Rabbits Competition History
Rabbits were first exhibited at the Show in 1858. Prizes were offered for two classes: ‘Best couple of Lop-eared Rabbits’, and ‘Best couple of rabbits of any breed’. A buck and doe were apparently entered by a S.G.W Hosking, but no award was given.
Rabbit classes next appeared in 1869. One non-competitive class was listed, along with another class for ‘Pair for Weight, any breed’. Rabbits were then shown each year until 1877, and again between 1881-1882. During this period rabbits were exhibited in the Poultry section, sometimes alongside ferrets, cage birds, cavies, and kangaroos.
In 1882 classes were:
Best Lop-eared Buck
Best Lop-eared Doe
Any other variety, Buck
Any other variety, Doe
After 1882 the competition disappeared for over a hundred years. This was primarily because of reputational damage caused by the wild rabbit plagues that devastated Australian farmland in waves from the 1870s onwards. RAS Annuals, published between 1906-1929, carry many advertisements for machines and poisons to destroy rabbits, a reflection of the large-scale problem they had become.
In 1950 the myxomatosis virus was introduced to control pest rabbits, paving the way for the eventual reinstatement of exotic rabbits as Show-worthy animals.
From 1997 rabbit competitions became a regular part of the Show with the introduction of classes for: Fancy, Fur and Rex rabbits. Breed classes for Lop rabbits were a later addition.
The competition is self-administered by the Rabbit Fanciers Society of NSW, under the oversight of the RAS Domestic Animals Section. This Section aims to promote public understanding of the place of domestic animals within our community, by conducting the best competitions for rabbits, cats, dogs and other domestic animals.
In 2019 a rabbit hopping competition was run at the Show by the Rabbit Hopping Society of Australia as a demonstration. The sport returned in 2021, this time organised by the Rabbit Hopping Society of NSW. Although a relatively new competition in Australia, rabbit hopping has been recognised as a sport for the past 40 years in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Following similar rules to those of horse showjumping, the rabbits must master a course of hurdles including high jump and long jump.