2016 ANNUAL REPORT Contents Mission The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA) is committed Who we are 4 to celebrating and championing agriculture and the essential role it plays in the everyday Delivering our strategy 5 lives of Queenslanders. We do this by showcasing and rewarding President’s report 6 the very best of the best through our Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) and Chief Executive’s report 8 Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show (RQFWS) competitions. Your Ekka 12 Our education programs and promotions are also designed to A passion for produce 22 advocate for agriculture and reflect the association’s Our business 26 core charter. The RNA has been Your venue 30 committed to ensuring the community Brisbane Showgrounds precinct 34 recognises the vital role agriculture plays Governance 38 in everyday life since 1875. Financial report 45 Historical timeline 67 2 2016 RNA Annual Report 2016 RNA Annual Report 3 who we are delivering Our Business Focus Founded in 1875, the RNA is an independent, The association’s guiding mission is to celebrate Governed by 21 elected Councillors, the RNA not for profit member based association that has and champion the essential role agriculture plays represents more than 5,000 members across freehold title to the iconic Brisbane Showgrounds. in the everyday lives of Queenslanders. Queensland and further afield, many whose families our strategy have been involved with the RNA for generations. Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show (RQFWS) Year in review 2016 was a very successful year for the RNA. milestones reached. February saw the Strong growth was recorded across our venue opening of the four and a half star Rydges business; major milestones were reached Hotel, which for the first time provided in our ongoing Brisbane Showgrounds critical onsite accommodation for our venue Regeneration Project plus attendance at the business, Ekka visitors and the general The Royal Queensland Show (Ekka), is Queensland’s largest and most Launched in 2009, the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) increased for public. King Street also opened to traffic loved annual event. It’s run by the RNA on behalf of the community (RQFWS) is designed to recognise and reward outstanding the first time in three years. in February, linking St Pauls Terrace and for 10 days each year in August. While providing entertainment and producers and their produce through its individual competitions: Gregory Terrace. As a not for profit, the RNA recorded a fun, the show is also the platform for some serious competition, Cheese and Dairy Produce; Ice cream, Gelato and Sorbet; Branded positive EBITDA result for 2016 of $87,000 Following Ekka, five restaurants opened attracting more than 21,000 entries across 48 competition sections Beef; Branded Lamb; Wine; Ham, Bacon and Smallgoods; and an improvement on 2015’s EBITDA loss of progressively to launch the start of the King each year. International and national judges attend to award the best Sausage King and Best Butchers Burger. The RQFWS has grown $349,000. This was due to an outstanding Street dining precinct - The George Bar in agriculture, fine arts, horse events, canine and feline, beef and dairy rapidly in recognition and awareness throughout the industry and is revenue result from our venue sales and a and Bistro, Fat Dumpling, Sushi & Nori, cattle, boer goats, fleece, poultry and birds, pisciculture, woodchop known as Queensland’s premier food and wine competition. successful Ekka which recorded growth in Hello Chicken and Il Verde. Construction and sawing and more. The show also provides an important ticket sales, yield and attendance. also started post Ekka on the retail concept educational focus for students, who compete for awards in art, Kings Co-op and its 375 bay, multi-storey gardening and multimedia. The Ekka, which has always been a place In 2016, the RNA’s overall turnover, excluding car park. In 2017, the redevelopment will for businesses to show and sell their wares, is Queensland’s largest net redevelopment revenue, declined by continue with major stage three works and most targeted marketplace attracting more than 400 retailers. 