Royal Easter Show Flashback: 1998 (First Show at Sydney Olympic Park) - Part II

Last week, I posted the first entry in my series on the 1998 Royal Easter Show which was held for the first time at Sydney Olympic Park focusing on admission fees, transport and showbags.

This week, I focus on selected feature articles from the first seven days of the show while next week, I will focus on the Easter long weekend and the second week of the show.

On 3 April 1998, the gates opened for the first day. Below the afternoon edition, (second "F" edition) of The Daily Telegraph reported that the showgrounds were "swarming with people" when all exhibitions and rides opened at 9:30am. A record 42 500 people attended day one - the biggest opening day attendance for a non-school holiday period. This was the first of several attendance records to be broken. 

Being a test event for Sydney's Olympic Transport network, glitches were reported such as showgoers left stranded at bus routes en route from Dee Why for up to one hour and one bus driver needing directions from passengers. The Sydney Morning Herald (4 April) reported that around eighty per cent of showgoers arrived by public transport. 

Back at the former Showgrounds at Moore Park,  Sue Sim and her daughter Greta Bromwich, thought they were at the right venue. 

 

Source: Sweetman, K. 1998. "The right address, just a year". The Daily Telegraph, April 4: 5. 

The Sydney Morning Herald was also positive in their coverage. The only negatives arose from those who chose to drive. 

Source: Macey, R. 1998. "The scariest ride of them all - your car". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 4: 6. 

Source: Hoy, A. 1998. "Four in five arrive aboard a train or bus". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 4: 7. 

The good coverage continued especially public transport usage and large crowds swamping the new showgrounds.

 

Source: Gora, B. 1998. "Public transport copes with numbers easily". The Sunday Telegraph, April 5: 14-15. 

Sunday 5 April saw a record 90 000 (estimate), breaking records for attendance on Day 3. Below is a feature on food offerings, but "junk food" still outweighs healthy foods. I see more "junk" on offer.

Source: Power, L. 1998. "Crowds go for healthy option". The Daily Telegraph, April 6: 17. 

Source: Hoy, A. 1998. "Transport triumph lifts Show to record". The Sydney Morning Herald, April 6: 6. 

One criticism was the lack of shade and seating.

Source: Trute, P. 1998. "More seats and shade for visitors". The Daily Telegraph, April 7: 19.

On April 8, the show was officially opened by Governor-General Sir William Deane and was followed by the first Grand Parade.

 

 

Source. Anon. 1998. "Class cattle a parade of champions". The Daily Telegraph, April 9: 15. 

Next week, I will present by concluding entry in this series focusing on the second week of the show.

Related Entry

Royal Easter Show Flashback: 1998 (First Show at Sydney Olympic Park) - Part I