Claremont Showground facts for kids
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| Location | Claremont, Western Australia |
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| Coordinates | 31°58′32″S 115°47′07″E / 31.97556°S 115.78528°E |
| Public transit |  Showgrounds Claremont |
| Owner | Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia |
| Operator | Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia |
| Capacity | 40,000 (Big Day Out 2011) 10,000 (WAFL matches) |
| Opened | 1905 |
| Tenants | |
| Big Day Out (2002-2011, 2013) Perth Royal Show Claremont-Cottesloe Football Club (1926) Claremont Speedway (1927-2000) Supanova Pop Culture Expo (2008–2013) Claremont Football Club (2014–2016) |
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The Claremont Showground is a large event space located near Perth, Western Australia. It's most famous for hosting the yearly Perth Royal Show. This big area was set aside in 1902 in the Perth suburb of Claremont. It was meant to replace the older showgrounds in Guildford. The very first Royal Agricultural Show was held here in October and November of 1905. It lasted for three days.
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History of Claremont Showground
The Claremont Showground has a long and interesting history. In 1929, a special building called a pavilion was constructed here. Other new features were also added to celebrate the Western Australia Centenary. This marked 100 years since the state was founded.
Getting to the Showground by Train
The Claremont Showground has its own special train station. This station is on the Fremantle train line. It was opened on September 20, 1995. This new station makes it easy to get directly to the showgrounds. Before this, an older Showgrounds Station existed since 1954. It was about 350 meters further away. People had to cross roads to reach the showgrounds from that older station.
Bruce Campbell Arena: The Heart of Events
The Bruce Campbell Arena is a large, enclosed grass field. It's the main area where many events happen at the Showgrounds. Think of it as the central stage for all the action!
Speedway Racing at the Showground
From 1927 until 2000, the Claremont Speedway was a popular attraction. It was a track that went around the edge of the Bruce Campbell Arena. This track was about 586 meters (641 yards) long. It was the biggest speedway in Australia that operated weekly in a state capital city. Speedway racing involves special motorcycles or cars racing on an oval dirt track.
When Claremont Speedway closed, speedway racing in Perth moved. It now takes place at the 500-meter (547-yard) Perth Motorplex Speedway. This new track is located in Kwinana Beach.
Australian Rules Football at the Arena
The Bruce Campbell Arena has also been used for Australian rules football matches. This exciting sport is very popular in Australia. In 1907, the Perth team won their first championship here. They beat the East Fremantle team.
The Claremont-Cottesloe Football Club first played their home games here. This was in their very first year in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). They later moved to Claremont Oval in 1927.
On March 19, 2005, a special WAFL match was held at the Showgrounds. The Claremont team played against the West Perth team. Claremont won the game, and 7,812 fans came to watch!
Later, from 2014 to 2016, the Claremont Showgrounds became the home ground for the Claremont Football Club again. This happened because their usual home, Claremont Oval, was being redeveloped.
- 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
- Claremont Showground at Austadiums
