Heritage talks: 150 years of the Ekka

Our second Heritage Talk of the year celebrated 150 years of the Royal Queensland Show, known as the Ekka, a much-loved Queensland tradition since 1876. What began as an agricultural exhibition has grown into a major annual event that brings together regional and urban communities and reflects the changing life of the state. From livestock and produce to showbags and sideshow alley, the talk explored how the Ekka has evolved and why it continues to be important.

The 2025 and 2026 Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) Fellows, Bronwyn Bridgewater, Dr Kaya Barry and Emily House, discussed the Ekka’s role in Queensland’s social and agricultural history. The panel discussion was facilitated by journalist and author David Fagan, a Councillor of the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA).