9 December 1839: meeting chaired by David McLaren to ratify Society rules. Among those present were George Stevenson, Dr. John Knott (c. 1806 – 21 October 1850) and William Smillie.
28 October 1840: Show Society founded with McLaren its first President.[1]
6 December 1840: first Show held in the grounds of Fordham's Hotel followed by the first Annual General Meeting of the South Australian Agricultural Society.
2 March 1841: second Show (though it has been reckoned the first),[1] also held behind Fordham's Hotel.
16 February 1842: third Show, held at South Australian Company's schoolroom on North Terrace opposite Government House, between Gawler Place and Stephens Place. The Society had by this time been reorganised as the South Australian Agricultural and Horticultural Society.
17 March 1843 (Friday): held at John Bentham Neales' Adelaide Auction Company's rooms on the corner of King William Street. Judges included John Ridley for wheat.[2] The Show was made possible by donations from sponsors co-opted by John Morphett, as the Society had no funds.[2]
14 February 1844 (Wednesday): held in the Parklands near the Frome Road bridge.[4]
April 1844 a breakaway group calling itself the "Agricultural Society of South Australia", formed by Secretary J. Wotherspoon, began conducting separate meetings with the intention of taking over. The situation was resolved at a special meeting.[5]
4 September 1844: first Cattle Show, held at Samuel Stocks, jun.' yards in Grenfell Street.
14 February 1845 (Friday): the wine heavily criticised but other produce judged as excellent.[6]
19,20 February 1846 (Thursday, Friday): the Show and Fair now over two days.[7]
11,12 February 1847 Thursday, Friday
10,11 February 1848 Thursday, Friday
22,23 February 1849 Thursday, Friday (this and later Midsummer Shows were held on the third Thursday of February and the Fair on the Friday. A Dinner was held on the Friday evening. The choice of dates was influenced by the need for moonlight.) From around this time the RAHS AGM was held the following Friday.
21,22 February 1850 Thursday, Friday
13,14 February 1851 Thursday, Friday
26,27 February 1852 Thursday, Friday
17,18 February 1853 Thursday, Friday
23,24 February 1854 Thursday, Friday
15,16 February 1855 Thursday, Friday
7 November 1855 Wednesday Flower and Fruit Show
28,29 February 1856 Thursday, Friday
18,19 February 1857 Wednesday
18,19 February 1858 Thursday, Friday
1858 publication of Farm and Garden, price sixpence, edited gratis by E. W. Andrews. The first issue was reproduced on Page 3 in the Register of 29 December 1857[8] which periodical published excerpts. The last issue was for June 1863.
17,18 February 1859 Thursday, Friday
11 August 1859?? Ploughing match when was the first?,
29 February,1 March 1860 Wednesday, Thursday
4 October 1860 Thursday Stock (draught stock, blood horse stock, cattle, sheep, swine) show at cattle yards (the first?)
21 February 1861 Thursday was there a Fair on the Friday?
15 August 1861 Thursday Ploughing Match and exhibition of farm equipment
8 October 1861 Tuesday Stock show
17 December 1861 Annual reaping match (the first?)
13 February 1862 Thursday Annual Show
16 October 1862 Thursday Stock show
30 December 1862 reaping match
12 February 1863 Annual show
6 August 1863 ploughing match. At this stage free entry to all shows. Prizes for Annual Show largely from Government grants.
15 October 1863 Stock show
25 February 1864 Annual show at Exhibition Building in North Parklands. Special trains at reduced fares.
6 October 1864 Cattle Show
23 February 1865 Annual Show first with entry fees? gate takings amounted to £150 11s. 10d.
10 August 1865 ploughing, and as usual show of horse stock and implements
12 October 1865 Cattle Show
22 February 1866 Annual show gate receipts £260 10s.
9 August 1866 ploughing match
11 October 1866 Cattle show
21 February 1867 Annual show
22 August 1867 ploughing match
7–9 November 1867 Thursday to Saturday; at the instigation of secretary Ebenezer Ward,[9] a "Grand General Show" was held during visit of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. 70 gold and 100 silver medals produced by Adelaide jeweller J. M. Wendt.[10]
5 March 1868 Thursday, "Grand Annual Exhibition" (i.e. Annual Show) raised £177
April 1868, Prince Alfred accepted the role of Patron of the Society, which then became the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia
