Then and now: Incredible historical Ekka pics matched with current day images

When you’re on to a good thing there’s really no matter for change, as these incredible side-by-side pics of the Ekka reveal.

Every August for nearly 150 years Bowen Hills has seen Queenslanders from across the state come together for the Ekka.

It has been extremely popular since inception when The Intercolonial Exhibition of 1876 saw up to 17,000 people attend - more than 80 per cent of Queensland’s population of 20,600 at the time.

Its popularity has only grown with Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA) president David Thomas predicting more than 400,000 will have attended the 2023 Ekka, 65,000 of them at Peoples Day on Wednesday.

While much has changed in its long history, long standing favourites and traditions keep the agricultural show grounded in what Queenslander’s love about The Ekka.

Almost 400 showbags were available at this year’s show from the classic Bertie Beatle to the inaugural Pink Floyd bag ranging in price from $2 to $150.

The showbags originated as a way for exhibitors to give out samples and the first ever visitors to get them received a free bag of coal.

It did not take long for rides to become an Ekka staple with its second year seeing a merry-go-round erected in Sideshow Alley.

Today, daredevils can relish in some of the more extreme rides like the Freestyle sitting, a spinning gondola that moves back and forward while approximately 40m in the air.

Arguably its most revered highlight, the symbolic strawberry sundae was introduced in 1950 to champion locally grown strawberries.

It was the brainchild of Peter’s Ice Cream Company who decided to combine their strawberry ice cream with freshly cut local strawberries and lashings of whipped cream in a waffle cone.

Over 70 years later the classic sundae is still available, but this year the Royal Queensland Steakhouse has elevated the dessert.

The new $10 take on the classic is made up of strawberry mousse, marshmallow, strawberry compote, strawberry velvet and all in the shape of the strawberry.

As the centuries old Ekka evolves, the comfort of established traditions has been married with innovative changes that appear to be keeping the show relevant.

Just ask Matt Damon who has attended two years in a row.