Sheep Show Heritage Highlight

The first “Show of Livestock” run by the newly formed Agricultural Society of NSW was held at Parramatta in October 1823 and it focused on sheep. It included nine prizes for Merino’s including: ‘Best Australian Merino two-toothed Rams and Ewes’ (not less than five of each description) and ‘Best Australian Merino Ewe Lamb’ (not less than ten in number).

In the 1890s the NSW Sheepbreeders’ Association was formed and started running its own annual Sheep Show, but at a different time of year to the Easter Show. In 1917 the RAS decided to get involved and an agreement was reached to run  this show jointly with the Sheepbreeders’ Association at the RAS Showground at Moore Park - but not during the Easter Show. Between 1918 and 1975 there were no sheep displayed during the annual Easter Show.

By the mid-1970s the Sheep Show was losing popularity with exhibitors and in 1976, having gained some government assistance for the project, the RAS could proudly announce ‘Sheep will once again be a Royal Show attraction’. Poultry, pigeons and canaries were moved out of the Cumberland Pavilion to make way for the triumphant return of the woolly warriors and their fleeces during showtime and they were also highlighted in Australia’s newest tourist attraction. The Sydney Agrodome opened at the Show in April 1976, in the remodelled Dairy Hall and provided a permanent exhibition space for sheep and wool displays, alongside cattle and dairy components.

With sheep reinstated to a prime Show spot, in 1977 the Australian Wool Corporation introduced a guest nation theme for its Wool Fashion Parade at the Show. Poland, surprisingly the 6th largest buyer world-wide of Australian wool at that time, put on a superb show of pure-wool textiles.

In 1979 the RAS of NSW Supreme Champion Merino Perpetual Trophy was introduced and since that time, sheep at the Show have continued to be an annual crowd pleaser.