COPPER COAST SHOW

                                             A Brief History of the Kadina A.H. & F. Society Inc.

 

 The idea of a show it is believed to have been attributed to a discussion between two or three gentlemen,

 Mr. William Graham (who became stationmaster at Eyre’s Sand Patch on the Western Australia railway line),

 a Mr. Lang and Mr. F. W. Gurner.

 

1871 - The First Yorke Peninsula Agricultural Society Show

 

 The first Yorke Peninsula Agricultural Society Committee was formed after a number of advertisements

 were placed in the Wallaroo Times & Mining Journal in on the 30th August and 2nd September 1871.

 Elected officials were:

 President: Mr. Samuel. J. Higgs Jnr. Wallaroo Mines Superintendent;

 Vice President: Thomas Herne Hall 

 Secretary: Mr. William Graham 

 Treasurer: Mr. Thomas Mitchell.

 Conveners appointed were Thomas Mitchell, James Martin, William Graham, and Thomas Herbert.

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 On the 13th September 1871, the first Agricultural show was a ploughing match held on the property

 of Mr. William Graham, adjoining the property of Parnell and Bowman between Kadina and Wallaroo.

 

 It took only two weeks to promote and organise the first show and what a sight it must have been with

 the smoke billowing from the smelting stacks of Wallaroo to the West and the tall chimneys of the mine

 shafts of Wallaroo mines engines thickly grouped together to the east.

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 A ploughing match was held, cattle sheep and pigs could be heard across the grounds and the Kadina

 Brass Band played gay music throughout the day. Banners fluttered in the breeze from tents filled with

 all manner of garden specimens, farm, and dairy produce. There were numerous other exhibits, even a

 young emu which would have a been novelty if shown at an English fair.

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 At the dinner held that night in the Exchange Hotel, many toasts were celebrated as well as the work of

 those early volunteers who put together a large event in such a short time. 

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 In 1872 the YP Agricultural Society held its second show as well as another organisation that was

 formed that year; the Wallaroo and Doora Mines Gardening Society.

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 In 1873 these two societies who had similar members combined to form the Yorke Peninsula

 Agricultural, Horticultural & Floricultural Society. This was the first show to be opened by the Governor of

 South Australia.

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 In 1874 the new show society moved its show closer to the Kadina Township to land that it purchased

 bounded by Julia Terrace, Waring Street, and Christie Street.

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 A more permanent exhibition building was developed, however by 1882 the show had outgrown this site

 and a much larger site was purchased close to the railway station which became the current showground

 site.

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 In October 1883 the current Exhibition building had been completed and the show that year was opened

 again by the Governor of South Australia, who also opened the new railway line from Port Wakefield.

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 From 1884 the Kadina Showgrounds became the focal point of the community and many special events

 and all manner of sports were conducted on the showgrounds. The Show Society continued to flourish

 at the new location and in the late 1910’s was finally out of debt. It then built a grandstand for

 patrons, a bandstand and upgraded its animal pens.

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 In the 1920’s, trotting was a huge draw card to the showgrounds and annual trots were held at each

 show. In the 1930’s, as there were now five show societies on the Yorke Peninsula so the name was changed

 to the Kadina Agricultural, Horticultural & Floricultural Society Inc. In the 1940’s trotting moved away from

 the showgrounds but returned under lights in the showgrounds in the mid 1950’s until ceasing in 2006.

 

 Football, cricket, cycling, horse riding, pistol shooting, rollerskating and table tennis are among the groups

 who regularly used the showgrounds. Table tennis is the only remaining sport played at the showgrounds.

 The showgrounds were also used by many community organisations to run fairs, pageants and social events.

 

 The annual shows were a means of bringing the community together and as new ideas progressed in

 farming equipment and products it became the means to showcase these interests. The show society

 played a very important part in the development of Kadina and the surrounding district.

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 In 2021 the Kadina A. H & F Society celebrated a second milestone and turned 150 years old,

 becoming the oldest community organisation in Kadina. A book has been developed to tell the history

 of the Show Society through its 150 shows. Available from the Show Office Wednesdays between

 10 am to 12 noon or during show week. Cost is $40

 

 Today, the name of the annual show has been changed to"THE COPPER COAST SHOW" to reflect the whole of the Copper Coast

 Community and will continue to showcase the local community and that has become its motto.

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