Ekka celebrates milestone year with $300m revamp reveal
Laine Clark |
What do you give the event that has everything?
The Royal Queensland Show has been gifted a bright future as it marks its 150th year.
The event affectionately dubbed the Ekka is set to undergo an almost $300 million makeover ahead of the Brisbane Olympics.
The nine-day Brisbane show will toast its milestone from Saturday following the upgrade announcement authorities believe will sustain it for at least another 150 years.
The Ekka has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1876 when the first showbag contained only coal.
Almost 400 different showbags will be on display in its landmark year, along with rides, sideshow alley and of course, the Ekka’s signature strawberry sundae that has been savoured by everyone from prime ministers to punters since its 1950 debut.
The event is set to take another giant leap after the state government unveiled the $287.5 million makeover, including a 20,000-seat outdoor arena upgrade and multi-storey horse pavilion.
The transformation will be funded as part of the state government’s $3.5 billion 2032 Games athletes’ village investment.
The main 2032 athletes’ village will overlook the showgrounds before being converted into about 2000 inner-city apartments post-Games.
“The Ekka’s future is not only secured, it’ll be bigger and better than ever and also able to continue while construction is under way,” Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said.
Construction – set to begin on August 24 – won’t stop the Ekka being held each year, with 2032 marking the only time the event will be closed due to the Games.
A first glimpse of the revamp was unveiled ahead of this year’s show, which is expected to attract more than 400,000 people and inject $200 million into the Queensland economy.
The Ekka will still feature Queensland’s premier agricultural competition despite the bird flu threat.
Queensland Department of Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said measures had been taken to ensure the “all-clear has been given” for all poultry exhibitors ahead of the show.
The agricultural competition attracts on average more than 20,000 entries across 11,000 classes in 55 competitions.
The Ekka runs from Saturday until August 16.
AAP