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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-10-30 Daily Xml
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Gawler Show

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:29): Like the members for MacKillop and Flinders, I would like to acknowledge the contribution made by my local show, which is the second biggest show in South Australia, just behind the Royal Adelaide Show.

I would like to congratulate Isaiah Tesselaar, the president, and the members of the committee who put on a very wonderful event. It is a two-day show and it attracts up to 30,000 people over the two days, subject to weather conditions.

This is an important year for the Gawler Show Society because it celebrates its 170th birthday. In the few minutes I have today I would like to briefly travel through the show's history to provide a few key themes that emerge and some of the controversies that appear from time to time. The show has reflected the highs and lows of the town itself but has also been a source of innovation. The show itself did not start without controversy, with two community and volunteer committees vying to run the very first show.

In 1851, a committee chaired by Mr Sparshott was formed to establish a society for produce farmers, but was not proceeded with. A second attempt was made on 2 October 1854—which was successful and that is why this year we celebrate the 170th birthday of the Gawler Show Society—when Dr Otto Schomburgk chaired a special public meeting convened at the Globe Hotel, which is now the Kingsford, when the Gawler Agricultural and Horticultural Society was formed.

In October 1855, Dr Schomburgk was re-elected president at the show society's first AGM. James Martin was elected as a committee member and the stage was set for the first Gawler Show. On 19 February 1856, the show society held its first show under the grand title of Gawler Agricultural and Horticultural Society's First Annual Exhibition. The South Australian Register records the event as follows:

Considering the recent date of the Society's establishment and, considering that this was the first attempt at a produce show, we think the members have every reason to congratulate themselves upon its complete success.

We never remember having seen so large a company, including so many ladies of respectability.

And so the Gawler Show was born.

On 10 February 1859, the show was held in James Martin's corn store in Murray Street. In the first major reform, on 10 July 1860, a new show society was formed to represent broader agricultural and horticultural interests, and on 27 February 1861 a larger and more varied annual exhibition was held in the parklands in a large and tastefully decorated pavilion. But the show was not always well received and the 1865 show was poorly attended. Rumours began to circulate that it might be the last show, but they were proven wrong and the 1867 show was an outstanding success.

As other speakers indicated, the show has always relied on the support of volunteers. Without the volunteers the show cannot go on. It was in February 1869 that the show society faced an uncertain future as Gawler residents did not come forward to assist in the organisation of the show.

The second major reform was in January 1870, which saw the commencement of the tradition of holding the Gawler Show a week prior to the Adelaide show. It has been quite a while since we have actually had the show in August of each year.

In 1871, the show was held at the newly erected Martin & Co workshop on Calton Road, where it was reported that the building was 'scarcely second to the exhibition building in Adelaide.' At this particular show fine cheeses and bacon were exhibited for the first time, but it was also lamented that some 'rough youths' brought down the tone of the day. Sounds familiar.

In 1873, the show had a number of innovations. Soap was exhibited for the first time and it was no coincidence that shortly thereafter it was reported that an emerging new soap industry was evident in the town. James Martin exhibited agricultural implements and also, in 1876, what is today called the eggplant was first exhibited at the Gawler Show. All these years I was thinking it was Italians who introduced eggplants to Australia.

In 1877 the show was a huge success with visitors pouring into the main street. During its 170 years the show has had highs and lows, its challenges and successes, but a few things have remained the same: the importance of volunteers, a driver for innovation and the premier event in the town's calendar. Happy 170th birthday, the Gawler Show Society.

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