1.9 per cent to $29.2 million. Event revenue starting including the Large Animal Pavilion was impacted by the closure of several and the world’s largest timber building music festivals in 2016 - Soundwave and Placemaking Royal International Convention Centre (Royal ICC) known as 5 King. & Brisbane Showgrounds Stereosonic. However this was offset by the Royal International Convention Centre The RNA’s EBITDA levels will continue to recording a 40 per cent growth in revenue, be marginal for the next decade until the while the Ekka recorded a 24 per cent annuity assets being created through the increase in net operating surplus. redevelopment project return cash flow to the RNA. Under our project agreement, The RNA also recorded a net redevelopment earnings from the annuity assets are revenue for the year of $5.8 million (funds retained under the RNA Development Fund The $2.9 billion, 15 year Brisbane Showgrounds Regeneration The Brisbane Showgrounds is a venue business, which hosts almost to be deposited into the RNA Development and quarantined for use for future project Project is one of the largest mixed-use, urban regeneration projects 300 events each year including exhibitions, conferences and music Fund), resulting from the further settlements costs. This is all part of our long term in Australia. The revitalisation of the Showgrounds generates year festivals, across its 22 hectares. of The Green residential apartments. 2017 round vitality throughout the precinct, while ensuring the Royal strategic plan and requires a very disciplined The Royal International Convention Centre (Royal ICC) is a world-class, will see the settlement of 401 apartments Queensland Show remains on the site where it all began in 1876. approach to cash flow management until two-level building featuring three halls with state-of-the-art rigging, from The Yards residential development. Once complete, more than 15,000 people will live, work and play these assets are returned to the RNA. seven adaptable meeting rooms, two boardrooms, an open foyer, 140 each day at the Brisbane Showgrounds, which is fast becoming 2016 was a major year for the regeneration car parks and catering facilities with award-winning menus on offer. Queensland’s most prominent lifestyle and events precinct. project with several stage two development 4 2016 RNA Annual Report 2016 RNA Annual Report 5 through the Ekka, our educational programs Almost 4,000 exhibitors travelled from across important the next generation of students and food and wine competitions. This year the country to compete for their chance to understand the importance agriculture plays our Royal International Convention Centre win a coveted blue ribbon, with more than in their lives and the RNA is steadfast in its recorded a growth in sales of 40 per cent 1,300 of those first time competitors. There commitment to this. with the revenue raised funding our mission. were some new and exciting competitions In 2017, the RNA will celebrate the 140th In 2017 work will start on our Large Animal in 2016 including the Fashions on the Field anniversary of the Ekka and we are grateful President’s Pavilion which will come into operation at the competition held on Thoroughbred Day. The to the generosity of more than 800 volunteers 2018 show. new 330 day Paddock to Palate Wagyu who give their time each year to help us The 2016 Ekka was a true celebration of Challenge was also launched, with the winners stage this remarkable event on behalf of heritage and innovation, welcoming The Old to be announced in 2017. the community. The 2016 Ekka was a great Museum back to the show for the first time in More than 500 women attended our second success in once again bringing country to the 119 years, and introducing historic discounts RNA Charity Fundraiser, held on Ekka eve city in a 10 day celebration of the best of the to make the show the best value ever. The Old which raised more than $40,000 to purchase best in our state. For the first time in three report Museum was first constructed by the RNA in iPads for children, whose families reside years we increased attendance at the show 1891 as Brisbane’s first Exhibition Building. in drought affected areas, and are being and I would like to sincerely thank my fellow The Queensland Government took control educated through the Mt Isa and Charters councillors for their invaluable efforts and longer tied solely to our iconic Ekka, as our 2016 including construction on Kings Co-Op of the building in 1897 following a major Towers Schools of Distance Education. enthusiasm. I would also like to pay tribute to Showgrounds now attract a million visitors a and its multi storey carpark. economic depression. In 1899 it became the In 2016, the Ekka’s Ag Hall featured a new the RNA’s staff, ably led by our Chief Executive year and our $2.9 billion regeneration project The importance of the regeneration project Queensland Museum. interactive rural journey for children, to help Brendan Christou, our volunteers, judges and is transforming our precinct into a world class cannot be overstated in its aim to ensure the In 2016, The Old Museum became the new the next generation understand that everything stewards for their hard work during the year. lifestyle and events destination. long term sustainability of our not for profit home of Ekka’s Flower and Garden Exhibition starts with agriculture, from the food they 2016 was a transformative year for the RNA as association, including the Ekka.