Page 6 - The Outdoor Showman January - March 2025

The Deniliquin The Deniliquin
Show 2025
The Deniliquin Show: Celebrating
Rural Life, Resilience, and
Exciting Traditions
Nestled in the heart of the Riverina,
Deniliquin is a town that blends
rich history with a modern sense
of community pride. The Deniliquin
Pastoral & Agricultural Society (Deni
P&AS), founded in 1859, has long been
a cornerstone of this community,
shaping the region’s agricultural
and cultural landscape. For over 144
years, this Society has hosted one
of the most anticipated events in
the easy-going town affectionately
know by locals—the Deni Show.
Foundation and Early Years:
A Community Coming Together
The history of the Deniliquin Pastoral
& Agricultural Society traces back
to 1859 when it was founded with
the goal of providing a platform
for local farmers, pastoralists,
and agriculturalists to share their
livestock, produce, and innovations.
The first agricultural show was
held in 1865, featuring livestock
exhibitions, displays of produce,
Demolition Derby in 2022
Credit: Deniliquin and District Historical Society
and competitive events that drew
in participants from surrounding
towns show it played a vital role in
showcasing farming advancements
and improving practices in stock
breeding and crop management.
Over the years, the Deniliquin
Show continued to grow in size and
importance, evolving into an event
that celebrated the rural community’s
achievements and innovations. As
the years passed, the event became
a cherished institution, attracting
visitors from the regions stations and
beyond, connecting generations of
farmers, families, and showgoers.
In 1890, The Age, Melbourne’s leading
paper at the time, published an
extensive piece sharing the results of
the 14th annual shows sheep & wool
sections, although they were quick
to point out that the Mid July show
may as well have been exclusively
a Merino showcase saying “The
attendance, however, showed a falling
off on previous records, visitors from a
distance being conspicuously absent.
This show may be said to be a purely
merino sheep show, not a single Iong-
wool having been brought to the yards,
while with regard to other exhibits
there was nothing to call for special
attention. Cattle were represented by
only a few animals. Horses, with the
exception of hunters, were far from
plentiful and the same remark applies
to all the other sections, with the
exception of farm and dairy produce,
the entries for which were numerous,
and the quality of the exhibits excellent.”
Upon reading the article we couldn’t
help but have a chuckle, it is evident
that the Pavillion sections must have
held themselves to the same high
standards 135 years ago as they do
now. Lyn Rose, Needlework & Quilting
steward, is proud to recently have her
daughter Kel also join the committee
to assist in coordinating the Pavillion.
Lyn informed us that both her mother
and grandmothers’ involvement came
before her own and this would make Kel,
a proud grandmother herself, the 4th
Generation to be involved in the P&A
Society Pavillion. Only time will tell if we
shall have the pleasure of having a 5th &
6th generation of Rose women involved.
The AGE and local media, The Pastoral
Times, mention the names of many
Farms, such as Tuppal, Boonoke,
Hartwood and Family names that are
still heavily involved in Deniliquins
community. A testament to the
lifestyle and community the area
has to offer so many years on.
The Modern-Day Show:
A One-Day Extravaganza
Today, the Deniliquin Agricultural Show
continues to thrive in its 144th year. This
year’s event is taking a fresh approach,
condensing the celebration into a
one-day event packed with action,
entertainment, and family-friendly
fun. The core traditions of Livestock
competitions, Agricultural displays, and
community participation are still very
Display by R W Reynolds at old Showgrounds
Credit: Deniliquin and District Historical Society
Henry Gillespie stand
Credit: Deniliquin and District Historical Society
Tent pegging at 1969 Show
Credit: Deniliquin and District Historical Society
4 THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN