Council has backed this weekend’s Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular, providing $10,000 to support the increasingly popular event which brings thousands of visitors and wide-ranging economic benefits to the region.
Now in its 10th year, the event to be held at Boonah Showgrounds on 11 and 12 June celebrates the history and heritage of the Clydesdale horse, which was used by pioneering Scottish and German families to transform the Scenic Rim’s bushland into a leading agricultural area.
Mayor Greg Christensen said Council’s support of the Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular represented an excellent return on investment for the region, with this year’s event expected to add more than $3.06 million to the local economy.
“This is an event that attracts competitors, participants and spectators from around Australia, as well as overseas, and attendance has grown exponentially since its establishment in 2013,” he said.
“More than 10,000 people are expected to attend this year’s Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular, celebrating our heritage and the magnificent horses which helped build our region.
“The Clydesdales cleared vast tracts of land and were vital to farmers in ploughing, planting and harvesting, playing a pivotal role in the establishment of the region’s agriculture sector.”
When the heavy horses were replaced by machinery, the Clydesdale breed declined in the 1960s but was revived in the Scenic Rim.
In 2012, an enthusiastic group of local breeders keen to preserve the Clydesdale’s 130-year history in the region approached the Boonah Show Society and formed a sub-committee to develop the Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular.
The two-day event showcases the heritage, history and culture of the Clydesdale breed with a range of heavy horse competitions and driving displays as well as rare trades demonstrations by harness makers, blacksmiths and wheelwrights.
It also features workshops, working dog and horse displays, rides, live entertainment, markets, and traditional Scottish food.
The Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular is supported through Council’s Regional Events Program Grants.
Division 5 Councillor, Cr Marshall Chalk said this event celebrates our region’s pride in its rich heritage and builds on the Scenic Rim’s reputation as a vibrant destination offering authentic visitor experiences.
“With an estimated economic benefit to the region of more than $3,064 million, the $10,000 grant represents an excellent return on investment for the Scenic Rim,” he said.
Mr Rick Stanfield, who chairs the Boonah Show Society’s Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular Sub-Committee, said Council’s support of the event was greatly appreciated.
“We are expecting a huge crowd and our ability to host our visitors will be greatly improved,” he said.
“The Clydesdale Spectacular has steadily grown over the past ten years and is a result of the great support shown by our community.”
The Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular runs from 8am to 5pm over the weekend of 11 and 12 June at Boonah Showgrounds, 8 Melbourne Street, Boonah.