Bellingen celebrated the jubilee of its agricultural show in 1933 – two years late.
The Bellinger River Agricultural Society promoted the 50-year anniversary of its show with great enthusiasm in 1933, even though no one was quite sure if it had begun in 1883 or not.
The local paper acknowledged there was some doubt.
“No Definite Record of Exact Date, but the Society was Established 50 or More Years Ago,” a headline in the Northern Courier on 28 March 1933 said.
These days, with many old newspapers digitised on trove.nla.gov.au, we know the first show was held in George Tyson’s paddock at Fernmount on 28 April 1881.
That’s impressively early, given that settlers had only started arriving 20 years beforehand. Coffs Harbour’s show didn’t start until 1914. In fact, Bellingen’s show was a first for the whole region from the Hunter to the Clarence. People travelled two or three days along rough tracks to attend, and some came from Sydney by boat.
The Clarence and Richmond Examiner of 16 May 1881 reported that:
“Upwards of 500 people were in attendance, being admitted to the grounds at the nominal fee of 6d. The ground presented a very lively appearance, being profusely decorated with a supply of bunting, which floated in the breeze, besides which the committee availed themselves of the services of a brass band. A booth was on the ground, with viands and a sumptuous repast to satisfy the cravings of the inner man, and judging by appearances was very well patronised.
“An untenanted dwelling was made use of for the purpose of displaying to view indoor exhibits and perishable goods, such as fruits, vegetables, fancy work, &c …
“Nine horses tried their respective merits at the jumps. The jumping was not good, 3 feet 7 inches being only cleared, the prize falling to a local competitor … The cattle sections were very poorly represented, there being only two or three milkers and a pair of working bullocks …
“The exhibits of vegetables, fruit, and maize were all very good, though not numerous. The maize exhibited, grown by Mr J. Walker, was an exceedingly fine sample, and grown, I believe, from seed procured from the Hawkesbury … Mr Marx exhibited tea and coffee plants, which, by their healthy appearance, are evidently well adapted for culture in this district. He also showed wine from his well-known vineyard. I also noticed some rice plants …
“There were also some very good specimens of needle and fancy work, exhibited by children from the various schools in the district …”
The show moved from Fernmount to Marx Hill before folding during the 1890s Depression. From 1904 it was held at McNally’s farm, which is now Connell Park.
In 1910, land for the current showground was purchased in North Bellingen, and the 11th show was held there on 5 March 1914. Unfortunately, the weather was very poor and so was attendance.
“Heavy rain militated against a large attendance, and owing to the bad state of the roads and the swollen streams a large number of the entries were not presented,” the Raleigh Sun of 13 March 1914 said.
World wars, the 2009 flood and the 2020 pandemic are the only things that have stopped the hardworking Bellinger River Agricultural Society volunteers from staging the show every year since then.
Published in the Bellinger Valley Herald, 5 May 2024
Janene Carey 