History of the RNA

The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA) was established in 1875 with Governor Sir William Cairns as its President.

Bowen Park was chosen in January 1876 as the site for the first Show. The 'Intercolonial Exhibition of 1876', held from August 22-26 proved a great success. A public holiday was declared and an estimated 15,000-17,000 people attended the opening day - a great feat at a time when the total population of Brisbane was just 20,600.

The first 'Royal' Show was held in 1921, when the Association was granted the prefix under warrant from His Majesty King George V. Since then, the shortened name 'Ekka' has replaced 'Exhibition' in the Queensland vernacular.

The Ekka continues to be Queensland's biggest and most anticipated yearly event and continues to achieve its aim of connecting Queenslanders of all ages - from the country to the city and from all walks of life.

 

OUR EVOLUTION

1875:  THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND

  • The 'National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland' was formed by a group of colonists.

1876:  THE FIRST EXHIBITION

  • The Intercolonial Exhibition of 1876 was held at Bowen Park with an estimated 15,000-17,000 attending out of Brisbane's population at the time of just 20,600.
  • The first exhibition building was erected.

1878:  THE CENTRE OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

  • The RNA Showgrounds become the centre of the city's social activities-musical and drama groups, football, cricket, lacrosse, athletics and cycling all had headquarters on grounds.

1882:  THE FIRST RAILWAY STATION

  • First railway station opened at the RNA Showgrounds - as an extension of the Sandgate Line.

1887:  MAIN PAVILION DESTROYED

  • Main Pavilion (corner of Bowen Bridge Road and Gregory Terrace) destroyed by fire.

1891:  MAIN PAVILION REPLACED

  • Main Pavilion replaced with new brick building on the corner of Bowen Bridge Road and Gregory Terrace. It contains 1,300,000 bricks and was completed in 23 weeks. 300 men were constantly at work during its construction. The building was equipped with a huge pipe organ by Wallis and Co of London.

1906:  JOHN MACDONALD STAND

  • John MacDonald Stand built.

1909:  SIX ACRES OF LAND

  • Six acres of land bought off Mrs Petty (land bordered by Gregory Terrace, Alexandria Street, Science Street and Water Street).

1912:  AMERICAN AVIATOR ARTHUR BURR STONE

  • American aviator Arthur Burr Stone uses the Main Arena to take off and land a Metz Bleriot Monoplane for the first ever flight over Brisbane.

1917:  TOOWOOMBA'S AUSTRAL HALL

  • Toowoomba's Austral Hall was bought for 1,500 pounds and re-erected at the RNA Showgrounds making it the largest building of its type in the state.

1920:  EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES VISITS THE EKKA

  • Edward, Prince of Wales visits the Ekka.
  • Number 2 Oval was built.

1921:  THE RNA

  • The prefix 'Royal' is added to the Association's name after it was granted the prefix under warrant from His Majesty King George V.

1923:  ERNEST BAYNES STAND

  • Ernest Baynes Stand was built - two tiers, 7,000 person capacity, plus 600 seat dining room.

1926:  NATIONAL SPEEDWAY

  • National Speedway opened at the grounds.

1928:  SIR DONALD BRADMAN TEST DEBUT

  • Main Arena plays host to the test debut of the world's greatest batsman Sir Donald Bradman. Bradman was playing in the first Australia England International Test to be played in Queensland.
  • First international rugby league game held on the Main Arena.

1937: INDUSTRIAL PAVILION BUILT

  • Construction commenced on the largest building within the RNA Showgrounds after the Minister for Agriculture, Hon. F.W. Bulcock, laid the foundation stone on March 5, 1937.

1942:  WORLD WAR II

  • The Show was cancelled due to World War II as the grounds were used as a staging depot.

1954:  QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND PRINCE PHILIP

  • Visit from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

1964:  ANIMAL NURSERY AT THE EKKA

  • Introduction of the now famous Animal Nursery at the Ekka.

1971:  INTERNATIONAL SPRINGBOK TOUR

  • International Springbok Tour where a two metre chain wire fence was erected to separate the players from the spectators.
  • RNA becomes a corporate body with a legal identity of its own.

1988:  THE YEAR OF WORLD EXPO 88

  • Year of World Expo 88. Ekka achieved its highest attendance with an estimated 800,000 attending.

1989:  LIVID MUSIC FESTIVAL

  • The renowned Livid Music Festival was held at the RNA Showgrounds for the first time.

1996:  COMMERCE AND EXHIBITION BUILDINGS

  • Commerce and Exhibition Buildings constructed.

2000:  SIDESHOW ALLEY AND WOODCHOP

  • Inner city bypass constructed, sideshow alley and the woodchop arena redeveloped.
  • International music superstars Oasis and Green Day perform at Livid.

2002:  THE CURE AT LIVID

  • British music icons The Cure perform at Livid.

2003:  REDEVELOPMENT VISION BEGINS

  • RNA Council embarks on its long term vision to keep the Ekka at the RNA Showgrounds and cement the long term financial viability of the RNA through redeveloping the RNA Showgrounds.

