Royal Adelaide Show for kids | National Museum of Australia

1968

Join us on a time travelling adventure as we visit the Royal Adelaide Show in 1968. What is similar to your local show today? What looks different? Click on the images below for photos, videos and more information. Suitable for years 3 to 6.

Early shows

Agricultural shows, often called royal or country shows, started as a way for farmers to share ideas and learn about new farming methods and equipment.

Shows encourage better quality animals and crops by awarding prizes for everything from the best sheep or wheat sample to the tastiest apple and the biggest pumpkin. Some types of early competitions still exist today and many are open to children.

A boy drinking milk from a bucket, with a cow at rear. - click to view larger image — Adelaide show

Row of school boys standing at a table with crates of apples on top. - click to view larger image — Apple-packing competition

Black and white photograph of farm machinery, including combine harvesters and ploughs. Several men dressed in suits inspect the machinery. - click to view larger image — Farm machinery

Black and white photograph showing a crowd of people looking skyward at a small wheatbag which has been flung high into the air, between two vertical poles. - click to view larger image — Sheaf-tossing

Black and white photograph of people gathered around a grass field. Several men wearing white overcoats stand beside beef cattle. Crowds of people, standing and sitting, are watching the judging. - click to view larger image — Beef cattle

A woman standing between two large rams. The rams have prize ribbons draped over their backs. - click to view larger image — Winning rams

A photo of a first prize card from the 'Royal Agricuttural and Horticultural Society of South Australia', awarded to 'Mrs MJ McColive' for 'Knee or Cot Rug, knitted or crocheted'. - click to view larger image — First prize certificate

Fabric quilt with green and cream patchwork squares embroidered by hand with Australian wildflower designs, and a recurring passionfruit vine flower design. - click to view larger image — Prize-winning wildflowers quilt

Red, white and blue rosette with three long felt ribbons extending from the base. Printed in yellow text is 'Royal Easter Show 1981, Best Exhibit, Beef Shorthorn Section'. - click to view larger image — Prize ribbon

Did you know?

'Agriculture' means 'working the land'. It is important because it produces many of the things we need to survive: fruit, vegetables, meat, milk, wool and more.

Sideshow alley

Early agricultural shows were mostly about displaying and judging animals and produce. As more people attended, organisers began to provide other entertainment. 'Sideshow alleys' with rides, games and displays attracted children and adults who were less interested in farming. Sideshow alley remains popular today.

A large crowd of people with many gathering outside tents and buildings with signs advertising 'Chad Morgan', 'Le-Garde Twins' and 'Maze of Mirrors'. Other people are walking down the centre of the alley. - click to view larger image — Sideshow alley

A woman sits at the front of a red rollercoaster car, with another person partially visible in the seat behind. - click to view larger image — Mad Mouse

Black and white photo showing a ferris wheel in the distance and a group of people walking down sideshow alley in the foreground. - click to view larger image — Ferris wheel

A man and a woman with snakes draped around their necks. Several onlookers are visible in the background. - click to view larger image — Snake charmers

Two children in a dodgem car. - click to view larger image — Dodgem ride

A row of dodgem cars. Two men and two children are visible in the photo. - click to view larger image — Dodgem cars

The laughing clowns section of the Royal Adelaide Show. Woman and children are playing the games. - click to view larger image — Laughing clowns

An image of children on a carousel ride. Featured in the foreground is small boy on a carousel horse with a man standing behind him. - click to view larger image — Carousel ride

A crowd of people making their way through the sideshow alley at the Royal Adelaide Show. - click to view larger image — Sideshow alley

Main arena

All royal shows have a main arena, a field where the grand parade takes place and other entertainment is provided. At the Royal Adelaide Show, some of the main arena acts have included the human cannonball, rocket man, high-flying acrobats, marching girls and precision driving displays. Fireworks are also a regular feature.

Aerial view of the Adelaide Showgrounds in Wayville, 1965. - click to view larger image — Main arena

Acrobats on a high wire. - click to view larger image — High-flying acrobats

A man with a jetback on his back rises into the air. He wears a helmet and white suit. - click to view larger image — Rocket Man

Show bags

The first 'sample' bags were given away for free from the late 1920s and usually contained small food samples. Over the years, the price, contents and design of show bags have changed, but they remain popular. Today there are bags promoting toys, sports teams, magazines and cosmetics. Prices range from a few dollars to more than $200! For many, a visit to the show is not complete without buying at least one show bag.

Colour photograph of a show bag with printed text 'Supa Bag, Rosella Fine Foods, Soups, Jams, Pickles, Sauces'. - click to view larger image — Supa bag

Black and white photograph showing two young boys, one lying with his eyes closed, on a ladder which rests longways, alongside a wall. Several show bags are lined up beneath him. Beside him, another boy sits reading. - click to view larger image — Resting

Black and white photograph of a young girl carrying multiple sample bags and a balloon and small doll on sticks. - click to view larger image — Show bags and balloon

Black and white photo showing two girls posing with show bags outside the Centennial Hall at night. - click to view larger image — Happy

Black and white photo of a child wearing a sailor's hat and pants and carrying multiple show bags on both arms. - click to view larger image — Iceblocks and superheroes

Woodchopping

Woodchopping, where skilled contestants try to be the first to cut through a log or block of wood, is a popular feature of royal shows. The sport began in Australia in about 1870, with the first tournament held in Tasmania in 1891. The Royal Adelaide Show held its first woodchopping competition in 1905. Highly-skilled (and strong) axemen and women still compete in woodchopping contests at shows today.

Colour photograph, taken from a grandstand, showing five men in a woodchopping competition. - click to view larger image — Woodchopping, 2005

Take the quiz

How much do you know about the Royal Adelaide Show? Check out the Kids learning space pages above, then see how many answers you can get right!

Start the Royal Adelaide
Show online quiz

Do the exercise

Pay close attention to the photos in the Kids learning space pages above, then see if you can select the oldest photo!

Start the Royal Adelaide
Show online exercise

Watch the videos

See the people, animals, rides and events at the 1968 Royal Adelaide Show.

1968 Royal Adelaide Show 2.24

Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA Inc.

Agricultural show clips on the Australian Screen website
Amateur and professional footage from Sydney (1926 and 1941) Brisbane (1952) and Melbourne (1962). Duration: 1:47 to 2:21.

1963 Royal Adelaide Show on YouTube
Commonwealth Film Unit report covering the apple packing competition, grand parade and shearing demonstrations. From the National Film and Sound Archive. Duration: 3:57.

1950s Royal Adelaide Show on YouTube
Amateur footage of the grand parade, show rides and sideshow alley. From the State Library of South Australia Duration: 14:54.

Additional resources

Primary source study: wildflowers quilt made by Nettie Huppatz in 1933

Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA Inc website

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The Kimberley

Prehistoric Australia

Lake Mungo

Endeavour River

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