A Visit to the Ekka (or the Show).

(Translation for non-Queenslanders: A visit to the Royal National Association Exhibition, an annual city-country fair held in Brisbane. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors over its fortnight of operation. Sort of like a State Fair. Because Australians in general and Queenslanders in particular have to shorten names, it became “the Ekka.” In my family, it was always just called it “the Show.”)

The Show started in 1876 as the Intercolonial Exhibition, and was held in Bowen Park. It still takes place in the same area of Bowen Hills, sprawled over a couple of large city blocks.

The Show started as an opportunity for Queensland rural and urban inventors and manufacturers to exhibit their goods. Samples of produce were given out, and they were actually free. Now, there’s an entire pavilion devoted to selling costly sample bags. A look at the RNA website shows a bewildering range of confectionary and promotional tie-ins (sporting teams, movie franchises and the like). Then there are the kids’ bags, which tell you everything you need to know about marketing and gender roles – the boys are offered fatigues, plastic hand grenades and assault rifles; the girls are offered bath bombs, eyeliner and hair clips. Bless.

Here’s a visual trip through the Show, from its beginnings in 1876 to the early 20th century.

1876 Exhibition

The Governor opens the Exhibition

Sir William Cairns arrives at the Exhibition Building. The Royal Brisbane Hospital is visible in the background.
He’s somewhere in this photo, too. (The photographer was presumably instructed to get the building and ALL of the official party in the shot, even if it meant taking the photo from somewhere near the colonial border.)

Governor Sir William Wellington Cairns opened the Intercolonial Exhibition. A famously sickly chap who loathed tropical weather, he was probably relieved that this little jamboree was being held in August, one of Brisbane’s cooler months.

The Exhibits

A model house and its proud exhibitors. It would make a charming Tiny House today. And the Show still has poultry exhibits, just a tad fancier.
A machinery exhibit, with lots of proud men standing around. And a couple of rather resigned-looking lads seated uncomfortably in the foreground. Lack of takeaway food and plastic hand-grenades, I suspect.
A montage of the 1876 show, with exhibits and refreshments.
A trimmed version of part of the montage reveals the offer of tea and coffee at any time.
This spot seems to be where the gentlemen were refreshed
And the Royal Hotel offered refreshments of a rather more bracing variety. Note the complete absence of ladies, and the rather lairy chap leaning against the doorway. Men loved to lean on things in the 19th century.

Later Exhibitions

1877

A view of the original Exhibition Building in 1877.
A view inside the Main Pavilion, with its cabinets crammed with fancy goods.

1896

A view of events in the main show ring in 1896

1900 and beyond.

Mineral display for the (now) State of Queensland’s exhibition, 1900.
By 1910, the main show ring had grown, and so had the parade.
A somewhat fancifully hand-coloured slide of the 1910 grand parade. The grass in the arena was never that green!
The cattle parade still looks pretty much as it did in 1914.
A district’s exhibit in the 1920s. Lots of jams and pickles. Home-made wares are still a feature today. The competition is fierce, particularly in the rarified world of baked goods.

And lastly, an artist’s view of people arriving for the show in 1876 – no parking nightmares, crowded train platforms and buses. And a reminder of the time when Bowen Hills was practically in the countryside.

All images used in this post are taken from the Digital Collection of the State Library of Queensland.

1 Comment

  1. angelwanderer's avatar angelwanderer says:
    August 11, 2025 at 12:14 am

    Have loved it since 1976. -M

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