The Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania Information

The Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania traces its history back to 1821 when a group of residents of Van Diemans Land corresponded with the Official Secretary and gained approval for the establishment of a Society for the protection of animals. Tasmania has the distinction of being the first colony in Australia to form an Agricultural Society when the “Van Diemans Land Agricultural Society” was formed in Hobart Town on 1st January 1822. The first show was conducted in January 1822, in the Old Market Place, just in front of the present State Parliament House. In the intervening years the Society has grown in strength and stature and in addition to the Royal Hobart Show conducts annually the Royal Hobart Wine Show, the second largest Wine Show in Australia. In recent years The Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania has added the Royal Hobart Fine Food Awards and the Tasmanian Vineyard of the Year Competitions to its portfolio. More recent business additions are Tenancies at the Showground, Showground Market and the very popular Motor Home & Caravan Park on the ground. The Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania is possibly the oldest cultural institution still operating in Australia and is now focussed on celebrating 200 years of showing in 2021 and continuing to make the Royal Hobart Show and the Society contemporary, relevant and sustainable for the next 200 years.