History of Yass Show Society
Mr David Bullman (Honorary Life Member, former Show Secretary & Caretake) compiled 'A history of the Yass Pastoral and Agricultural Association and the Yass Show Society Inc. 1863-1995'.
An extract follows outlining the origins of the Yass Show in 1863:
An article published in July 1832 in the Yass Courier, in which the editor advocated the calling of a meeting to start an association. The first meeting lapsed because of lack of interest. The second was called but again failed. In 1862 another meeting was called and the decision was made to hold the first Yass Show in March 1863. Those elected to hold office were as follows:
President H O'Brien Douro
Vice President Rees Jones Taemas
J S Calvert Cavan
Hamilton Hume Cooma Cottage
Secretary S A Gilder Banker
Treasurer J B de Carr Banker
A group was formed to draw up rules and regulations. The name decided upon - The Yass Agricultural, Horticultural and Pastoral Association.
The first exhibition was on land loaned by Mr H O'Brien. This land is now bounded by Polding, Church, Brown and Comu streets were Luff Motors and the Thunderbird Motel are located.
Mrs Lesley Cox (Life Member, former Show Secretary) updated the history book as part of the celebrations for our 150th year in 2013. For more details about the book, please contact our Show Secretary.
Timeline
1863 - First Yass Show held in March, Mr Henry O'Brien first President, first showground was on land bounded by
Comur St, Polding St, Church St & Browne Street – now the site of Woolworths, Firth Furnishings, Thunderbird
Motel and Luff Motors.
1869 - Show held on land now occupied by Linton Hostel & Village.
1876 - Show being held on land where O'Connor Park is today.
1878 - Shearing competition held at show. Grant money of £5000 made available throughout the colony - Yass
receives £68.
1882 - Gate charges: Adults 1 shilling, children 6 pence, 6 pence per wheel for vehicles!
1888 - Show held on land, gifted by Mr J Hume, near the town railway and where the Bowling Club is today.
1898 - Annual Meeting cancelled because no audit had been carried out.
1901 - 50 acres purchased for £600 from Mr E McReynolds. £200 paid with £400 balance to be paid over 5 years -
interest 5%. Mr J Hume's land is restored to him.
1902 - Wagga Wagga architect appointed to draw plans for 8 sided or octagonal 'Hall & Meeting Room'. Work
commences on 7th March 1902. Cost £298. Building completed for 1902 show in September - first show at
Grand Junction Road.
1903 - Pine trees planted by Secretary, Mr Will Thompson.
1904 - Kurrajong trees planted.
1907 - The show schedules printed on calico sheets & presented in book form.
1910 - Pine trees between Round Pavilion & entrance gate planted & named Harvey Avenue after past President,
Mr R Harvey.
1917 - Show held on a Wednesday & Thursday in September
1921 - A competitor asked to apologise for telling a judge, "he didn't know a horse from a cow".
1925 - Camp draft & trotting held at show.
1927 - Water laid on to showground. Woodchop introduced to show.
1929 - Loud speakers introduced for announcing events & supplying musical program.
1930 - Council refuse to water grounds & tracks unless P & A Association pay £2 per day for truck & driver, or 10
shillings per day for a dray.
1931 - Calls for Yass Show to be abandoned. After several articles in 'The Yass Courier' paper by editor Bert Mudge
Snr., interest is rekindled.
1935 - Sydney Press report Yass Show for first time. Toilets to be up-graded as they are 'a bloody disgrace'.
1936 - Thomas Glover & Alex Pateman show champion Clydesdales.
1937 - Roy Glover, one of the youngest ever Presidents of an agricultural show in N.S.W., states that the 'show is the
mirror of the district' & appeals for more community support.
1946 - Mrs Norma Hallam (nee Abbey) first woman elected to show committee.
1948 - Rodeo or Bushman's Carnival held, 2000 people attend, profit £260.
