Royal Hobart Showground facts for kids
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| Location | Glenorchy, Hobart. |
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| Coordinates | 42°49′48″S 147°17′09″E / 42.83000°S 147.28583°E |
| Owner | Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1927 |
| Renovated | 1980 |
The Royal Hobart Showgrounds is a special place in Hobart, Tasmania. It's where the big Royal Hobart Show happens every year. You can also find a market there every Sunday. The Showgrounds are about 10 kilometers north of Hobart, in an area called Glenorchy. It's easy to get to, located between major roads.
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What is the Royal Hobart Show?
The Royal Hobart Show is a huge yearly event held at the Showgrounds in October. It's a celebration of Tasmania's farming and country life. You can see things like animal judging and exciting wood chopping competitions.
Many people also love the show bags and fun rides. The show lasts for four days, from Wednesday to Saturday, ending on the fourth Saturday of October. It's a bit like a smaller version of the famous Sydney Royal Easter Show.
A Look Back: History of the Showgrounds
The very first show happened a long time ago, in January 1822. It was held in the Old Market Place, which is now near the State Parliament House. Over the years, the show moved to many different places around Hobart. These included Salamanca Place, Bridgewater, and New Town.
Finding a Permanent Home
In 1903, the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania bought a piece of land. It was 40 acres of bushland known as "Elwick Knoll." They paid £2525 for it. The very next year, in 1904, the show was held at this new spot for the first time. This is where the Showgrounds are today.
In 1922, something exciting happened. King George V allowed the Society to use the word 'Royal' in its name. That's why it became known as The Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania.
Modernizing the Showgrounds
In 1980, the Showgrounds got a big upgrade that cost $4 million. This added new facilities for horse pacing and greyhound racing. The main arena was also improved for many different events. A new building was added with a grandstand, bars, restaurants, and meeting rooms.
The Showgrounds even hosted a major racing event called the Inter Dominion in 1981. Later, from 2004 to 2008, the pacing races moved to Elwick Racecourse nearby.
Plans for the Future (from 2012)
In April 2012, the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania (RAST) announced plans to update parts of the Showgrounds. These plans included using some areas for businesses. They also planned to replace older buildings, like those for poultry, dogs, and cats, with two new pavilions. These new buildings would be for companion animals and livestock during the show.
More Than Just the Show: Other Events
The Royal Hobart Showgrounds hosts many events throughout the year, not just the big annual show.
Food and Drink Events
It has been the home of the Royal Hobart International Wine Show. This is one of the largest wine shows in Australia. It's also the only one in the world that follows special quality standards. The Showgrounds has also hosted the Royal Hobart Fine Food Awards. These awards celebrate the best food in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Vineyard of the Year Competitions also took place here.
Music and Sports
The Showgrounds has also been a venue for music. It hosted the Southern Roots Festival in 2007. The band Eskimo Joe also played a live show there in 2006.
Since May 2007, the main office for Football Federation Tasmania has been located at the Showgrounds. You can also find various animal clubs holding events there. These include shows for cats, dogs, poultry, rabbits, and guinea pigs.
