Kiama Agricultural Show
The Kiama Agricultural Society is one of the oldest agricultural societies still in existence in Australia.
Formed on 24 November 1848, the society held their first meeting at the Fitzroy Inn, where Michael Hindmarsh was made the Chairman of the Society. At this time, Kiama township consisted of 18 permanent houses, two stores, two inns, one church and a jetty in the harbour. The Agricultural Show was a means for the early farmers to encourage other new farmers to experiment with agriculture and find what would best suit the newly settled area.
The first Kiama Agricultural Show was held in February 1849 in the new brewery connected to the Fitzroy Inn in Collins Street, as the building was long enough to house the display of produce.
The second Kiama Show was held in 1850. A pavilion was erected for exhibits and another for refreshments. The cattle were penned in yards where the original Kiama Public School was located (now the Sebel Harbourside) and the horses were shown where the Presbyterian Church is now located. Dairying was rapidly developing in the area and there was a high level of produce and stock on display, including wheat, barley, maize, potatoes, cheese, ham, bacon, and vegetables of gigantic size. There was also a huge supply of fruit, including grapes from the different vineyards.
The show was not held from 1858-1867, due to pleuropneumonia outbreaks among the local cattle herds and the rust that was developing among wheat crops. In 1868, the Kiama Show Committee started to make a distinction between the different breeds of dairy cows. In 1870, Kiama held its first two-day show. The same year, wheat and wine disappeared from the show as it was determined that the area was not suitable for these products. From 1870, Market Square became the location of the showground until 1877, when the Post Office was built on the site. When the show was being held at Market Square, a very long pavilion was erected for the exhibitions. The floor was made of earth and the roof was made of shingles. The sides were open but were covered in on show days by tarpaulins or canvas. Pens were erected behind the Police Station and Court House for the stock.
The show moved its location to Blowhole Point around 1877, when the Post Office was built. It remained there for the next ten years. A large slab building was erected for displays and exhibitions. When the lighthouse was built in 1886, the showground had to move again, and this time a new 11-acre site was purchased at Long Brush on Saddleback Mountain Road. A new pavilion, stockyards and a show ring were constructed. The first show held here was in February 1887, with over 6000 people attending over the two days. However, this location proved to be too far out of town, so the Show Committee was given permission to use Church Point (the current site) in 1896. All fixtures and buildings from the Long Brush site were rebuilt at Church Point.