Royal Easter Show Flashback: 1997 (Last Show at Moore Park) - Part I

The Royal Easter Show commences at Sydney Olympic Park on April 8, running for 12 days until April 19. 2022 is the Bicentennary of the founding of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales, who oversee the Royal Easter Show.

Apart from the Bicentennary, Princess Anne will offically open the Royal Easter Show, the first time a member of the British Royal Family has opened an Easter Show since 1988. Queen Elizabeth II is the only reigning British Monarch to officially open a Royal Easter Show which she did in 1970.

I usually devote the monday before the show begins to look back at the Easter Show from 25 years ago. 

This year, I have decided to split the Royal Easter Show Flashback into two parts given that the year in focus (1997) significant for two reasons:

1. The 175th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Walea
2. Last Easter Show to be held at Moore Park before relocating to Homebush in 1998.

This week, I will focus on the key facts and showbags. Next week, my focus will be on key events and feature articles.

 

Source: Royal Agricultural Society of NSW. 1997. "Come and bid the old showground a fond farewell. The Sunday Telegraph, March 30: 17.

Date: March 21 to April 5, 1997

As this was the last Easter Show to be held at Moore Park, the show was extended from 12 days to 16 days to enable as many Sydneysiders as possible to attend.

Admission

Adults - $14

Concession (including Pensioners) - $10

Children - $7

Free entry for children under four years of age.

For 2022, general admission prices are as follows (including return public transport):

Aduls - $45

Concession (including Pensioners) - $35

Children - $28

Discounts apply for "early bird" tickets and other ticket options are available.

Transport

Showlink tickets to cover return rail and bus travel were available.

Rail commuters were advised to change at Central for special bus services operating to the Showgrounds. Special buses also operated from Bondi Junction, Wynyard and Circular Quay Railway Stations. 

Showgoers could also travel via normal services operating along the ANZAC Parade corridor. 

Many chose to drive and if parked in Moore Park paid $7 for the privilege. This was the final year that driving enmasse to the Easter Show would be accepted. The relocation to Sydney Olympic Park would see even greater emphasis on public transport. 

Showbags

This year Showbags range from $2 through to $35. Like today, showbags will cover all budgets so that everyone can treat themselves to what is one of the great experiences of attending the Easter Show. Personally, its cheaper to go and buy the items in the showbag at a supermarket but there is an experience in trying out what is in the bag, especially if you have not tried it before. 

Twenty Five years ago, it was the same though it may have appeared simplier to make a decision about what to choose. Some bags today have multiple versions to choose from based on what you seek e.g. There are at least two Bluey showbags to choose from. Even with bags, there are different bags for different prices e.g. Cadbury Caramell ($5) or Cadbuury Caramello Superbag ($10). It is like a value meal at McDonalds - "Do you wish to up-size?"

Below are some of the showbag advertisements for 1997 as sourced from the Royal Easter Show preview guides that were featured in The Sunday Telegraph and The Sun Herald on March 16 1997.

Bensons

Now known as showbags.com.au, their offerings tend to be a benchmark in terms of price and quality. Cadbury ($5) is a consistent bestseller. In 2022, the price is $6 but notice that the chocolates have gone from regular bars to bite size bars. The closest to a "megabag" from the Cadbury range was Crunchie at $10. 

Note some of the popular showbags from TV and Film at that time - Ren & Stimpy, Goosebumps (Their are experiencing a revival with their books) and Flipper.  

 

Gag Magic

In 1997, they offered  "Gag Magic". Price has more than doubled from $7 to $20 since.

The "Army" bag is still available but now costs $30 with a spinoff bag - "Army Action" available for the same price. 

In addition, Wild West and Dollykins are available ($30 each)

Mega Showbags

The Mega Sumo Showbag was their feature bag which sadly is no longer available. Note that they sold a "Bye Bye" bag to mark the end of the showgrounds at Moore Park. The "Mega Bags" have expanded their range since.

 

Coca Cola

At $10, this was at the upper end in terms of pricing, but is one of the most consistent in value for money. There are two bags on offer in 2022 - One for $15 and one for $25 but the emphasis has shifted from food and drink towards Coke branded merchandise itself.

Nestle

Bertie Beetle was (and still is) $2. Remember there was only one choice at that time unlike today.

 

Triple M Showbag

Like Coca Cola, Triple M at $10 also included a backpack along with Triple M merchandise, can of Coke a Cola and Bliss Bombs. Also ride vouchers were provided. Unfortuantely for Triple M fans, there is no showbag on offer this year.

 

As mentioned above, next week is a focus on feature articles about the show itself. Tune in for Part II as we relive some of the highlights.

Property Advert of the Week: Baulkham Hills Land Release (1972)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1972 promoting a land release at Castle Hill. Going by the map, it appears that the land release was in fact in Baulkham Hills. The land release appears to be concentrated around Arndill Avenue/Templeton Crescent. The cost of land was just $9500 (equivalent to approximately $130 000 in today's money according to the RBA Inflation Calculator)

Source: Midland Realty. Pty. Ltd. 1972. "Castle Hill Land Release" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, April 22: 48.

