Exhibition Hall (Showground)

Statement of Significance

Dowerin Exhibition Hall was first used in September 1939. Dowerin Show was a venue for various people to exhibit their skills. Flowers, food, garden vegetables and preserves, as well as needlework, were judged in the hall.
Today the hall remains in use. It has been divided in two. In one part, the lower, there is a concrete floor - this section is a store room. The other part has a timber floor and is used for gymnastic classes throughout the year.
The hall is an essential part of Dowerin Field Day as it is the site of most of the catering. It this has high social heritage value.

Physical Description

The Dowerin Exhibition Hall was constructed from cement bricks made in Dowerin. It is a plain unembellished building, sturdy and strongly built. Its tin roof is unlined, its windows are unglazed.
The concrete bricks are similar in style to diamond cut stone and this style is the major feature of the building. The front facade is smooth and painted

History

The first Dowerin Agricultural Show was held in 1917 although the Methodist Church held an annual flower show from 1910. The first exhibition hall was timber, unlined and with unglazed windows, where the grass tennis courts now stand to the east of the current exhibition hall. After the timber hall was damaged in a storm the current cement brick building was constructed. The last Dowerin Agricultural Show was held in the 1960s, some years after the start of the Dowerin Field Days. The current exhibition hall has had a number of purposes since then and currently is the venue for the art exhibition over the time of the Field Days, while the lower part is used by the youth club.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

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Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.