Grand Parade Heritage Highlight

History of the Grand Parade

One of the most venerable traditions of the Royal Easter Show is the Grand Parade. First held on 27th March 1907, it is the most colourful livestock spectacle in the world and a masterpiece of organisation. Only prize-winners take part and some seven hundred animals, and their handlers appear, along with other invited human champions.

After saluting the RAS President, the ringmaster sets into motion the long procession, guiding them into complex circular patterns. At a certain point, the Ringmaster blows a whistle for all to stand still. It is a photo opportunity and long-time tradition. The tradition goes back to the days of box Brownie cameras when moving subjects would not be in focus. The audience is always asked not to applaud for safety reasons. With hundreds of livestock all in together, the situation is potentially dangerous if animals are spooked. Keeping everything in order are the Greencoats, highly skilled stewards mounted on grey horses, most of whom have been doing the job for many years.

The first grand parade consisted of horse and cattle only, prior to this these sections held their own parades. The grand parade has evolved over the years to include various other sections of the Show. In 1947 goats joined the procession, followed by sheep in 1979 and alpacas and pigs in 1995. The horse section has paraded not only the horses, but rodeo, tentpegging, campdraft and business turnout competitors.

The serpentine patterns alter little from year to year unless there is a special reason, as was the case in 1932 when the cattle were arranged to form the shape of the newly opened Sydney Harbour Bridge. The arch was formed by the Herefords, the roadway by the Shorthorns and Devons, and the decking by the Aberdeen Angus cattle. The Ayrshires formed the pylons and the Jerseys and Guernseys the approaches, while the champion bull of the show linked the arches.

Three Grand Parades are held each year at the Show. While everyone is mindful of safety issues there are often pranks, like the time the Ringmaster called in the mounted police to breathalyse a group of judges and stewards on horseback.

Sydney’s majestic ceremony soon became famous and Grand Parades on a smaller scale are now a part of many agricultural shows around Australia and overseas.

The earliest film footage of the Grand Parade is from 1912 and is held at the National Film & Sound Archive. The earliest image of the parade found is in the Town & Country Journal, 1907.

The parade showcases the best of the large livestock, with all champion and grand champions participating. It has become a timeless event. The photographic record of the tradition shows changes only in venue, animals included and fashions.