The Specialisation of Showgrounds Planning
Showgrounds are not like other community facilities. Unlike sports grounds, recreation reserves and parks, they cater to a huge range of activities, each with their own space and infrastructure requirements. From the vibrant spectacle of an agricultural show or race day to everyday recreational use, showgrounds must be carefully planned to balance tradition with modern functionality and usage demand. But a well-designed showground needs to do more than simply accommodate different events. They must create a place where communities can gather, be active, celebrate and even seek refuge in times of natural disaster.
What makes showgrounds planning such a specialist activity? Showgrounds are one of the most diverse facility types in Australia, hosting a huge range of activities and organisations. Take the annual agricultural show, for example. They showcase livestock and produce, feature working dogs, poultry exhibits, flower and cooking competitions, plant and handicraft displays, horse events, wood chopping, cattle judging, sideshow alley and all manner of entertainment. Each of these functions have unique requirements for space, animal accommodation, quarantine and operational management, often run by separate clubs or subcommittees of the overarching show society. And beyond the logistics, there’s a deep emotional connection to these events. Nostalgia and sentimentality run high in communities that cherish their local show as a place of joy, achievement and shared experiences.
Outside of showtime, these venues continue to serve the community in a multitude of ways. Many showgrounds become multi-use sport and recreation facilities, hosting everything from equestrian events and rodeos to cricket, football, golf, netball, gymnastics, rugby league and Men’s Shed activities. These overlapping uses often require careful scheduling and coordination, especially when conflicts arise between different user groups. Thoughtful planning is essential when developing operational regimes that share facilities effectively. This planning needs to identify innovative solutions to allow parallel use while maintaining the integrity of each activity.
Beyond major events, many showgrounds provide accommodation. Whether acting as overflow caravan parks for tourists or temporary accommodation centres for ‘Grey Nomads’, they need to be designed for accessibility and flexibility. Finding the right balance between generating income from short-term visitors and maintaining unrestricted community access is a key to long-term sustainability, but one that continues to elude many Councils and show societies around the country. This situation is further complicated by what some see as restrictive state government policies on the use of showgrounds for temporary accommodation.
When emergencies strike, showgrounds are expected to step up again. They become evacuation centres during floods and fires, quarantine zones during animal disease outbreaks and even testing sites during public health crises (remember the queues of cars lining up for COVID tests?). Planning must therefore factor in not just everyday activities, but the ability for showgrounds to adapt to urgent and unforeseen community needs.
Despite their incredible community value, showgrounds often face constraints. Many were developed on land deemed unsuitable for housing at the time, for example due to being low-lying and flood-prone, but acceptable for simple show rings, basic fencing and pavilions on stilts. Today, as these facilities have evolved in response to changing community expectations, challenges like flooding, ageing infrastructure and the need for modern, accessible amenities must be carefully managed.
Adding yet another layer of complexity is the variation in tenure and management over showgrounds sites. Some showgrounds are state-owned land, held in trust by Councils and leased to show societies. Others are directly managed by show societies as trustees. There are some that are owned freehold by the local Council and others are privately owned by show societies themselves. Some are even more complicated, existing as a patchwork of different land parcels and tenure types. These nuances affect everything from development approvals to funding opportunities, maintenance responsibilities, electricity supply and metering and the feasibility of facility upgrades.
So what constitutes a well-planned showground? Simply put, they must be planned as a community precinct. When designed thoughtfully, showgrounds allow volunteers to focus their energy on creating new opportunities rather than managing inefficiencies. They foster social interaction, encourage physical activity and drive economic benefits.
Good planning must address the intricacies of showgrounds operations while preserving their rich histories. They must be planned with a clear vision that balances this history with the realities of modern community use. A well-planned showground should be viewed as an economic driver, a community hub, an emergency asset and a place where tradition blends seamlessly with opportunity. Thoughtful planning ensures that they remain viable and adaptable and, most importantly, financially sustainable.
When done well, showgrounds planning simplifies investment decisions for local Councils and show societies, providing a clear roadmap for funding attraction, infrastructure upgrades and staged development. It strengthens grant applications by demonstrating alignment with community needs and government priorities. Importantly, a great plan can position a local showground as a high-value community asset worthy of political investment, whether through state or federal grant programs or election-cycle funding commitments from all sides of politics.
Above all, good planning ensures that showgrounds genuinely serve the diverse and evolving needs of the communities they support. Whether hosting the annual show, accommodating local sports clubs, welcoming visitors or stepping up in times of crisis, a well-planned showground becomes the heart of a thriving community.
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At CPR Group, we have decades of experience helping Councils and community organisations across Australia navigate the complexities of showgrounds planning. Our specialist equestrian and showgrounds planner, Melissa Driscoll, brings a lifetime of knowledge and volunteering experience, spanning horse and cattle sports, agricultural and event management. Her extensive connections across state and national horse and agricultural industry bodies, combined with a deep understanding of facility development and user perspectives, ensure well-informed and practical outcomes. Together, these insights help CPR Group create showgrounds master plans that truly serve the needs of all stakeholders.
What sets CPR Group apart is our approach. We do more than produce beautiful plans. We create solutions that address the real challenges faced by show societies, Councils, clubs and community groups. We listen to understand the specific needs of each community, ensuring that our strategies lead to tangible outcomes. Whether securing funding, improving facility operations or future-proofing infrastructure, we care about delivering real, lasting impact.
Our values guide everything we do:
We care – We treat your community’s showground like it’s our own
We listen to understand – Every showground has a unique story and we take the time to hear it
We create solutions to the real problems – Our plans go beyond compliance and paperwork to solve actual challenges
We deliver ‘wow’ – We take pride in delivering practical, innovative and actionable solutions
If your Council is ready to take its showground planning to the next level, let’s start the conversation. CPR Group is here to help turn vision into reality.
