Ekka, the shortened name for ‘exhibition’, began in 1876 when 17,000 people out of a total Brisbane population of 22,000 attended the show. This was the first time when the show was organised to celebrate Queensland culture and provide a unique opportunity for the urban and country residents to come together. Surprisingly, since then the show has been organised every year except 1919 when the influenza epidemic hit the city and 1942 when the showgrounds were used by troops participating in the war.
