A detailed history

The 152nd Annual Kingston Agricultural Show was held in 2019 and the only periods when a show was not held was within the WWII period of 1940 to 1944 and COVID years 2020 and 2021.  This makes the Society one of the oldest in Victoria.

Early days in Smeaton and the ‘Grand National Show’

The Agricultural Society began its days at Smeaton and was formed in April 1859.  At the first meeting Captain Hepburn was thanked for prizes donated by him for wheat growing.  

Later the farmers of Spring Hill and Bullarook joined the new society and inaugurated the three parishes.  In 1861 the first show of the Smeaton, Spring Hill, and Bullarook Agricultural Society was held at Smeaton.  

The annual show became the premier one in Victoria and in 1873 the ‘Grand National Show’ was held in Smeaton. At the suggestion of a delegation of ladies a grandstand was built in 1902 and an ‘All Nations Fair’ was held to raise funds for the building.  

For 60 years the activities of the society were pursued in comparative calm. However, eventually, it became an obstacle that Smeaton was not on a railway line as show numbers (both exhibits and patrons) where dropping.

A new home in Kingston

In 1921 an experiment was made of holding the show at Allendale and a section of the members advocated a transfer of future shows to a site to be purchased in Kingston.  

A site was purchased near the railway station in Kingston and the land laid out by Mr W H Gore, the shire engineer.  In 1922 the buildings and equipment, including the grandstand, which was towed by a Handley-Page steam engine, were moved to their new home.

In 1923, at the annual meeting and following an acrimonious debate, the name of the society was changed to the Kingston, Smeaton, Newlyn, and Dean Agricultural Society.  In the 1920’s and 1930’s there were 35 committee members plus office bearers which included 4 vice presidents and 12 patrons including Sir A J Peacock.  The minutes of the first meeting in 1945 after the war detailed 86 committee members plus office bearers - a huge number compared to the small but dedicated committee involved today.

The annual shows were the carnival days of the district and helped promote farming excellence.  The minutes of the meeting held in August 1939 detail classes of cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, dogs and cats, dairy produce.  Other classes included needlework, flowers and plants, vegetables, farm produce including wheat, oats, peas and hay.  1247 entries were attracted to these classes.  There was also an educational section through the Schools Association.

In 1923 an agreement was aalso drawn up with the local cricket club who wished to use the grounds.  The committee was involved in running and organising an annual ball, a gymkhana each year and working with experimental grass plots to test various top-dressing methods. They were also involved in breed committees for horses, and such was the size of the cattle displays that 50 stalls were erected to hold cattle.

In 1924 the secretary reported on arranging a special train for the show which came from Ballarat, stopped at North Creswick, and met the train from Maryborough before travelling onto Kingston. In 1936 it was reported that congestion of cars was becoming a problem and the committee would need traffic management, reflecting the change in transport of the time and the popularity of the motor car.

The Kingston Agricultural Society is formed

In 1984 the society became incorporated, and the name changed to the Kingston Agricultural Society Inc. At that time the show had classes in sheep, poultry, a large horse section, dogs, flowers and goats.  The show however has developed into a very well-known and respected horse event with competitors coming from all over Victoria.

Today the showgrounds at Kingston are still owned by the Agricultural Society.  Recent additions have been land previously leased from the railways was purchased and a large multi-purpose pavilion built. 

The grounds are beautiful, featuring the heritage listed grandstand and set amongst elm trees planted in 1924.  The present committee is small but committed to continue the operations of the Society and to develop the community use of this outstanding facility.