FOLLOWING the great success of the Grand Juvenile Industrial Exhibition in November 1881 at the showground, manual arts and other school displays were featured in many of Bathurst's shows over the years. Our photo this week is to mark the 152nd Reliance Bank Royal Bathurst Show that was held over the weekend. The photo shows the Bathurst Public School exhibit, Manual Work, in April 1922.
Back then, several showmen, driving steam motor lorries and towing up to four wagons behind, arrived to set up their rides and stands. It took them nearly two days to get from Sydney to Bathurst.
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Other showmen had wagons pulled by draught horses.
The year 1922 marked the 58th Bathurst Agricultural, Horticultural and Pastoral Association show, which the committee advertised as "greater and better than ever".
The association was pleased with the number of entries, which had record numbers in all sections. It was also advertised as the "Premier Inland Show".
There were a great deal of amusements and recreation and the Bathurst District Band was to give a recital each night.
Several items were on the program for Thursday night, April 27, which included spring cart and horse (open class), spring cart and horse, best pony turnout, pair of buggy horses, pair of buggy ponies, amateur lady riders and lady rider in divided skirt. The official opening was held at noon.
After lunch was the dog parade, followed by the general parade. There were some trots before the ladies' high jump and, later, the thread the needle race and costume race.
The fine arts and home produce was judged the day before the show started. The judge was Mr C.B. Curnow, assisted by Miss Sarah Flanagan, who acted as the steward.
In the photography section, Mr J.J. Kelly received a first and a highly commended and Beavis Bros received a very highly commended and a highly commended.
In the landscape enlargement section, Miss E. Cullon collected a first prize. The single portrait enlargement went to JJ. Kelly, with Beavis Bros coming second. The landscape enlargement saw Beavis Bros given a highly commended.
The landscape enlargement for amateurs was taken out by Wilfred Mowle first and George Mellick second. In the collection of photographs, the prizes went to Wilfred Mowle.
The well-known and deservedly popular athlete and showman, Jimmy Sharman, had arrived in town with his big troupe of athletes. Bathurst's sporting fraternity could confidently look forward to seeing something special during show days.
By always giving his many patrons and the local and district boxers a fair and square deal, the enterprising showman had become well-established in Bathurst. He hoped the locals who appeared annually would come forward.
Sharman had many aspiring champions throughout the town in search of good boxers. He would pair up the different members of his troupe in weight, ranging from eight to eleven stone. The opening sections would begin on the first day of the show.
Another highlight was "Billy Hughes". The monster bullock was the subject of a continuous show on the grounds over the three days.
Billy Hughes was sold by Dalgety and Company for 400 guineas. He was much bigger than the well-known "Goliath" and undoubtedly the biggest bullock Australia had ever produced.
In addition to the biggest bull, there were also two Chinese midget ponies, dogs and monkeys.
The George Sorlie Musical and Dramatic Company established its new waterproof canvas theatre tent in Russell Street to entertain Bathurstians on the three evenings of the Bathurst Show.
For the first time in Bathurst, the company was to entertain its patrons by staging The Forbidden Marriage.
As in other years, the Bathurst Steam Laundry washed the show's tablecloths. Apparently, these tablecloths covered tables before items for display were laid out.