Sydney Showground (Moore Park)

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Former Sydney Showground
nickname =


caption = Sydney Showground, Moore Park
location = Moore Park, Sydney.
coordinates = coord|33|53|36|S|151|13|37.22|E|type:landmark
broke_ground = 1882
opened = 1882
renovated = 1938
expanded = 1902-1919 Soutwards, 1920-1937 Northwards.
closed = 1997
demolished = 1998 re-purposed
owner = New South Wales State Government
operator = News Corporation, Fox Studios Australia
surface = Grass
construction_cost =
architect =
former_names =
tenants =
Sydney Royal Easter Show

seating_capacity = 40,000 (originally, 90,000 (1970s)The former Sydney Showground at Moore Park was the site of the Sydney Royal Easter Show in New South Wales, Australia from 1882 until 1997, when the Show was moved to the new Sydney Showground at Homebush Bay, which was built for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. The old site was then leased to News Corporation on a 99 year lease from the Government of New South Wales to be used for the site of Fox Studios Australia, and is now part of the The Entertainment Quarter. [http://www.eqmoorepark.com.au/]

History

In 1811, Governor Macquarie proclaimed Sydney’s second common, an area of 1,000 acres (4 km²). In 1882, The Agricultural Society established its grounds within the site, which henceforth became the venue of the Royal Easter Show -- an annual expression of national pride in Australian produce and industry.

The period from 1902 to 1919 saw the expansion of the showgrounds to the south. It also became the venue for the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership's Grand Finals. From 1920–1937, the grounds were further expanded to the north, with the addition of new squares and judging rings. The dominant visual elements of the complex by this time were the peripheral walls, the Members’ Grandstand clock tower and the tower of the Anthony Hordern building.

The country’s sesqui-centenary celebrations of 1938 led to a further building program at the showground, including the Government Pavilion and the Commemorative Pavilion. Aside from the Royal Easter Show and rugby league matches, the venue was used for World Series Cricket games in the late 1970s when the Sydney Cricket Ground was unavailable. At its peak, the old showground could hold over 90,000 people.

The Showground was also adjacent to the Sydney Showground Speedway, used as a speedway for most of its lifetime, officially known as Speedway Royale, with large spectator attendances throughout the summer from 1926 until 1996. Claimed to be the fastest speedway in the world the 509 metre "egg shaped" track was also the site of some spectacular crashes and some tragic deaths. Although solo motorcycles were first to race at the Showgrounds they were soon joined by sidecars and midgets. In the 1950s stock cars began to appear joined much later by demolition derbies.

Since the departure of the Royal Easter Show to the new showground, the old showground has been redeveloped as Fox Studios, a commercial venture designed at supporting Australia's film industry. It is in close proximity with some of Sydney's largest public venues, namely the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Football Stadium, and the Hordern Pavilion, a multipurpose entertainment venue. [ [http://www.foxstudiosaustralia.com/ Fox Studios Australia ] ]

Pop culture

English rock band Led Zeppelin played to over 25,000 fans at the Sydney Showground in February 1972 as part of their Australasian Tour. [http://www.abc.net.au/northcoast/stories/s1514311.htm] Footage from the show is featured on disc two of the "Led Zeppelin DVD" released some thirty years after the event. Swedish group ABBA also played there in March 1977, and American rock group Kiss played two large concerts at the venue in 1980.

The Sydney Showgrounds was also the venue for the annual Sydney Big Day Out Festival held in January between 1992-1997. The 1997 event was titled 'Six and Out - Big Day out' then indicating the final Big Day Out Festival before its new beginning at the new Sydney Showground Homebush in 1999.

The former Sydney Showground is featured in the Rage Against the Machine video clip for Bulls on Parade, from when they performed live there at the Big Day Out music festival on the 25th of January, 1996.

References