2005:  RNA SHOWGROUNDS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

  • RNA Showgrounds Master Plan Redevelopment launched.

2007:  SOUNDWAVE MUSIC FESTIVAL

  • Soundwave music festival held at the RNA Showgrounds for the first time.

2009:  REDEVELOPMENT PARTNER

  • RNA select Lend Lease as its redevelopment partner for the $2.9 billion RNA Showgrounds Redevelopment project.

2010:  ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SHOWS

  • RNA operates one of the most successful Ekkas in history.
  • One million people attend events at the RNA Showgrounds in a calendar year.
  • American rockers Faith No More headline Soundwave and play to a crowd of more than 40,000.
  • RNA Showgrounds Master Plan approved by the Urban Land Development Authority paving way for construction to start.

2011:  RNA SHOWGROUNDS REGENERATION

  • Construction of the RNA Showgrounds regeneration began.
  • British heavy metal band Iron Maiden headlined Soundwave which attracted a crowd of 45,000.

2012:  ROYAL ICC'S FIRST VISITORS

  • The ground floor of the brand new Royal International Convention Centre (Royal ICC) housed the Ekka's Canine Competition, Agricultural Hall and horticulture exhibits
  • Construction began on the new 7,000m2, $7.7 million Plaza
  • The RNA was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame for its contribution to the state's economic and social history
  • In an Australian first, Ekka fans were able to customise their own fireworks on the show's free interactive fireworks iPhone app

2013:  BRISBANE SHOWGROUNDS LAUNCHED

  • The Royal ICC was fully completed and held its first events in March 2013
  • Completion of the Plaza and PorteCochere
  • Construction began on K1, the first of the commercial towers at Kingsgate commercial precinct, and on The Green residential apartments
  • More than 400,000 guests attended the Ekka
  • 50,000 music lovers descended on the Brisbane Showgrounds for Soundwave

2014:  BRISBANE SHOWGROUNDS REGENERATION PROJECT STAGE 2 UNDERWAY

  • Stage two of the Brisbane Showgrounds Regeneration Project launched in September, including the announcement of the four and a half star Rydges Hotel and construction commencing on King Street
  • The Royal ICC hosted Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal (Princess Anne) and 250 delegates at the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC) conference in October
  • Grammy Award-winner Lorde performed at Laneway festival to a record crowd

2015:  HOTEL CONSTRUCTION

  • Work started on the 208 room, four and a half star Rydges Hotel on the corner of Gregory Terrace and King Street, with construction completed in December
  • In June, Kingsgate commercial sector opened for business on the corner of King Street and St Pauls Terrace, becoming the Queensland head office for Lendlease
  • In September, the RNA welcomed the very first residents to the Brisbane Showgrounds in The Green apartments

2016:  KING STREET COMES TO LIFE

  • The 208 room, four and a half star Rydges Hotel, along with the Paddock Bar and Six Acres restaurant, opened on King Street in February. The street, which connects St Pauls Terrace and Gregory Terrace, also opened to traffic the same month.
  • From August to November, King Street welcomed five restaurants
  • After 119 years, The Old Museum came home to Ekka, forming a brand new precinct home to the Flower and Garden Exhibition and Quilts Across Queensland

2017:  CELEBRATING EKKA'S 140TH

  • The Ekka celebrated a remarkable milestone - its 140th anniversary - with the RNA marking the special occasion by introducing a new half price ticket for entry from 6pm and not one, but two fireworks displays
  • King Street cemented its reputation as a foodie hot spot, with eight new retailers (five of those restaurants) opening their doors
  • Construction commenced on 25 King, the world's largest engineered timber office building, in June
  • Construction commenced on The Pavilion - an animal pavilion, car park and event space - in August

2018:  INVESTING IN AGRICULTURE

  • The RNA invested in its charter of championing and celebrating agriculture, building two new event facilities - The Pavilion and Marquee 2 - which were both used at the Ekka for the very first time. The Pavilion, completed in October, was partially used at the show to house beef and dairy cattle, dairy goats and poultry. Meanwhile Marquee 2 was completed in February and became the new Woodchop Arena, expanding the competition area by 50 per cent
  • King Street emerged as one of Brisbane's most popular dining and retail precincts, with 12 new retailers opening throughout the year
  • Construction commenced on Alexandria Park in August

2019:  NEW PARK FOR POOCHES AND THE PUBLIC

  • Alexandria Park was completed in April, offering two acres of additional green and event space, along with a refurbished heritage-listed undercover events pavilion known as Building 8. The park became the new home of the Ekka's Canine Competition presented by Black Hawk in August. Outside of the show, the park is used as an events space and can be enjoyed by the public
  • Nine major music festivals which attracted 150,000 people were staged at the Brisbane Showgrounds
  • The Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show (RQFWS) held its Beer Awards for the first time in five years, with the RNA revitalising the competition to once again showcase Australia's best brewers and their products. It also forms part of the RNA's commitment to reward and recognise the nation's best of the best

 

> See Spirit of the Ekka Video

> See RNA Annual Reports