I know I work for council and so most people will think that I’m paid to say nice things about the district, but when you look around it’s amazing how much award winning produce is created here in the Toowoomba Region. I’ve come across pictures and articles about our award winning butters from our various butter factories, and our award winning beef. Well just to show that I’m not biased I came across these pictures this morning and just had to share them.
Image: Darling Downs District Exhibition 1918
Source: J. Donges
In 1918 the Darling Downs District Exhibit won 1st Prize at the Royal National Association Exhibition (Ekka to the young ones). One rather poetic journalist wrote:
age: One Farm Exhibit RNA Exhibition 1914
Source: J. Donges
“To the spring carnival its devotees pay their pilgrimage with unfailing regularity. The call has been heard in a thousand Western homes. It came to the grazier, the pastoralist, the farmer, and the rest of the staunch men on the land who are the very bone and sinew of the community, and they left the mustering and the plough, and with their families began the long trek to Brisbane. Now the city teems with the honest sunburnt faces, on which resolution, earnestness, and a cheerful hopefulness are stamped. It is a healthful tonic to the town dweller to come face to face with the people who produce the wealth of the community, and to examine the products of his toil.”
Image: One Farm Exhibit RNA Exhibition 1914
Source: J. Donges
When all is said and done, he is right that it is good for the “city folk” to see what is produced in an area. It’s Agricultural Tourism at its best. Have a good look at these displays, they’re not just saying “this is what we grow” it’s more a “this is what we do and you can too if you visit us”. We’ve got fruit and veg, home craft markets, equestrian activities, wineries, and hunting (did you notice the furs?) just to name some of the events that can be found throughout our region. The Chairman at the 1918 Show, Mr John Macdonald (as in the John Macdonald Grandstand), described the District Exhibitions as “the shop windows of the State, and helped to induce people to settle in Queensland.”
So next time you’ve got a lazy weekend why not have a look around our great region, there’s something here for everyone.
Image: One Farm Exhibit Toowoomba Show 1920
Source: J. Donges
Image: Oakey District Exhibition 1927
Source: J. Donges
Image: Oakey District Exhibition 1927
Source: J. Donges
Image: Oakey District Exhibition 1928
Source: J. Donges
Image: Oakey District Exhibition 1928
Source: J. Donges
Image: Oakey District Exhibition 1931
Source: J. Donges
