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Albion Park

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Dawes

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J R Graham, Manager & Secretary Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy Society 1938-1953

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Albion Park Agricultural Horticultural and Industrial Society

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NameAlbion Park Agricultural Horticultural and Industrial SocietyGeolocation^[1] Last edited by: Will Chittick

AddressAlbion Park Showground, Tongarra Road, Albion ParkDescriptionIn 1876, ploughing matches were held at Albion Park. In 1887 the staging of a provisional show was held in a paddock on land owned by John Russell, near the first Albion Park School in Terry Street, and this paved the way for an Agricultural and Horticultural show for Albion Park.

An inaugural meeting to establish an Agricultural and Horticultural Society was held at Condon’s Commercial Hotel Albion Park on 26th July 1887. Mayor William Mathie occupied the chair, a committee was formed and the name Albion Park Agricultural and Horticultural Association was chosen.

Mr. John Russell gave 8 acres of his land to the newly formed Association for a Showground, and the Association purchased a further three acres. Many notable breeders of cattle and descendants of pioneer family names were supporters and committee members over the years.

Mr. William Mathie was the first president. The first show at the new Showground was held on Thursday and Friday 18th and 19th January 1888 with 49 exhibitors in the dairy cattle section. Mr. John Fraser was second president from 1888 to 1894. The Albion Park Band was in attendance, and special trains transported patrons from Kiama and Wollongong. The railway was opened through Albion Park Rail in 1887. Miss. Selina Green walked from her home at Tongarra to attend the first show, and as Mrs. Selina Stubbs, became a noted lady rider at the shows.

The Albion Park Show is affectionately known as the ‘Biggest Little Show on the Coast’. Shellharbour Municipal Council assumed control of the ground in 1952, combining annual shows and sports grounds.

Two ovals were named after Town Clerk Des King as ‘The Des King Oval’ the main arena, and Mayor Keith Grey as ‘Keith Grey Oval’ western side of the showground.

Doug Blow noted the excellent cricket and hockey grounds at the ovals. Along with yearly entries of agriculture and horticultural exhibits, showgirls, ring events and cattle judging, the showground served as a training ground for the Tug-of-War Association, their team winning the National Championship at the Sydney Royal Show in 1972.

In 1989 Norm and Joyce Morgan received the Shellharbour Sports Award for service to the Tug-of-War Association. The Albion Park Bush Fire Brigade teams under Norm as judge and caller, trained at the showground, and competed at the Royal Easter Shows, the team winning the Taylor Woodrow Trophy.

Mrs. May Harris played the piano for practices and debutante balls for some 40 years prior to her death. Her son Claude would drive the show girls in his red MG to parade in the show ring.
The late Ray Carmody was quoted in ‘Through the Century’ publication by the AH&I Association, as the longest serving active committeeman replacing his father who had been a valuable member since 1936. Ray was chief cattle steward in 1952, treasurer in 1979 and a Life Member. Mrs. Betty Metcalfe was the first lady president of the Albion Park Show 2003 to 2006.

Person

Brownlee, John

Grey, Keith

Fryer, Henry Wesley

Armstrong, Thomas

Martin, Jack

Object

South Coast Register - Lew Stubbs

Building Blocks

Albion Park AH&I Association Through the Century

Event

Debutantes Ball

Albion Park Show

Family

Dawes

Place

Bob Graham Sportsfield

Albion Park Agricultural Hall, Albion Park Showground, c.1950.

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PersonBrownlee, JohnMartin, JackArmstrong, ThomasFryer, Henry WesleyGrey, KeithPlaceAlbion Park ShowgroundBob Graham SportsfieldLocalityAlbion ParkEventDebutantes BallAlbion Park ShowFamilyDawesRelated ItemJ R Graham, Manager & Secretary Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy Society 1938-1953

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Albion Park Agricultural Horticultural and Industrial Society