1954 - Mr Bill Castle-Roche donates Caretaker's Cottage to Yass Pastoral & Agricultural Association. Cost of
construction - £1554.
1955 - Mr David Bullman appointed Caretaker. Mr Clive Taylor, Secretary granted permission to write series of articles
for 'Tribune' - "Our Show".
1958 - Mr David Bullman becomes Caretaker/Secretary of Yass Pastoral & Agricultural Association.
1959 - New Poultry pavilion opens with 479 entries. Building costs - £354.
1961 - New kitchen added to Grandstand.
1963 - Centenary Show. New sheep pavilions opened by Mayor Terry Walker. Sir Walter Merriman donates money for
all internal pens + £2000 cash. Memorial Gates in memory of Mrs Lillian Hodgkinson, dedicated by Mayor Terry
Walker & officially opened by Mr Tom Stonham & Sir Walter Merriman.
1966 - Block of septic toilets & showers built in horse marshalling area.
1970 - Yass Boys Club & Schools Carnival Committee help level areas below Poultry pavilion. Mr Joe Bush donates
much time & machinery for this project.
1971 - Broadcasting & Ring Office built.
1972 - Floor in 'Round House' pavilion is concreted.
1973 - N.S.W. Pony Club Association hold Annual Championships at Yass Showground. Mrs Jean Kelly acts as
Secretary.
1974 - Electricity is connected to stables, bar & sheep pavilions.
1975 - Show held on Saturday & Sunday for first time, instead of Friday & Saturday. Grant & loan money become
available from Lands Department to enable further improvements to facilities.
1976 - Shearing competition commences under leadership of George Johnson & Bruce Turton.
1978 - More electrical work carried out - outlets for caravans & camp sites.
1981 - Concrete water tank erected at front entrance gate.
1983 - Concrete besser block stables built. Yass Shire Council asked to take over 'trusteeship' of showground.
1984 - Sports Stadium is located at Showground. Sand Rodeo arena decided on. 90 acres at Cooma Cottage is leased
& 240 sheep purchased, providing income for Yass Pastoral & Agricultural Association.
1987 - Major renovations to Grandstand lunch room & Secretary's Office. "Leo Buckmaster Rodeo Arena" officially
opened & first night Rodeo held on Saturday of show.
1988 - Improvements made to shelving at 'Round House' pavilion. Purchase of computer & donation of photocopier for
the office. Steel horse yards built. Showground toilets connected to town sewage line.
1989 -'Bruce Merriman' pavilion for agricultural exhibits, officially opened.
1989 - Water bore is drilled. Incorporation of Yass Pastoral & Agricultural Association - now the Yass Show Society Inc.
1991 - Pump & water lines installed from bore. Galvanised pipe railing erected around main arena replacing timber
railing. Sheep yards built at Cooma Cottage.
1992 - Wine Show held under stewardship of Richard Paton. Sheep counting competition held. First Animal Nursery is
established. Major sponsorship by DL Lawrence & Co for Woodchop. B & S Ball held at Showground for first
time.
1993 - Four year Wether Trial established. Further up-grade of shearing facilities - D.J. Payne Pavilion.
1994 - Shire Bush Fire Brigades hold display & competition. Drill Hall re-located to Showground.
1995 - Further 2 acres of land on eastern boundary of showground are purchased for $25,000 - huge contrast to
original purchase of land in 1901.
1998 - Rodeo Committee fund covered tiered seating for Rodeo sand arena & steel horse yards. New loading ramp &
two steel yards built at eastern end of Rodeo arena. Second Wether Trial commenced.
1999 - Old cattle stalls near Woodchop area demolished. Ovine Johnes Disease having devastating effect on Merino
Sheep industry & district studs. Sheep sections of show decimated.
2000 - New stock loading ramp, steel yards and race built with access to O'Connell Road - funded by Rodeo
committee.
2001 - Old timber yards replaced with steel yards at Rodeo arena. Cladding completed at Caretaker's Cottage. Third
Wether Trial commenced.