Did you know that the Taree Showgrounds near Muldoon Street were not always there? We have discovered that they were much closer to the centre of Taree. Read on to learn more.
The first ever Taree Show was held on 31 March 1880. It was called the ‘Manning River Agricultural and Horticultural Show’ and it was a big success. Over 2000 people attended. The show was organised by a small group of people who first met in 1877, under the leadership of Mr Samuel Plummer.1
The committee bought 2 acres of land in Section 10 of Taree which became the first showground. Section 10 is where the Manning Mall, Hungry Jacks and the alcohol shop are located today.2 Each year the show became more successful and numbers grew so the committee decided they needed bigger showgrounds. In 1903, they bought 64 acres where the showgrounds are today and in 1910 began the move from the old showgrounds to the new. Buildings and stables were taken down and rebuilt at the new showgrounds.3
The entrance to the new showgrounds was not where we enter today but at the end of Florence Street. Everyone used a bridge over Browns Creek to get in.4 The bridge is no longer there but you can still see stumps in the water.
Just like today the first shows exhibited animals, farm produce, cooking and handicrafts. In later years side shows and rides were added. After 138 years, the Taree Show is still popular. We hope it will continue for longer.
Authors: Amelia Anderson and Taylor Wardley, Year 5, Taree West Public School.
References:
1 Sydney Daily Telegraph, 10 April 1880, 7.
2 Taree historic rate books, 1885-1893.
3 Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 29 March 1954.
4 Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 16 Jul 1913.
