Brisbane showgrounds breaks records ahead of Ekka

Business is booming at Brisbane Showgrounds, with a whopping number of events leading up to the main event in August – including the 30th anniversary of a stylish Ekka favourite.

The Brisbane Showgrounds has recorded its “busiest month ever” – hosting 40 events in May giving Ekka organisers confidence business is back to usual ahead of the festivities in August.

It comes as models from Queensland’s top agencies met at the Brisbane Showgrounds on Tuesday to compete for 13 spots for the 30th anniversary of the Ekka’s Natural Fibres Fashion Parade in August.

Natural Fibres Fashion Parade producer Laura Churchill said it was the most faces she has seen in the past couple of years.

“There were a lot of models we hadn’t met before and some new faces to see. It was a really good morning,” she said.

Models Brooke Lawrie 21, Luke Cunningham 21 and Taylor Green (blonde) 18, are taking part in the annual Ekka model casting, at the main grand stand at the showgrounds at the RNA. pic Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

In the month of May more than 17,500 people attended a range of events including a music festival, conferences and dinners.

This year alone, almost 240,000 people had gone to more than 100 events at the showgrounds.

Ms Churchill said as business gets back to usual they were introducing new things at the parade branching out from natural fibres and introducing sustainable fashion and swimwear made from recyclable plastic. She said it would also be the first time to introduce four child models to the runway this year.

“No other Queensland event offers models the massive exposure the Ekka gives 27 shows over 9 days,” she said.

L-R Brooke Lawrie 21, Luke Cunningham 21 and Taylor Green (blonde) 18, are taking part in the annual Ekka model casting, at the main grand stand at the showgrounds at the RNA. pic Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

RNA Chief Executive Brendan Christou said the record set in May was evidence the showgrounds events business had fully recovered.

“This return to business as usual has also seen Ekka 2023 competition entries increase on last year’s totals and return to pre-pandemic levels,” he said.

“Woodchop entries have increased by 603 taking this year’s entries up to 1,970; Painting Drawing entries are up 321 on last year and Cookery entries are at 1147, up from 872 in 2022.

“This year’s Royal Queensland Awards program also experienced an uptick in entries. Entries in beef and lamb increased by 35 per cent and entries in dairy increased by more than 20 per cent.