In October 1934 a Show was held in Canungra with proceeds going to the Canungra Hospital auxiliary fund. It was officially opened by Mr T F Plunkett MLA, who said he thought it would be a good idea for the show to be conducted annually and also remarked that he would like to see the creek bridged as “tourists are not used to fording creeks”. Music was relayed on the grounds by means of a gramophone.
A Courier Mail headline in November 1937 reads “Canungra’s Show Set in Natural Beauty”. In his opening address that year, Mr J Francis MHR stated that he had “never seen anything to equal the natural beauty of your showgrounds” and he predicted that the show could attract thousands of visitors in the future. A 440 yard showring had been constructed for the event and prize sections included farm produce, flowers, ring events, military tent-pegging, a pony speed test, novelty woodchop, throwing at the wicket, livestock, cookery, fancy work, school work and a Canine Club dog show.
In 1938 the newly formed Canungra Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Society called for tenders for the construction of a pavilion. Mr D Day won the tender and, using timber donated by the community, began construction of a 30 x 40-foot pavilion to house the exhibits. The Beenleigh and Tambourine Shire Councils gazetted a public holiday for the event although the Beaudesert Shire Council declined to do so because, in their view, it would do nothing to increase attendance at the Show.
September 1938 was the occasion of the first Show held under the auspices of the newly formed CAH&I Society (and its founding President Arthur Caswell who remained in this position until 1954), and it was judged a complete success with over 900 entries received and 1000 people in attendance. One incident that slightly marred the occasion was an injury to G Pedersen during the woodchopping event as he was admitted to hospital with a severed leg muscle.
The second annual Show held by the C&DAH&I Society was deemed superior and even more successful than the previous year. The Agricultural section was most outstanding and troopers from the Canungra Beaudesert 2/14th Light Horse Regiment contested three events for military members.
By 1941 petrol rationing was in place due to the outbreak of WW2 and two or three families shared the same vehicle so they could attend. The R.A.C.Q. had provided an “experienced man” to assist motorists with parking and the entertainments provided by the Show proved a great diversion from the horrors of war.
The next Show did not occur until 1946 following the cessation of hostilities and it is not hard to imagine what it must have meant to the community at that time. A special Rail Motor was organised to bring showgoers all the way from Brisbane to attend!
In 1952 one exhibitor of cattle remarked that this was probably the only showground in Australia where the animals could be given a drink of natural running water right on the grounds.
The Show has continued annually since then with one exception during the Covid pandemic. The extensive list of committee members and prize winners over the years includes many names long familiar to Canungra residents. Then, as now, the Show is run predominantly by volunteers and is a credit to the organisers.
The Canungra and Districts Historical Association held a stand at the Show this year and we would like to thank everyone who came up for a chat and contributed a “Memory” to the cake tin. The history of the district is rich and vivid and the annual Canungra Show has certainly become a fixture on the calendar not to be missed.
