The Powerhouse acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the ancestral homelands upon which our museums are situated. We respect their Elders, past, present and future and recognise their continuous connection to Country.

Sydney Royal Easter Show

View Objects
The sweet anticipation of showbags. The pungent smell of livestock. The strength and speed of the woodchoppers. The colour and racket of Sideshow Alley. Visiting the Sydney Royal Easter Show has been a rite of passage for almost two centuries. Founded in 1822, with the aim of improving the state’s produce, the Agricultural Society of NSW held the first Agricultural Show in the following year. It was an opportunity for farmers and manufacturers to display their goods, compete for a medal or …

91/263 Banner, side show, Clown, paint on canvas, Australia, 1950-1959
Clown side show banner from the 1950's
1950-1959
85/17-13 Certificate, First Prize for Woodwork, cardboard, presented to Charles Scarth, Royal Easter Show, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1966
First Prize certificate from Royal Easter Show awarded to Charles Scarth
1966
N12461 Medal, Cootamundra Pastoral Horticultural Agricultural & Industrial Association / Spring Show / for two tooth merino ewe never shorn grass fed, silver, Evan Jones Mint, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1883
Medal for the Cootamundra Pastoral Horticultural Agricultural & Industrial Association
1883
A10099 Program, 'Woodchopping and Sawing', Royal Easter Show, paper / metal, The Harbour Press for the Royal Agricultural Society, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1939
'Woodchopping and Sawing' program from the Royal Easter Show
1939
91/261 Banner, side show, 'A View of the Show', paint on canvas, Australia, 1950-1959
A View of the Show' side show banner from the 1950's
1950-1959
A6399-39 First prize certificate (1 of 40), point lace, awarded to Miss Lulu Lee, cardboard, Temora Pastoral, Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Association, Temora, New South Wales, Australia, 1909
First prize certificate awarded by Temora Pastoral, Agricultural, Horticultural & Industrial Association
1909
N15845 Medal, first prize, awarded to Andrew Murray of Bannockburn Station, gold, J Bridges Wool Show, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1883
Medal awarded to Andrew Murry by the J Bridges Wool Show
1883
N21281-2 Medals (1 of 2), Royal Easter Show, wood chopping contest, metal, Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Stokes, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, awarded to Tom Kirk, 1948
Royal Agricultural Society of NSW wood chopping contest medal
1948
91/269 Banner, side show, Wild West Show, paint on canvas, maker unknown, Australia, 1950-1959
'Wild west show' side show banner from the 1950's
1950-1959
A6399-36 First prize certificate (1 of 40), lace point, awarded to Miss Lulu Lee, card, for Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, grand annual exhibition, printed by R. T. Kelly, Rowe Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1908
First prize certificate awarded by Royal Agricultural Society of NSW
1908
F3186 Wool specimen, stud ewe, bred by Sidney E Roberts, Tiverton, near Young, New South Wales, Australia, 1893
Wool sample from a stud ewe
1893
N20081 Medal, first prize, awarded to Mr Joseph Nicholson, copper alloy, Port Phillip Farmers Society, Victoria, Australia, 1857
Medal awarded by Port Phillip Farmers' Society to Mr Joseph Nicholson
1857
96/44/1-5/4/162/2 Negative, black and white, Grand Parade at Royal Easter Show, black and white, for the book 'Sydney, A Book of Photographs', 35mm acetate film, David Mist, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1969
Negative of the Grand Parade at the Royal Easter Show photographed by David Mist
1969
A6399-26 First prize certificate (1 of 40), specimen drawn thread, awarded to Miss Lulu Lee, paper, Millthorpe Agriculture & Pastoral Association, annual show, printed by Advocate, Millthorpe, Orange, New South Wales, Australia, 1910
First prize certificate awarded by Millthorpe Agriculture & Pastoral Association
1910
96/44/1-5/4/161/2 Negative, colour, woodchopping at Royal Easter Show, for the book 'Sydney, A Book of Photographs', 6cm acetate film, David Mist, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1969
Negative of woodchopping at the Royal Easter Show photographed by David Mist
1969
N21281-1 Medals (1 of 2), Royal Easter Show, wood chopping contest, metal, Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Stokes, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, awarded to Tom Kirk, 1948
Royal Agricultural Society of NSW wood chopping contest medal awarded to Tom Kirk
1948
P3390 Showbag, 'Lifesavers', for the Sydney Royal Easter Show, paper / string, made by Wilmers & Gladwin Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, c. 1950
'Lifesavers' showbag from the Sydney Royal Easter Show
c. 1950
N21281-1 Medals (1 of 2), Royal Easter Show, wood chopping contest, metal, Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Stokes, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, awarded to Tom Kirk, 1948
Royal Agricultural Society of NSW wood chopping contest medal awarded to Tom Kirk
1948
H10226 Pit saw, owned and used by world champion axeman Tom Kirk, made in Sweden
Pit saw made in Sweden owned by Tom Kirk
A6896-10 Doll tableau, 'Mermaid in underwater cave', fabric / plastic / shells, designed and made by Euronwy (Rene) Wilson, Cammeray, New South Wales, Australia, 1965 and first prize ribbon from Sydney Royal Easter Show, velvet, awarded to Euronwy (Rene) Wilson, Cammeray, New South Wales, Australia,
"Mermaid in underwater cave" doll tableau
P3397 Showbag, 'Milkybar Kid', for the Sydney Royal Easter Show, paper, Reed Flexible Packaging for Nestle, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1960s
'Milkybar Kid' showbag from the Sydney Royal Easter Show
P3448 Lithograph, 'Portraits of a Prize Ram and Ewe', Dean & Munday lithos., London, England, c. 1828 (OF).
Lithograph 'Portraits of a Prize Ram and Ewe'
c. 1828
Image unavailable
Axe won by Tom Kirk for woodchopping
A6896-1 Doll tableau 'Sleeping Beauty' and first prize ribbon Sydney Royal Easter Show 1960, timber/glass/fabric, made by Euronwy (Rene) Wilson, Cammeray, New South Wales, Australia, 1956
"Sleeping Beauty" doll tableau