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| RNA Showgrounds | |
|---|---|
| Name | RNA Showgrounds |
| Location | Bowen Hills, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Owner | Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland |
| Built | 1886 |
| Opened | 1886 |
RNA Showgrounds
The RNA Showgrounds is a multi-purpose exhibition complex in Bowen Hills, Brisbane, overseen by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland. It hosts large-scale events including annual agricultural exhibitions, concerts, trade fairs and sporting events, attracting partners, patrons and performers from across Australia and internationally.
The venue is administered by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland and sits adjacent to the Brisbane central business district, near Brisbane and the Brisbane River, with transport links connecting to Brisbane City Hall, Eagle Farm Racecourse, Fortitude Valley, Queensland State Library, and South Bank, Brisbane. The site is used for the Royal Queensland Show, commercial expositions such as the Ekka and markets linked to institutions including Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland, Griffith University, and cultural organisations like the Queensland Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival. Major performers and touring productions from companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Live Nation Entertainment, AEG Presents, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, and U2 have used the grounds for staging. Event partners and sponsors have included corporations such as Telstra, Qantas, Woolworths, Coles Group, Suncorp Group, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, Westpac, and NAB.
The origins trace to the late 19th century with establishment by agricultural advocates and merchants linked to the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR), Queensland Agricultural Journal, and figures associated with Brisbane civic development like John Oxley and Sir Samuel Griffith. The site evolved through periods marked by interactions with military units such as the Australian Army during both world wars, hosting recruitment, training and wartime exhibitions alongside events involving institutions like the Red Cross, Royal Australian Air Force, and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Twentieth-century developments saw links to urban planners and architects including Robin Dods and firms connected to Queensland Heritage Register listings, with conservation efforts involving National Trust of Queensland and heritage advocates responding to pressures from developers including Lendlease and Mirvac. The grounds have been reconfigured through decades to accommodate shows tied to agricultural networks including Meat & Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, Queensland Farmers' Federation, and industry fairs associated with AgriFutures Australia.
The complex comprises pavilions, showrings, exhibition halls, conference facilities, and open space proximate to Brisbane Transit Centre, Roma Street railway station, and Brisbane Exhibition Ground infrastructure. Key structures are heritage-listed pavilions and modern arenas used by promoters such as Ticketmaster Australia, Ticketek, and event organisers like Events Queensland and Brisbane Marketing. Venues on site serve sporting and cultural uses akin to those at Suncorp Stadium, Lang Park, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, and accommodate staging, audio-visual rigs from suppliers such as Midas, Yamaha Corporation, and Sennheiser. Support services involve logistics companies including Toll Group, Direct Couriers, and Brambles Limited, and amenities coordinate with hospitality groups like Ardent Leisure and culinary partners from food festivals and competitions affiliated with Royal Agricultural Society of NSW peers.
Signature programming includes the annual Ekka agricultural show, major trade fairs, circuses, concerts by artists managed by agencies such as William Morris Endeavour, Creative Artists Agency, and community events staged with partners like Rotary International, Lions Clubs International, and St John Ambulance Australia. The grounds host exhibitions aligned with industry bodies such as Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association, Reed Exhibitions, Australian Retailers Association, and festivals comparable to Brisbane Festival and Valley Fiesta. Sporting events have featured demonstrations coordinated with Cricket Australia, Rugby Australia, and motorsport showcases similar to those promoted by V8 Supercars organisers. Educational and research presentations involve collaborations with CSIRO, James Cook University, Griffith Sciences, and museums like the Queensland Museum.
Access is served by Brisbane City Council transport networks including buses, Citytrain services at nearby stations, and connections to Brisbane Airport via road. Parking and traffic management are coordinated with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland), ride-share operators like Uber Technologies, Inc., taxi networks affiliated with 13cabs and freight access involving Pacific National. Pedestrian and cycling links tie to Brisbane Riverwalk and urban pathways developed under projects related to Queensland Government initiatives and urban renewal schemes in Fortitude Valley and Woolloongabba.
The grounds generate significant economic activity through ticketed events, trade spending, tourism tied to Tourism Australia, and partnerships with state agencies such as Tourism and Events Queensland. Local businesses, exhibition contractors, caterers, and creative industries including theatre companies, musicians, and visual artists derive income, similar to impacts observed around venues like Sydney Showground (Moore Park), Melbourne Showgrounds, and Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Cultural programming supports agricultural education associated with organisations like AgQuip and community outreach run by charities such as The Smith Family and Salvation Army branches.
The venue has faced disputes over development proposals and heritage conservation, involving stakeholders such as the National Trust of Australia (Queensland), local councillors from Brisbane City Council, state ministers including members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, and developers including Lendlease and Mirvac Group. Past incidents have included crowd-safety investigations involving Queensland Police Service and emergency responses coordinated with Queensland Ambulance Service and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services after medical and security events during large gatherings; legal and regulatory matters have involved tribunals and courts such as the Supreme Court of Queensland and planning reviews by the Planning and Environment Court of Queensland.