Melbourne Royal Show 2022: Opening snapshot

The first Melbourne Royal Show in years is off to a hugely successful start — complete with mats at livestock entrances.

Sit upwind: In the danger zone at the 'Horses in Action Arena' at the Melbourne Royal Show, which drew huge crowds.

Great weather and terrible parking — the Melbourne Royal Show is back!

Thousands descended on the Melbourne Showgrounds today for the opening of the 2022 Melbourne Royal Show, 1000 days since the last show took place.

Long time between drinks: Signs such as these were scattered across the showgrounds.

With temperatures hitting 20C for the first time in a while, Melburnians hopped at the chance to bring their families along to experience a taste of the regions, as well as sample the copious food offerings and rides on offer.

“The strangest questions we’ve got are all about how the cows poop,” said Robyn O’Leary, an agriculture teacher at Finley High School, which has a 20-plus contingent of students that travelled from the NSW Riverina to take part in the show’s carcass beef competition.

Gary Webb and Robyn O'Leary of Finley High School, located about 20kms north of Tocumwal in the NSW Riverina.

“I’ve been telling them that if the (cows’) food doesn’t come out, same as with humans, you die. And that the same goes with if there’s no food, you’d die; and that’s what we make,” Robyn said.

Gary Webb, also of Finley, said that most people were shocked that high schools offered ag classes at all.

Finley High School's competitive cattle.

“We’ve been answering lots of random questions about cattle, but it’s all about bringing the country to the city,” he said.

Notably, at all the entrances and exits to the livestock pavilion, disinfecting mats were used to ensure that the most stringent biosecurity precautions were taken in response to the threat of foot and mouth disease that locked pigs out of this year’s show.

Disinfecting mats were placed at the entrances and exits to the livestock pavilion.

Even a sombre minute’s silence for Queen Elizabeth II on the national day of mourning couldn’t dissuade happy families from soaking in everything the show had to offer, with her tribute quickly followed up by a visit from the Sesame Street delegation — Elmo and the Cookie Monster for those keeping track.

A tribute during the minute's silence for HRM the Queen.

The ‘Pat a Chook’ experience and Animal Nursery were particular favourites for the throngs, and there was also woodchopping events, dog shows and a multitude of produce stalls on offer.

The Melbourne Royal Show is on until October 2.