{{Short description|Agricultural show grounds in Perth, Western Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}} {{Infobox venue | name = {{wikidata |property |P1448 }} | nickname = | image = 250px|Centenary pavilion | location = Claremont, Western Australia | mapframe-marker = slaughterhouse | mapframe-marker-colour = #BE1596 | mapframe-stroke-colour = #C60C30 | mapframe-zoom = 12 | coordinates = {{coord |region:AU-WA_type:landmark_dim:{{wikidata |property |qualifier |raw |P625 |P2386 |format=%q}} |name={{wikidata |property |P1448 }} |display=inline,title |format=dms}}{{EditAtWikidata|pid=P625}} | broke_ground = | opened = {{start date and age|{{wikidata |property |P1619 }}}}{{EditAtWikidata|pid=P1619}} | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia<ref>[http://www.perthroyalshow.com.au/raswa/about/history/ RAS history] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924053830/http://www.perthroyalshow.com.au/raswa/about/history/ |date=24 September 2008 }}</ref> | operator = Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia | surface = | construction_cost = | architect = | former_names = | tenants = Big Day Out (2002-2011, 2013)<br/>Perth Royal Show<br/>Claremont-Cottesloe Football Club (1926)<br/>Claremont Speedway (1927-2000)<br/>Supanova Pop Culture Expo (2008–2013)<br/>Claremont Football Club (2014–2016) | seating_capacity = 40,000 (Big Day Out 2011)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.raswa.org.au/libraries/forms-applications/2011-annual-report.pdf | title = Annual Report 2011 | access-date = 2012-07-05 | author = The Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia | date = 31 Mar 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121018152125/http://www.raswa.org.au/libraries/forms-applications/2011-annual-report.pdf | archive-date = 18 October 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref><br/>10,000 (WAFL matches)<ref>{{cite web|title=Claremont Showground|url=http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=240|website=Austadiums.com|publisher=Austadiums|access-date=11 July 2015}}</ref> | public_transit = {{ubli| {{rint|rail}} Showgrounds |{{rint|rail}} Claremont }} | dimensions = }} The '''Claremont Showground''' in Perth, Western Australia, is home to the annual Perth Royal Show. In 1902, {{convert|32|acres|ha|order=flip}} of land were reserved in Claremont, a suburb of Perth, for a new showground to replace the Guildford Showgrounds. The Royal Agricultural Show, of three days, was first held there in October and November 1905.<ref>{{cite news | last = Vigilans et Audax | title = The West Australian | date = 3 Nov 1905 | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25527358 | page = 4 | access-date = 2012-07-05}}</ref>

==History==

During World War I and World War II, the showgrounds were used to house and train Australian troops.<ref name=timeline>{{Cite web|access-date=2023-07-19|title=Timeline|work=RASWA|url=https://www.raswa.org.au/history/timeline/}}</ref>

In 1929, a pavilion and other features were built for the Western Australia Centenary.<ref>[http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/search~S1?/Xclaremont+showgrounds&searchscope=1&Da=&Db=&p=&SORT=D/Xclaremont+showgrounds&searchscope=1&Da=&Db=&p=&SORT=D&SUBKEY=claremont%20showgrounds/1%2C91%2C91%2CB/frameset&FF=Xclaremont+showgrounds&searchscope=1&Da=&Db=&p=&SORT=D&27%2C27%2C State reference library images of exhibits at the 1929 royal show]</ref>{{Dead link|date=February 2026}}

The Claremont Showground is serviced by a special events railway station on the Fremantle line. Opened on 20 September 1995, it has direct connection with the showgrounds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Claremont Showgrounds Railway Station opened {{!}} Western Australian Government |url=https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Court%20Coalition%20Government/Claremont-Showgrounds-Railway-Station-opened-19950920 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=www.wa.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> The original Showgrounds Station, opened in 1954, was located {{convert|350|m}} further east with platforms on either side of the line, and required negotiating road crossings to access the showgrounds.

==Bruce Campbell Arena== The Bruce Campbell Arena, an enclosed grass field forms the focal point of events at the Showgrounds.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.claremontshowground.com.au/venues/bruce-campbell-arena |title=Bruce Campbell Arena |publisher=Claremont Showground |access-date=28 April 2017}}</ref>

===Speedway=== {{main|Claremont Speedway}} From 1927 until 2000, the {{convert|586|m|yd|adj=on|abbr=off}} Claremont Speedway operated on a track around the edge of the arena. Its size made it the largest speedway in weekly operation in a state capital in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shepherd |first=Jim |date=August 31, 2003 |title=Claremont Speedway W.A. |url=http://www.vintagespeedway.com/Claremont.html |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=www.vintagespeedway.com}}</ref>

With the closure of Claremont, speedway in Perth moved to the {{convert|500|m|yd|adj=on|abbr=off}} Perth Motorplex Speedway in Kwinana Beach.

===Australian rules football=== The arena has in the past been used for Australian rules football matches. In the West Australian Football League (WAFL), Perth won its first premiership against East Fremantle there in 1907.<ref>{{cite news | last = Wing | title = Australian Rules Football - Further facts about early days | date = 23 Aug 1945 | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38568388 | work = The Western Mail | page = 47 | access-date = 2012-07-05}}</ref> They were the original home of Claremont-Cottesloe Football Club in its first year in the WAFL before moving to Claremont Oval in 1927. On 19 March 2005, the venue was used to host a one-off WAFL match between Claremont and West Perth, with Claremont winning in front of 7,812 spectators. Due to redevelopment of Claremont Oval, Claremont used the Showgrounds as its home ground between 2014 and 2016.<ref name="footballbudget">{{cite web | url=http://www.wafl.com.au/budget/download/2014/3 | title=Tigers and Lions go hunting in neutral territory | publisher=West Australian Football Commission | work=Football Budget | date=5 April 2014 | access-date=21 April 2014 | author=Lewis, Tracey | pages=4–5}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *Cooper, William., Moore, Garrick and Michael White.(2004) ''Adversity and achievement : a history of the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia'' Claremont, W.A.: The Society. {{ISBN|0-646-43969-3}}

==External links== *[http://www.raswa.org.au Royal Agricultural Society of WA] *{{austadiums|240}} {{West Australian Football League}}

Category:Landmarks in Perth, Western Australia Category:Culture in Perth, Western Australia Category:West Australian Football League grounds Category:Defunct speedway venues in Australia Category:Claremont Football Club Category:Event venues established in 1902 Category:Showgrounds in Australia