The ever-popular Royal Darwin Show celebrates its 70th birthday this year as the Territory’s oldest and largest community event. Held over three days annually (20-24 July) the Show continues to offer a diverse mix of tradition, entertainment and education for show-goers, young and young at heart.
The Darwin Show’s long history can be tracked all the way back to 1905 when the Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Society held its exhibition in the old Town Hall. However, it was not until 1963, when her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited Darwin and was presented a bouquet of orchids during the opening ceremony, that the Royal Darwin Show was born.
The Show is again expecting crowds of around 50,000 between-22-24 July with 1000s of exhibits, displays and performances, to celebrate the local produce, plants and animals, arts, cultures and everything else that makes the Territory great.
The Royal Darwin Show is proud to feature Indigenous culture and visitors can again expect to see the unique Territory categories of Traditional Spear Throwing and Fire Lighting, which provide an important opportunity to showcase traditions and skills handed down over generations by elders.
Aboriginal Spear throwers and dancers
With only a mini virtual show possible in 2019, the 70th Royal Darwin Show is expecting a full showcase of quality entries into the Show’s many prestigious competitions. The cattle yards will again be overflowing with some of the best stud and commercial cattle that the Territory has to offer.
Champion stud bull
Championship Dog Shows and Trials are always a big draw card and are again expected to have representation from most states and Territories. The Royal Darwin Show is one of the most prestigious events on the equestrian calendar and is one of the largest sections with 100s of individual classes.
Horticultural Hall will feature a wide range of Territory grown produce and plants. There will be demonstrations and gardening tips from experts to grow tropical herbs and veggies, identify diseases and more. Rotary Hall will be filled with diverse creative arts, crafts and hotly contested cookery entries coming far and wide to compete for a Royal Show award.
The Show offers a colourful range of exhibits, and no Royal Darwin Show would be complete without a Beaut Ute competition, paying homage to the ute’s integral part in the Territory’s history. Visitors should also look out for the popular Territory made Fishing Lure competition.
The Show’s bandstand has a long tradition of supporting budding acts and entertainers, school groups and clubs, providing an important platform for local performers to gain exposure and grow their skills, along with the opportunity to enter and represent the Territory in national music talent quests.
Crowd favourites such as Sideshow Alley and baby animals will again feature, along with sensational circus acts and performers, stilt walkers, sand and chainsaw wood sculptors, a celebrity baking challenge, performance cars and bikes, the Grand Parade and fireworks finale.
Royal Darwin Show CEO Cherry Court says the Show couldn’t have gone on for 70 years without the amazing support of 1000s of volunteers, supporters and strong ongoing community participation.