Grand Parades
Grand Parades on the main arena were a popular Royal Melbourne Show attraction and tradition.
In 1910 the Royal Show was held from 30 August to 3 September with record exhibition entry numbers of 7,610.
At previous Shows, horses and cattle had been paraded around the arena separately but at this particular Show they were paraded together for the first time in a ‘Massed’ (Grand) Parade. This innovation proved very popular with exhibitors and the general public alike.
The Grand Parade continued to be a Show highlight and in 1952, with the inclusion of all horses for the first time, it became even more of a spectacle. Together with the animals, harness vehicles and Clydesdale wagons were included in the Grand Parade.
The following year, as a tribute to the new Queen Elizabeth II, the annual show was named the Coronation Show and for the first time floats from various country agricultural societies were included in the Grand Parade.
The final Grand Parade took place in about 2004.
