Country Meets City: Brisbane's Iconic Ekka Bridges 150 Years of Heritage with Olympic Future

The organisers of Brisbane's famous Ekka are confident that the event's beloved country atmosphere can be preserved, even as urban development continues to grow around the showgrounds.

First held 150 years ago, the initial show took place on a bare field surrounded by bushland. At the time, Brisbane's population was a mere 20,000 residents, but the event was still a major milestone for the region.

Specialist librarian India Dixon highlighted the historic significance of the early exhibitions. "This was the grand social event. This was the highlight of Queensland's year in many ways," Dixon said. She added that it provided "A real opportunity … to show off the things they were producing and to represent what it was to be a Queenslander."

Generations of Show Tradition

As the Bowen Hills site undergoes modernization ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Ekka aims to maintain its rich history. Traditional staples like horses, cattle, horticultural displays, and sideshow alley remain central to the event's identity.

For fourth-generation "showie" Bronwyn Bridgewater, the event is a deep family tradition. Her great-grandfather operated a merry-go-round at the grounds in the 1920s, while her grandparents ran a dagwood dog stall. Her grandmother also boasted a diverse array of skills as a contortionist, snake handler, and a sharpshooter around 1931. Today, Bridgewater's siblings continue to operate a dagwood dog canteen in the exact same spot as their ancestors.

"I'm very proud of the showmen. I'm very proud of the Ekka," Bridgewater said. "I feel nostalgia too as I walk down sideshow alley. I can see the past … and at the same time I see how it's changed."

Despite the shifts over the decades, she embraces the modernization. "But I don't feel a sense of regret." She noted, "The atmosphere has changed … but it's just life. Everything changes. Everything has to keep improving."

Adapting to a Modern Era

As Queensland has grown, the Ekka has continuously adapted. Exhibitions of koala pelts have long been replaced by a ban on koala hunting, and vintage machinery has been superseded by modern technology.

The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association (RNA), which runs the show, has also evolved. While its core charter remains to celebrate and champion the vital role of agriculture in the lives of Queenslanders, the 22-hectare Bowen Hills showgrounds have undergone significant redevelopment. The site now features a hotel, commercial precinct, and residential apartments.

RNA chief executive Brendan Christou explained that the redevelopment was a strategic move to ensure the event could stay at its historic birthplace. "It was about making sure the RNA itself, not just the Ekka, is financially sustainable", Christou said.

"In other states, sometimes the shows have had to move out of the city and we really looked hard at that 15 years ago and said, we want to be in the city, and it's about the country coming to the city."

Preparing for the 2032 Olympics

The showgrounds will see further transformation leading up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. The site will host 1,800 apartments to accommodate athletes, which will later be converted into permanent housing. Additionally, a new 20,000-seat arena is planned, and heritage-listed grandstands will undergo refurbishment.

While the construction means there will be no Ekka in 2032—marking only the fifth cancellation in the event's history—Christou remains positive about the future. "We were happy that we're part of it and at least we get that infrastructure investment that will see us through the next 150 years," Christou said.