Crowds Flock to the 2024 Perth Royal Show

The 2024 Perth Royal Show has wrapped up an exciting eight days of agriculture, education and entertainment, with 439,000 people through the gates over 8 days – the highest number since 2013 and 124,000 more than in 2023.

The final day was the busiest, with almost 75,000 people making sure they did not miss out on one of WA’s favourite and most iconic events.

The Show continues its tradition of spotlighting Western Australia’s agricultural industry, through livestock and agricultural competitions, fabulous WA food and educational demonstrations.

Families, thrill-seekers, and animal lovers alike were spoilt for choice with 11 hours of free entertainment across the showgrounds each day.

Patrons were treated to an exciting menu of dining options this year, with more than 80 food and beverage outlets serving up cuisine from every corner of the globe.

Highlights of the week included:

• Thea Walker from Warren Districts was announced as the 2024 WA Rural Ambassador, for her innovative work to address food wastage.
• Gerald Youles was crowned 2024 World Woodchop Champion in the 325mm Underhand World Championship on Monday 23 September.
• Trevor Blight and his mother Shirley won the Governor’s Cup, the Show’s most prestigious award, for their outstanding contribution in agriculture particularly with dairy goats at Dandalee Park.
• The return of the Wool Fashion Show drew huge crowds for its two shows on Monday 23 September. The Royal Agricultural Society of WA hopes to make this a staple of the Show in future years.

The Perth Royal Show continues to make a difference to the WA Community.

• 145,000 kids, aged 15 and under, accessed free tickets thanks to the WA Government.
• 143 community organisations, including Indigenous, regional and special needs, issued 17,297 free tickets thanks to the generosity of Lotterywest.
• A team of 1000 volunteers, stewards, judges and committee members, including youth from 31 secondary schools, helped make the Show run smoothly.
• More than 350 businesses exhibited at Show, delivering profits back into the WA community.
• More than 12,000 Yellow Brick Road adventures were taken, highlighting different elements of WA agriculture.
• More than 9,500 sausage sizzles were purchased, with all proceeds supporting WA regional shows.
• $70,000 was raised for Telethon through the ‘Kelpie’s for Kids’ Auction on Friday 27 September.
• 2,100 people visited our Sensory Space, sponsored by Carer’s WA.
• 6215 people visited the Agricultural Hall of Fame’s Claremont Speedway Exhibition.
• 40 cooking demonstrations were performed by Alex Crisp at Farm 2 Food, with viewers getting the opportunity to taste her delicious recipes using Perth Royal Food Awards champion produce.

The Show saw:

• More than 8000 entries into competitions, ranging from sheep and poultry, through to scarecrows, show jumping, cake baking and community stage performances. This year, the Cosplay and School Pigs categories were introduced for the first time.
• 5 million Bertie Beetles fly out the door in seven different Bertie Showbags.
• 6,328 fireworks launched from 128 positions, celebrating 70 years of pyrotechnics by the Cardile family at the Perth Royal Show.
• The nightly drone show, dedicated to the Country Women’s Association 100^th Anniversary, featuring 1600 individual drone flights.
• 640 families attending Meet and Greets with Bluey & Bingo.
• 43 woodchoppers competing in 50 woodchopping, tree pegging, and sawing events across the week.
• Over 19,000 cheese toasties enjoyed by patrons.
• More than 5,000 Regal Lagers, the exclusive Perth Royal Show beer by south-west based Rocky Ridge Brewery, consumed across four licenced bars and the RASWA Member’s Lounge.
• 2,600 Country Women’s Association (CWA) scones served up for morning tea.

Robyn Sermon, RASWA Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are incredibly proud of the way the WA community embraced the 2024 Show and the wide array of experiences we offered this year, from the dazzling nighttime entertainment to the displays that celebrate our agricultural, food and farming industries.”

“This event continues to be a vital part of Western Australia’s cultural fabric, and we’re excited to build on this success for next year.”

“I could not be prouder of the show we presented, and we have already started our plans for 2025.”

The Perth Royal Show has once again cemented itself as one of the most highly anticipated events in the WA calendar, with a unique blend of entertainment, education, and agricultural displays proving a winning combination for attendees of all ages.

Photo credit: Matt Jelonek