1970: Bondi - "It used to be the best place in the world" - (The Sun Article)

 

Source: Willey, K. 1970. Bondi - It used to be the best place in the world. The Sun, March 6: 4 & 8.

At the start of the 1970's, Bondi did not have the reputation that it holds today. Today, you will hear people say "It's the best place in the world" and Bondi Beach has a very good reputation overseas as one of the great beaches of the world. The Sun published an article on March 6, 1970 focusing on the decline of Bondi. Local resident Noel Balzer shared his recollections of growing up in the suburb and what it was now. 

The "old pine [Norfolk Pine] trees are dead", "garbage floating in the water", dumping of rubbish by Waverley Council into the ocean, litter in the streets, poor maintainence of public amenities and poorly maintained buildings were identified as some of the concerns raised by Balzer. He recalled some of the characters that made up the suburb and was concerned about the anti-social behaviour of New Zealanders that resided in the suburb. 

Bondi would contrinue to struggle through the 1970's and 1980's. The 1980's saw a focus on promoting the suburb to international tourists which increased as the decade progressed. High levels of beach pollution had made the beach increasingly unsafe to swim in, causing illness among swimmers and surfers as they swam in water contaminated with raw sewage and litter. Local residents could smell the stench from their homes. The 1990's saw the completion of the Deep Water Ocean Outfall which improved water quality for swimmers at Bondi. The suburb also became a tourist destination as international hotels opened in Campbell Parade.

The Norfolk Pines have returned, with the first trees planted in 1991, and today are becoming noticable as they slowly grow and mature.

Despite the revival of Bondi, it has come at some cost which I think would not impress Noel Balzer. House prices began rising in the 1980's, which meant that the working class residents which dominated the suburb could no longer afford to remain in the area. The median price of a home in Bondi is just $4 million, when compared with around $1.6 million for a typical Sydney suburb. Rising rents for shopfronts along Campbell Parade has seen many of the essential businesses that serve the suburb leave.

Property Advert of the Week: Museum Gardens, Parramatta (1995)

Below is a 1995 newspaper advertisement for Museum Gardens, Parramatta which was built and marketed by Meriton Apartments. It is located on the northern banks of the Parramatta River. 

In 1995, David Jones was still located in Church Street, but one year later, relocated to Westfield Parramatta. During the 2010's, Meriton redeveloped the site as Altitude Parramatta which was completed in 2017.  

Source: Meriton Premier Apartments. 1995. "Museum Gardens" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 24: 95. 

1998: Newington is unveiled

In 1998, the suburb of Newington was launched by NSW Premier Bob Carr. The suburb was built to act as the Olympic Village as part of Sydney hosting the 2000 Olympic Games and is reflected by the names given to streets within the suburb.

10 000 Olympic Athletes and officals lived in the village during the 2000 Olympic Games. Following the Olympic Games, they were converted into private housing. 

Around half of the 2000 dwellings in Newington were built prior to the Olympic Games. Around 250 dwellings were sold to the public while around 870 dwellings were used for the Olympic Games. The remaining dwellings (Around 1000) were built after the Olympic Games.

Newington was developed by Lend Lease and Mirvac. 

Currently, the suburb is home to around 5800 people (2016 Census). 

Source: Parsons, K. & Hilferty, T. 1998. "Olympic suburb unveiled". The Daily Telegraph, October 22: 3 (Final Edition).

Property Advert of the Week: Neeta Homes Ad (1972)

 Below is a Neeta Homes newspaper advertisement from 1972.

Source: Neeta Homes. 1972. "$2,000 deposit on a brand new Neeta home" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, April 22:29.

1998: Sydney CBD-Parramatta Fast Train Proposal

In 1998, Lend Lease proposed to build a fast train line that would have enabled commuters to travel from the Sydney CBD to Parramatta in only 12 minutes. This would be nearly 50 % faster than the proposed Western Sydney metro connecting the two centres or would shave at least fifteen minutes off a standard rail trip. It also proposed that the line would also go through to Penrith. For those commuting from Penrith to Sydney, travel time would be reduced by two thirds to just 22 minutes. 

In addition, it was planned that either a light rail line or monorail line would link Parramatta with Castle Hill in just ten minutes.

 

Source: Humphries, D. & Doherty, L. "City to Parramatta in 10 minutes: transport for a fast track future". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 5: 4. 

While it did not eventuate, the issue of fast rail has lasted through to the present day. Note that there is a possible option of connecting the Western Sydney Airport with Parramatta and the Sydney CBD. It is not off the table altogether.

Property Advert of the Week: 3 Bedroom Apartments for sale - Maclaren, North Sydney (1995)

Below is a 1995 newspaper advertisement for the Maclaren Apartment complex in Maclaren Street, North Sydney. It focused on three bedroom apartments that were "penthouse style" that were on offer from $540 000 to $685 000.

 

Source: Winten Property Group. "Maclaren" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 24: 80.