RAS awarded Community Heritage Grant to assess 45,000 plus collection for national significance.

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW’s Heritage Centre has been awarded a Community Heritage Grant, funded by the Australian Government, to undertake a significance assessment of its iconic heritage collection.

The goal of the assessment is to formally elevate the status of the RAS’s collection, which dates back to its inception in 1822, to one of national significance.

RAS Heritage Centre Manager Laura Anderson says it’s an exciting next step in the organisation’s mission to protect and promote its collection.

“The RAS is one of the oldest organisations in Australia, and our heritage team proudly safeguards its rich history, which primarily focuses on agriculture, the Sydney Royal Easter Show, and Sydney Showground’s event business,” said Anderson.

“Our collection consists of just under 46,500 items, which include trophies, documents, publications, photographs, artefacts, and more. These items not only tell the rich story of our organisation but also reflect the broader social and agricultural history of New South Wales and Australia.

“As an organisation, we’ve played a role in many historic moments, from celebrating the opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge and hosting Royal visits to funding the purchase and transportation of livestock, plants and seeds from England in the 1820s to improve the colony’s stock. Our collection spans over 200 years of Australian history.

“Thanks to the Community Heritage Grant, we will be able to fund an external, in-depth review of our collection and seek its recognition as one of national significance, ensuring its protection for future generations.”

The RAS’s heritage collection includes:

• The Society’s original 1822 Prospectus, which sets out the aims and methods to achieve agricultural improvement in the colony.
• A 269 strong collection of perpetual trophies that are awarded annually at Sydney Royal Easter Show and Sydney Royal Wine, Dairy, and Fine Food competitions. The RAS’s earliest perpetual trophy, the District Exhibit Perpetual Shield, was first presented in 1911.
• A range of artwork, including painted portraits of the Society’s Presidents.
• A breadth of historic awards, including the RAS’s earliest archival trophy from the 1871 Metropolitan Intercolonial Exhibition and the earliest medallion, which dates to 1827, awarded for Sir John Jamison’s Blood Stallion, Bennelong.
• A complete set of Show catalogues from 1869. Included in this early issue were classes for ‘coffee’ and ‘olive oil’ – still gourmet favourites today.
• A century's worth of over 500 showbags (or sample bags, as they were known), which feature iconic Aussie brands.

The Community Heritage Grants (CHG) program is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (Office for the Arts); National Library of Australia; the National Archives of Australia; the National Film and Sound Archive and the National Museum of Australia. 

Learn more about the CHG program here. 

About the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW:

Recognising the need to improve farming methods, a group of Sydney’s leading citizens came together to establish the Agricultural Society of NSW on 5 July 1822.

Since then, the not-for-profit organisation has been forging the future of sustainable Australian agriculture, and award-quality produce and animal breeds through competitions, education and events.