Brisbane Exhibition Ground

The Brisbane Exhibition Ground (also known as the RNA Showgrounds and the Ekka Grounds), is a showground established in Brisbane during 1875 especially for Ekka (formally titled the Royal Queensland Show). The Exhibition ground is owned and operated by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland. The Ekka is a show held at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground over two weeks in August each year. Because the Ekka is only held over a two-week period each year, other displays and exhibitions are held at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground during the remainder of the year.

The Brisbane Exhibition Ground was also the site chosen for the people of Brisbane to welcome Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, when they visited Australia during 1954. It was Queen Elizabeth's first visit to Australia as Queen.

In 2009 it will be home to the Soundwave Festival.

Sport has also been a major feature at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground. Sports played at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground have included:

* Baseball
The Australian Baseball League team Brisbane Bandits was based at the ground during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

* Cricket
28 first-class cricket matches were played between 1893 and 1931, including 2 Tests and 13 Sheffield Shield matches. The first ever Queensland Sheffield Shield game was played at the ground, with Queensland losing to long time arch-enemies New South Wales.
The Test against England in 1928/29 was the first Test played in Brisbane and was the debut of Don Bradman who scored 18 and 1.
The 3rd Test of the series against the West Indian cricket team in 1930/31 was the last first-class fixture at the ground. Brisbane's Exhibition Ground had a short lifespan, staging only two Tests and a couple of dozen first-class matches before being completely replaced by the Gabba. The venue was home of local agricultural shows, and when Brisbane was finally granted a Test in 1928-29, it was held at the Exhibition Ground as it was a natural amphitheatre and so could accommodate more people. However, revenue from that match, and the Test which followed in 1930-31, was disappointing, largely because of the numbers who got in for free by using their agricultural society badges, and the Queensland Cricket Association moved down the road to the Gabba. The venue is no longer used for cricket and instead hosts the annual RNA show which attracts over 500,000 people, as well as speedway and equestrian events. It is situated in the suburb of Bowen Hills and is very close to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.

* Rugby League
Rugby League was played at the Exhibition Grounds before the QRL moved to Lang Park.
The Brisbane Exhibition Ground hosted many International, State and club games.

* Tennis
In 1895 the first inter-colonial tennis match took place with Queensland playing New South Wales.

* Cycling
In 1896 the ground was used for cycle racing.

* Rugby Union
It hosted one of the most controversial rugby union games in 1971 when Australia took on South Africa - the game was switched from Ballymore because it was easier to erect barricades at the Exhibition Ground.

* Australian rules football
QFL games were played at the ground prior to, and just after, World War I.
The ground hosted the 1950 Interstate Carnival, won by the Victorian Football League (VFL) side.
The ground was also host to a VFL premiership match, Essendon vs Geelong, as part of Round 8, 1952. All VFL matches that week were moved to country and interstate venues in an effort to spread interest in the game. Originally to be played on a Saturday afternoon, the match was rescheduled due to torrential rain. Essendon (23.17) defeated Geelong (12.14) by 69 points the following Monday night in the first official VFL match to be played under floodlights.

* Motorsport
For many years the Showgrounds was home to the family of dirt circuit racing categories, Sprintcars, Supersedans, Speedcars and Midgets headlining many a Saturday night show during the summer months. The venue faded in the 1990s as Archerfield Speedway grew in prominence and increasing complaints from local residents about noise.

References

External sources

* [http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/cultural_heritage/heritage_places/ekka_history/ Ekka history What’s the Ekka?] - and the Brisbane Exhibition Ground
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