Gidgegannup Showgrounds

Statement of Significance

Gidgegannup Showgrounds has strong connection to the growth of the Gidgegannup community and the Gidgegannup Agricultural Society in particular. The place has a considerable social value to the local community and has historically been the focus of local galas and events including the annual Gidge Show.

Physical Description

Gidgegannup Showgrounds is a 55-hectare area of land used by various local community organisations. It comprises of numerous buildings used by the community contributing to the current and evolving amenity of the space.
• Horse Arena
• Agricultural Hall - listed separately
• Country Women’s Association WA building
• Large Showground Paddock
• Ian Standard Pavilion
• Farrier’s Barn
• Dressage and Pony Club
• Gidgegannup Agricultural Society Office
• Various stables
• Childs playpark
Equestrian uses form the primary purpose of the arena and those buildings which satellite the arena are specifically related that that function.
The remainder of the buildings on the site all relate to the endeavours of a small but very active agricultural community.

History

In 1836, a direct route for travellers to Toodyay was surveyed over the southern part of an area of what is now Gidgegannup. At that time, the area only contained a number of small timber cutters, and access to other districts was challenging as it took at least two days on horseback to reach Toodyay from Guildford. It wasn’t until the years between the two World Wars where the area established the name Hampstead Hills after gradually developing into an area for mixed farming and later being renamed to Gidgegannup in 1946.

The fledging community formed the Progress Association to hold events. This was later registered as the Hampstead Hills Progress Association on 12 March 1946. Forty-eight days later, a block of land was donated by the Perth Jarrah Mills to the Association for the purposes of holding their Agricultural Shows. This land has since become the Gidgegannup Showgrounds.

An old house was donated soon after which was transported to the new grounds, modified and re-erected, as the Hampstead Hills Hall that soon became a great asset to the community.

It was later decided that an Agricultural Society be formed. This society was then registered as the Gidgegannup Agricultural Society in April 1946. The first Gidgegannup Agricultural Show being held on the Showgrounds in 1946 and continues to this day, on the last Saturday of October each year.

Over the years, Gidgegannup Agricultural Society received further donations which helped fund a bar, stockyards, horse shoeing pavilion, fowl pens, external seating, and essentially anything needed to stage a large agricultural show, such as horse events and every once in a while, a ball in the hall.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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