Show makes history in Redcliffe

Published 5:00am 2 June 2023

Words by Kylie Knight

Image courtesy of Moreton Bay Regional Council, reference number RMPC-100\100251

This year marks 100 years since the first show was held at Redcliffe, featuring egg and spoon races, 100-yard sprints, three-legged races and “Cutest Baby” Competitions.

It was called the Humpybong Show and ran from 1923 to 1939 when it was suspended due to WWII.

The event was more of a community picnic than what we would consider an agricultural show today, but it was a highlight on the calendar for locals and visitors.

It returned in 1950, as the Redcliffe Show, after Alderman Charles Webb formed a new committee the year before. It has been a community favourite ever since.

This year is the 74^th annual Redcliffe Show.

Information about the Humpybong Show is a little hard to find but an excerpt from a 1927 issue of the Humpybong Weekly and Advertiser – the Redcliffe peninsula’s newspaper at the time – offers an insight into that year’s event in which entries for many competitions were low including cattle.

“The women’s work sections were the most numerous and notable, especially as regards needlework, while home preserves were of excellent quality and variety,” the article said.

“In the juvenile section, some excellent work was displayed notably in map drawing (with) both the Humpybong and Scarborough State Schools submitting excellent maps.

“The feature of the show, said Mr R.J. Warren MLA, was the ladies’ work which amounted to almost 90 per cent of the total exhibits. It might also be said that if there had been no ladies work there had been no show. It was a disgrace to the men of Redcliffe that in comparison there was so little men’s work shown.”

Redcliffe Show founder Alderman Charles Webb.

Redcliffe Show in 2023

This year’s Redcliffe Show will feature traditional agricultural competitions and displays such as ring events, wood chopping, cookery, and arts and crafts while also offering the thrills of sideshow alley, rides and a night entertainment program to delight visitors of all ages.

And the wheelchair-accessible Ferris wheel is returning, so everyone can enjoy the show from great heights.

Secretary Vanessa McIntyre says there will also be the new Dinkum Dinosaurs puppet show/ventriloquist act, Eljay BMX stunt shows during the day and at night, Aussie FMX motocross stunt show, Trackskill V8 Ute show on Saturday night, fireworks and more.

Mini trotters will take to the main ring late Saturday afternoon and on Sunday morning.

Showgoers can see pig races and the Redcliffe Dog Show on Friday, cattle and poultry on Saturday morning, show jumping on Friday and Saturday, woodchopping on Saturday and Sunday (all day) and a car show on Saturday at noon.

Ring events will be staged on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and pavilions will be open all three days so visitors can wander through displays at their leisure.

This year, there will be new classes in the Fine Arts, Crafts and Photography competitions including Art in Bark, Decoupage, Leatherwork, Glass Art, and Beading.

There will be limited parking on the showgrounds site, but parking will be available at Redcliffe State High School and Pearson Park, with money raised donated to the school’s music department.

There will be a disability drop-off zone at the front of the showgrounds for patrons.

Entry is half price on Friday, with free entry for children on that day only.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit redcliffeshow.com