The Dubbo Showground is experiencing higher than pre-covid levels for bookings in 2023, with facilities at the showground booked for 259 days of the year. Only three weekends remain available for bookings for the rest of 2023.
“Like many other places for hire in the region, the bookings are higher than pre-covid levels with many new hirers, regular hirers and past hirers re-connecting after an absence of a number of years,” Dubbo Regional Council Showground Operations Coordinator, Gavin Hayton said.
A total of 93 events have been booked in at the Dubbo Showground so far, the largest being the annual Dubbo Show which recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. Other events utilising the Dubbo Showground include Dubbo Harness Racing, NSW Paint Horse State Show, Aussie Night Markets Winter Festival, Orana Caravan Camping 4WD Fish and Boat Show and the Orana Equestrian Club Championships.
“The Dubbo Showground hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year including agricultural shows and sales, entertainment and business events as well as expos and car rallies.”
The Dubbo Showground has a proud history hosting agricultural events, this year 76 per cent of the events booked are agricultural and livestock shows, sales or championships.
“This month already the Dubbo Showground was host to the Ranch Sorting National Championships, which was sponsored by Dubbo Regional Council. Over 700 competitors and supporters from Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia converged on Dubbo for this event.”
“We have also had the Herefords Australia National Show and Sale back at the Dubbo Showground for its 62nd year. This event has been calling the Dubbo Showground home for the past six decades.”
Over the past 12 months the Dubbo Showground has undergone a number of improvements including the creation of the Pavilion Piazza, the refurbishment of the current Ray Clarke and Centenary Pavilions and the toilet amenities near the grandstand.
“The new Pavilion Piazza was a really welcomed addition to the Dubbo Showground. It’s a new paved area in front of the pavilions with new seating and we saw lots of patrons utilise the new space at the Dubbo Show,” Mr Hayton said.
These improvements were undertaken with funding provided by the NSW Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Showground Stimulus Fund. The funding was provided to numerous showgrounds across the state to benefit local communities, deliver economic stimulus, showground maintenance and improvement outcomes.
The Dubbo Showground offers 20 different areas for hire including pavilions, grass and open spaces as well as a function room.
