering for 180 dining guests and a theatre setup for 330 people in the main Norfolk room. Smaller rooms, Saddlback room and Surf Beach room seat 80 people combined (or 40 each as separate rooms), as well as the Kendall room seating a further 35 patrons.
One of the other major events to be hosted at Kiama Showground is the Kiama Rugby Sevens tournament, which is generally held in late February and is used by New South Wales Country Rugby Union and Australian Rugby Union
Australian Rugby Union
The Australian Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body. It consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory...
as trials for future representative rugby sevens teams. Clubs from Illawarra District Rugby Union and Tooheys New Cup
Tooheys New Cup
The Tooheys New Cup is a rugby union competition established by the New South Wales Rugby Union in 2002 as a stepping stone between the existing grade rugby and Super 14 competitions. Open to the existing 12 grade clubs, the TNC features Super 14 players not on international duty and the...
gain invitation to the event as well as several other clubs from country, interstate, and the city. There have even been entrants from Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
. The entries are restricted to 48 teams and prizemoney is worth AU$20,000.