{{Short description|Showground in Maitland, Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox venue | name = Maitland Showground | nickname = | logo_image = | logo_caption = | image = | image_size = | caption = | location = Maitland Showground, Blomfield St, South Maitland NSW 2320, Australia | coordinates = {{coord|32|44|41|S|151|33|46|E|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=inline,title}} | broke_ground = | built = | opened = 1873 | public_transit = | owner = | operator = | scoreboard = | cost = | capacity = | record_attendance = | dimensions = | tenants = | website = }}
'''Maitland Showground''' is an multi-purpose outdoor recreational area located on Blomfield Street, Evans Street and Louth Park Road, in Maitland, New South Wales, Australia.<ref name=OH>{{cite web |url=https://maitlandshowground.com.au/our-history/ |title=Our History | website=Maitland Showground |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref> The site is used for the annual Maitland Show (a show for agriculture, livestock and other exhibits).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://maitlandshowground.com.au/msevents/maitland-show/ |title=Countdown to Maitland Show | website=Maitland Showground |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> It also includes the greyhound racing stadium known as Maitland Greyhounds<ref name=MG>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedogs.com.au/tracks/maitland |title=Maitland NSW| website=The Dogs |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref> and the Maitland Harness Racing Club, around the exterior of the greyhound track.<ref name=HRC>{{cite web |url=https://www.harness.org.au/maitland/maitland.cfm |title=Maitland Harness Racing Club | website=Harness.org |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref> The site is also a historic landmark for motorcycle speedway having been regarded as the birth of the sport on 15 December 1923.<ref name=MS>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-15/maitland-celebrates-100-years-of-speedway/103126188 |title=Maitland celebrates 100 years of speedway motorcycle racing, and a place in international sporting history | newspaper=ABC News |date=14 December 2023 |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref>
Groovin' The Moo music festival occurred annually at Maitland Showground from 2006 to 2023, with a two year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newstead |first=Al |date=2022-02-28 |title=The stacked Groovin The Moo 2022 line-up is Moo-sic to our ears |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/groovin-the-moo-2022-line-up-announce-canberra-maitland-bendigo/13774328 |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=triple j |language=en-AU}}</ref> Artists such as Silverchair, The Black Keys, Billie Eilish, and Fatboy Slim performed at the festival to crowds of over 17,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Disalvo |first=Tom |date=2026-02-16 |title=Groovin The Moo Announces Long-Awaited 2026 Return After Two Years Of Cancellations |url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/music/groovin-the-moo-returns-2026/ |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=PEDESTRIAN.TV |language=en-US}}</ref>
== History == The site owned by the Albion Cricket Club at the time was purchased by the Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Association in 1873, although it continued as their venue for their cricket ground. Further purchases increased the size of the area to 80 acres.<ref name=OH/> The grandstand was renovated in both 1905 and 1920.<ref name=OH/>
On 15 December 1923, motorcycle speedway was introduced to the Showground. It is regarded that this was the birth of this popular form of motorcycle racing. New Zealander Johnnie Hoskins took a job as secretary of the West Maitland Agriculture Society and made the decision to introduce speedway.<ref name=MS/> A man called Jim Cameron built the track and the sport boomed and was then introduced to the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/maitland-showground-speedway.html |title=Maitland NSW | website=Speedway and Road Race History |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref> The Maitland speedway hosted the Australian Solo Championship in 1952<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmaustralii.php|title=Individual Australian Championship|website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego|access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref> but the speedway ended at Maitland on 29 March 1952.
In 1927, the greyhound stadium was built within the showgrounds.<ref name=OH/> As of 2024, racing takes place primarily on Mondays and the track is 632 metres in circumference, although race distance are 400, 450 and 565 metres.<ref name=MG/>
In 1936, the harness racing began.<ref name=OH/> As of 2024, it primarily takes place on Sundays and is a 775.60 metres circumference circuit.<ref name=HRC/>
From 2006 to 2023 Groovin' the Moo touring music festival annually stopped at Maitland Showground. The festival saw a mix of local and international acts, and had a capacity of 17,500.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Network |first=Music |date=2015-10-27 |title=Groovin’ The Moo on track to sell out |url=https://themusicnetwork.com/news/groovin-the-moo-on-track-to-sell-out |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=themusicnetwork.com |language=en}}</ref> Touring complexities from the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the 2020 and 2021 editions of the festival being cancelled, however in 2021 a smaller festival titled Fresh Produce occurred in its place which consisted exclusively of Australian artists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newstead |first=Al |date=2022-02-28 |title=The stacked Groovin The Moo 2022 line-up is Moo-sic to our ears |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/groovin-the-moo-2022-line-up-announce-canberra-maitland-bendigo/13774328 |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=triple j |language=en-AU}}</ref> Groovin' the Moo was announced for Maitland Showgrounds in 2024, but cancelled 2 weeks later due to low ticket sales. Maitland was not included as a location when a scaled down festival was announced in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Griffiths |first=Neil |date=2026-02-16 |title=Groovin the Moo Announces 2026 Return With One-Off Show |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/groovin-the-moo-2026-91168/ |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=Rolling Stone Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Motorcycle speedway tracks in Australia}}
Category:Maitland, New South Wales Category:Sports venues in New South Wales Category:1873 establishments in Australia