Wauchope Show Society Royal of the North

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WAUCHOPE SHOW SOCIETY LIMITED

One hundred and twenty years ago a move was made to establish a show. The first edition of the Port Macquarie News
and Hastings District Advocate, published in July 1882, gives a report of two letters refering to this organisation. The
combined effort of Port Macquarie and Wauchope resulted in the first show being held in 1884.

Wauchope branched out on it's own in 1910, and Port Macquarie disbanded at the beginning of World War 1.

The names of some of the first commmitteemen were: Hibbard, Spence, Ruthven, Buttler, McIvor, Lyons, Andrews, Hill,
McInherney, Bain, Marriott, O'Neill, Dick and others.

1884: The first Show was held on Jail Hill. The twisted fig tree on the corner of Stewart Street marks the spot where the
pedestrian entrance gate was situated.

THE FIRST WAUCHOPE SHOW COMMITTEE

Back Row: Messrs. Bill Bain, A.B. Campbell, Harry Trotter, George Calov, George Trotter,
E. Suters, Brigden, J. Warrell, M. Coombes.
Front Row: Messrs. Nicholas Cain, A. Wade, J. Rowsell (President) N. J. Lindsay, L. Summerville.

WAUCHOPE SHOW GROUND

8th June 1906: Mr. Duncan Bain, before leaving for Sydney for medical attention, made an offer to his friend,
Mr. N.J. Lindsay, to sell — for the sum of 5/- — an area of land for the Show ground.
The necessary papers were prepared and signed by D. Bain and W. Suters with C.E. Wright and N.J. Lindsay as witnesses.
Mr. George Andrews, Mr. George Campbell Linsdsay and Mr. William Suters were nominatted as Trustees.

6th July 1906: Mr Bain died in Sydney before the transfer was completed.

22nd May 1910: William Bain and Margret Campbell Bain, the executors, honoued the agreement and the land
was handed over to the Trustees. It consisted of 14 acres 1 rod of the 2,560 acre "Letterewe" Estate.
Thus, the Wauchope Pastorial & Agricultural Society came into being.

 2nd February 1953: Four blocks were purchased from the Bain Brothers for $400.

31st March 1960: At the 50th Annual Show, Bain Brothers handed over the deeds for additional land,
making the total area 18 acres.



Mr. Duncan Bain.