Early Electric Displays at the ‘Ekka’
A large joint display was erected by the City Electric Light Company (CEL), which was based in Brisbane and the Ipswich Electric Supply Company at the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association’s (RNA) Exhibition, or Show, locally known as the ‘Ekka’, in August, 1935. The Assistant Manager of CEL reported that around 10,000 information leaflets offering advice on electricity tariffs were distributed to visitors at the show. Films of the activities of the two companies were shown ‘continuously day and night’. The themes in the films covered ‘Domestic, Lighting and Industrial Power and Heating used in city and suburban houses, shops and factories’ in Brisbane and rural regions. The Show featured a domestic display with electrical appliances and an industrial power display, which included pumps, machinery and soil heating equipment.
The electrical displays at the RNA Shows were always deemed to be a success by the industry. The Annual Report of the State Electricity Commission (SEC) in 1938 stated that the Commission was disappointed that a planned ‘comprehensive electrical exhibition’ involving many components of the industry could not take place due to unavailable space. However, SEC praised CEL for the company’s ‘striking display’ at the Show that year and acknowledged the value that such activities held for future exhibits organised by the whole industry.
The following year, SEC’s plans were able to come to fruition for a short time. The Premier officially opened the first joint electrical exhibition of its kind in Queensland in 1939 at the RNA’s grounds. It was held in the Hall of Electricity, which was erected specifically for the purpose. The SEC, Brisbane City Council (BCC), CEL and the Electric Federation organised the first combined exhibition. Commercial, industrial and domestic equipment and appliances were displayed. Practical demonstrations were held to illustrate the benefits of electrically operated irrigation systems and other applications of electricity for the farm and the home. The exhibition was positively received and crowds of people turned up to see the displays. Unfortunately, due to the onset of the war and shortages of staff and materials, the exhibition planned for 1940 had to be abandoned.
View image gallery here.
CEL Annual Report, 1936, Assistant Manager’s Report for the year ended 31st January 1935, pp.58-59.
SEC Annual Report, 1938 p.24.
SEC Annual Report, 1940, p.9.
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