7 August 1868 Thursday, ploughing match and show of entire horses at south-east Parklands spoiled by wintry weather
29 October 1868 Thursday, Spring Show: moderate attendance due to sultry weather. Society heavily (£1,200) in debt.
25 February 1869 Thursday "Grand Annual Exhibition" highly successful
19 August 1869 Thursday ploughing match and show of horses at Hughes' farm, Greenhill Road
14 October 1869 Thursday October Show rivaling February show in popularity[11]
16,17 February 1870 Wednesday, Thursday "Grand Annual Exhibition" first two-day Show
11 August 1870 ploughing match - losing popularity
29 September 1870 Exhibition becoming very like the February Exhibition
23,24 February 1871
31 August 1871 additional show chiefly for sheep (between lambing and shearing seasons) but also horses birds fruit veges and flowers
26 October 1870 first shearing comp.
January 1872 first wine show judging
21,22 February 1872 Annual Show
22 August 1872 "interim show", ploughing match following day
16,17 October 1872 shearing again and horse and buggy trials
20,21 February 1873 Thursday, Friday
20,21 August 1873 stud sheep, horses, cattle prize Silver Cup made by Henry Muirhead (c. 1812 – 23 February 1880)
30,31 October 1873 show
25,26 February 1874 show Wednesday, Thursday (the most popular of the three)
27 August 1874 ploughing match following day
19 November 1874 Thursday. Late. By this time Vic and NSW are holding only one annual Show
18,19 February 1875
26 August 1875 stock show now includes Angoras, Alpacas, Llamas, deer, and goats in milk; ploughing match next day
11 November 1875 Thursday
24 February 1876 reverted to one-day show
6 September 1876 livestock etc, ploughing next day
22 December 1876 trial of reapers, mowers and winnowers at Buck's Head Hotel, Stepney
22 February 1877 low attendance due to rain
6 September 1877
20 December 1877 trial of agricultural machinery, becomes annual event
27,28 February 1878 return to 2-day Show
12 September 1878 part of Hospital paddock leased for showing horses
February 1879 no February show?
18 September 1879
26 February 1880 Thursday
16 September 1880
24 February 1881
14,15 September 1881 Wednesday, Thursday joint Exhibition with entrepreneurs Joubert & Twopeny
1,2 March 1882
13,14 September 1882
8 March 1883
13,14 September 1883
6 March 1884
24,25 September 1884
23 October 1884 trial of hay harvesting machines
5 March 1885
17–19 September 1885
11–13 March 1886 Thursday, Friday, Saturday horses in action
16,17 September 1886
3–5 March 1887 as per 1886
21 June 1887 Grand Exposition
14–17 September 1887 extended from two to four days due to unprecedented public interest, as it fell within Jubilee Exhibition.
1 March 1888
25,26 October 1888 harvesting machinery trial at Salisbury
29 November 1888 Summer show held at Adelaide Town Hall, very poor turnout
7 March 1889 Autumn Show at old show grounds
12,13 September 1889
7 November 1889 harvesting machinery at Salisbury again - special train
6,7 March 1890
19 September 1890 first annual dinner
18–20 September 1890 Spring Show. when did half holiday start for Show?
no November show
19–21 March 1891
17–19 September 1891
10–12 March 1892
15–17 September 1892 fewer spectators maybe due to increased admission
2,3 March 1893
27 July 1893 Pruning match at Mrs Holbrook's vineyard, Bankside
14–16 September 1893
1–3 March 1894
13–15 September 1894
31 December Jubilee Exhibition Building and grounds rented to RAHS for 21 years at £100 p.a.
17 January 1895 winnower field trial
28 February – 2 March 1895 first show at Jubilee Exhibition Building
23 August 1895 annual ploughing and digging match poor turnout
12–14 September 1895 stock etc show
27–29 February 1896 (in future first Thursday, no night)
15 July 1896 pruning match
1 August 1896 sheepdog trial at Morphettville racecourse
17–19 September 1896
4 March 1897
9–11 September 1897
3–5 March 1898 fewer visitors
20 July 1898 pruning match
8–10 September 1898
2–4 March 1899
14–16 September 1899
1–3 March 1900
13–15 September 1900
Twentieth Century
7–9 March 1901
12–14 September 1901
6–8 March 1902 Exhibition grounds extended to Bowling Club, Destitute Asylum and Police barracks[12] "between powder magazine and Adelaide Club's bowling green bordering on Victoria Avenue" where? ..south side abutting the railway line ...[13]
11–13 September 1902
28 November 1902 harvester trials
5–7 February 1903 now mostly machinery and horses
26 February 1903 Egg laying competition at Magill Boys' Reformatory commenced, extending over a year.[14] The State Children's Council, led by Miss Spence, Lady Bonython and Miss Clark, dismayed at the disruption to the work of the Reformatory caused by the experiment, vetoed its continuance for a further year.[15]
10–12 September 1903
3–5 February 1904
7–10 September new prizes: Angas Cups for draught stallion, Merino ewe from bequest of J. H. Angas. New grandstand, sheep pavilion. Secretary Creswell credited with increased patronage, interest, profit (£1,000) now four days.[16]
2–4 March 1905
13–16 September
1,2,3 March 1906
12–15 September
7–9 March 1907
April conclusion of third egg-laying contest and last conducted by RA&HS. Future contests conducted by Utility Poultry Club.[17]
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