Click on any photo to enlarge it
Early 1900's
Some of the photos of the showground, usually at the Annual Show.
Note the hills in the background and some of buildings in the town.
Bangalow Showground 1980's
Views of the Showground and parts of Bangalow in the 1980's.
The Moller Pavilion
Built in the mid 1960's with insurance money from the destruction of the Grandstand. Originally the Luncheon Shed it was renamed the "Vic Moller Pavilion" and now usually referred to as "The Moller". It has had a few refurbishments with a verandah added first on one side then finally on three. A kitchen wing was added and later the floors polished and recently LED lights and fans and the back wall has been replaced.
The Rotunda.
The "office" on the Jarrett Arena, the main ring, at the Showground has always been known as The Rotunda. The story about why is in one of the photos on the right, an article from the local paper, The Herald. There is also a photo of the very first Rotunda, The renovations in this series of photos were done in 2014/15 and 2022.
The Grandstand
The grandstand stood on the northern side of the Jarrett Arena (Main Ring) between the current sites of The Moller Pavilion and The Rotunda.
The first photograph on the top right was taken in 1908. A single colour photo and three photos of it destroyed after a cyclone/storm in Dec 1962.
The Show Office
This building at the Station Street entrance was once a real estate shop located where the road is in front of it. It was moved and rotated 90 degrees to became the administration centre for the Showground. It has also undergone major renovation and in 2011/12 a small verandah was added and a lower store room that had a dirt floor upgraded to almost double the useable area of the building.
The A&I Hall
The A&I Hall sits on the south west corner of the Showground at the end of Station Street.
Currently (in 2023) the hall is managed by a separate committee but the hall's history is embedded within the Showground, the Show (A&I) Society and the annual Bangalow Show.
The 1992 REPORT
The A&I Hall had a major renovation from a very dilapidated state in 1992. A detailed report about that project, some 21 pages, makes interesting reading. On pages 3 & 4 of the report what is know about the history of the building is explained.
Newspaper Stories Pre 1920
Up until the in 1960's the local newspapers were the only means of communication about events in the region, they ran stories about the Showground, the events and the committee who managed it.
The newspaper clipping have been sourced from Trove the online resource at the National Library
Newspaper Stories 1921 to 1929
Earthworks the making of the grounds into a useable space and railway picnics were a feature of this time.
Newspaper Stories 1930 to 1939
Earthworks the making of the grounds into a useable space and railway picnics were a feature of this time.
Newspaper Stories 1940 to 1949
The grounds were expanding. The A&I (Show) Committee buying more land.
The A&I Committee also in this period suggested that the Bangalow Park Trust Committee be established to managed the Showground
Newspaper Stories 1950 to 1959
During the 1950's there's demolition and building. The gates are built at the Station St entrance. Kids swings are built and part of the grounds become a caravan park.
And with the introduction of greyhounds the caretaker resigns
