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About the Sale and District Agricultural Society Inc.

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The Sale and District Agricultural Society has a long and proud history of fostering and supporting all aspects of local and regional life, culture, sport and recreation. 

Our Vision is to provide Sale and District residents with a venue and events worthy of National recognition with emphasis on traditional agricultural values, interests, skills and the country way of life.

Surrounded by heritage Elms, we host Gippsland’s premier Agricultural Show, numerous other regional events including World Cup Showjumping, Bridge Club, Gymnastics and Pony Club. Recent developments have included powered camping sites for medium and large mobile homes and the new Function/Committe Room with over 100 people capacity. Patrons can dine at the Sale Greyhound Racing Club located within the showgrounds.

We are a truly community based not for profit organisation providing recreational and sporting events and forums for rural families and everyone to enjoy.

Located in Sale on the corner of the Princes Highway and Sale Maffra Road, we are ideally situated for easy access by locals and visitors.  Come and enjoy what we have to offer.

 
Mr Laurie Jeremiah
President Sale and District Agricultural Society, 2009
 

 

SALE Show is Gippslands premier and oldest agricultural Show, held in Sale, Victoria. Sale and District Agricultural Society which runs the show was formed in 1859 and remains the regions oldest community organisation.

While cherishing and ensuring it retains its purpose for being, showcasing all things rural, Sale Show is evolving to meet contemporary entertainment and social needs. The society in 2003 inaugurated the Wellington Business and Excellence in Agriculture Awards, and the Great Gippsland Carrot Cake contest, and its long running Gippsland Beef Challenge is now regarded as a national exemplar.
Mr David Tulloch
Past President Sale and District Agricultural Society

"We look back with pride to the men who founded and fostered this Society"
T. A. Henebery, 1959

Creation
The vision of a group of men in 1857, which became a reality in 1859, and still flourishes today, epitomises the spirit and tenacity of the Gippsland people.  The North Gippsland Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Society had already been formed when an 'adjourned' meeting was held at the Club Hotel, Foster St, Sale, on 16 December, 1859, for the purpose of appointing a Committee of Management.  The Hon. Robert Thomson, M.L.C. was elected President with Angus McMillan, Esq. M.L.A. and John Johnson Esq. M.L.A. Vice Presidents.

Society Names
In 1859 the Society took the name of the North Gippsland Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Society embracing as it did all areas around Sale.  Members of the Committee came from as far as Prospect, Stratford, Bushy Park, Mewburn Park, Newry, Tinamba, Maffra, Clydebank and Traralgon.  In 1890 it was moved that the name of the Society be altered to the Sale Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Society in order to place emphasis on Sale, but this was defeated and it was not until 1921 that the name change was made.  In 1953 it was altered to its present name of the Sale and District Agricultural Society.

Shows
The annual show was always an exciting event for the people of the district.  Either a full holiday or a half holiday was granted for Show Day which was held during the week.  A journalist from the 'Gippsland Guardian', 8th May, 1861, described the first show of the Society:

"Tuesday ...was a beautiful day...very early in the day carts with their loads of immense pumpkins and plethoric carrots, with large overgrown specimens of the brassica tribe, passed through the town on their way to the Society's grounds....greatest attraction for the ladies was the marquee where the flowers and horticultural products were exhibited."

The above excerpts are taken from: "Look back with pride -A History of the Sale and District Agricultural Society 1859 - 1989", by Dorothy Morrison