Celebrating one of the most successful Shows in Melbourne Royal's 175-year history

Celebrating 175 years, the Melbourne Royal Show remains Victoria’s most loved community event Victoria’s most loved and iconic community event, the Melbourne Royal Show, closed the gates at 9pm, Sunday 1 October, after enjoying one of the most successful Shows in the organisation’s 175-year history.

The 2023 Melbourne Royal Show featured a refreshed program of much-loved favourites, exciting new experiences and an improved layout and facilities, remarkably attracted more than 30,000 people on 10 days of the 11-day program, with more than 450,000 through the gates over the 11 days.

The Show Day Public Holiday on Friday 29 September was the most successful day with more than 50,000 through the gates.

To enhance the visitor experience following feedback from last year, this year’s daily ticket sales were capped at 50,000 per day.

The reintroduction of a great value family ticket was a large part of the success, with the early bird offering of $89 for two adults and two children showcasing great value and popular with many Victorians. The Show After Dark entertainment program was a massive hit this year, with 2023 breaking a 15-year record of crowds coming through the gates after 4pm each day, up 48% on 2022.

Based on preliminary research from the 2023 Melbourne Royal Show, customer satisfaction rates sat at 90 per cent, a 15 per cent increase year-on-year from 2022, following significant improvements made across the Show program and facilities, including layout, farm experiences, attractions, entertainment, food experiences, pavilions and amenities, as well as the capped daily attendance.    

Melbourne Royal CEO Brad Jenkins said: “We are overwhelmed with the incredible support by the Victorian community in celebrating this year’s Melbourne Royal Show. As the most iconic and much-loved community event in the state, this year’s Show was a wonderful celebration, from our 175-year heritage in agriculture, to the new attractions and entertainment experiences like the Show After Dark program.

“It was incredible to see so many smiling faces over the 11 days of the 2023 Melbourne Royal Show, from both metropolitan and rural and regional Victoria.  We are most grateful for the patronage and support we received from the Victorian community, and we trust those who attended had an enjoyable experience and made lots of happy memories.”

Another new attraction at the 2023 Melbourne Royal Show was the ONCALL Quiet Room. The quiet room, a darkened space containing sensory activities and staffed by qualified ONCALL personnel, was a popular addition. The ONCALL Quiet Room plays to the Melbourne Royal Shows objective to ensure the event caterers for all Victorians, with the room providing anyone living with disability, or their carers, a dedicated space.

This year more than 6,000 animals and their handlers competed to win a coveted Melbourne Royal Blue Ribbon with everything from cows, sheep, alpacas, dogs, poultry and horses on display. Over 2,000 blue ribbons were awarded across agriculture as well as the Arts, Craft and Cookery competitions, with judges tasting over 1,020 home-cooked entries, including 550 incredible baked goods.

Among the Melbourne Royal Competitions, the prestigious Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout presented by Racing Victoria Off the Track was won by Sydney’s Jessica Stalling on Verdict by Direction for the second time in her career, after taking out the 2019 event. This remarkable achievement adds yet another jewel to Jessica's emblazoned equestrian career, marking her as one of the finest in the field.

Visitors were also treated to more farm experience and animals this year with the all-new Animal Nursery and the Farmyard being hugely popular for visitors where they could get up close and personal with baby farm animals. The Melbourne Royal Show also offers the unique opportunity to connect city-dwellers with the country, forge new friendships with farmers and strengthen connections between the country and agricultural communities.

As a celebration of the Victorian community, the 2023 Melbourne Royal Show brought together over 1,100 volunteers and 900 businesses across the 11-days of the Show.

“We are incredibly grateful for the thousands of competitors who competed to win a coveted Melbourne Royal Blue ribbon and the hundreds of volunteers who generously provided their valuable time to assist us present the 2023 Melbourne Royal Show,” said Melbourne Royal CEO Brad Jenkins.

The Melbourne Royal Show not only fosters community togetherness, but also exerts a significant economic impact on the broader Victorian community.

Highlighted in a soon to be released Economic, Social, and Environmental Impact Assessment conducted by Geografia, it was revealed that Melbourne Royal’s activities – particularly the Show - contributed significantly to the region. The study reported a: Total Gross State Output of $450 million, translating to an economic impact of $222 million on the State. In terms of employment, Melbourne Royal’s activities generates over 1,800 full-time equivalent jobs, resulting in a total economic impact equivalent to 825 jobs. Melbourne Royal is proud of this fact, as it underscores the organisation and the Melbourne Royal Show's role in not only uniting the community, but also in bolstering the economic well-being of Victoria as a whole.

The 2024 Melbourne Royal Show will be held from Thursday 26 September to Sunday 6 October 2024. For further information on this year's Melbourne Royal Show, visit royalshow.com.au.