Alpaca competitions have been a consistent part of the Show since 1992, however, alpacas were first exhibited in a non-competitive class in the Sheep section way back in 1869. While visitors to the 1869 Show found the animals interesting, judges weren’t sure it was worth encouraging the class in the future with a prize, citing doubts about their adaptability to the Australian climate.
For the next decade or so alpacas were exhibited intermittently, though it seems organisers weren’t sure where to place them. In 1870 and 1871 alpacas appeared in the Wool section, then in 1882 they migrated as a male and female class to the Dog section. There was only one entrant that year – Edmund Woodhouse of Campbelltown. His alpacas were descended from the very first herd imported into New South Wales in 1858.
No entries were received in 1882, signalling the end of the competition for over a century.
When alpacas returned to the Show in 1992 after the importation of new breed stock in the 1980s, classes were not breed specific. As the competition developed, the following classes were introduced:
1995 - Fleece Class
1997 - Suri classes, Sire’s progeny classes, Paraders’ competitions
Sherryl Riley Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Senior Champion Male Huacaya Alpaca (first awarded 2004).
Harriet Davison Perpetual Trophy for Most Successful Huacaya Exhibitor (first awarded 2011).
Dr Jim Watts Perpetual Trophy for Highest scoring Alpaca Fleece (first awarded 2022).
The Coolaroo Perpetual Trophy consists of framed copies of certificates won by Alfred William Holt at the 1879 Sydney International Exhibition for his entry of one male and one female alpaca.
