Why the Melbourne Show has a new name this year

The show is back after two years of COVID-19 cancellations and it’s had a slight name change.

It’s now known as the Melbourne Royal Show, ditching the ‘Royal Melbourne Show’ name that had been in use since 1948.

Melbourne Royal Chief Executive Brad Jenkins says the show has had a number of name changes since it began in 1848.

“We originally started as the Port Phillip Farmers Society and it was called the Great General Exhibition of Stock,” he told Tony Jones, filling in for Neil Mitchell.

“We do a lot more than run the signature event, the Melbourne Royal Show, we’ve got a whole host of other programs that celebrate food, wine, distilled spirits and agriculture, and as part of that they’re all going to be branded up the name of Melbourne Royal.”

Day one of the show has sold out, with a staggering 50,000 tickets sold!

Press PLAY below to hear why the name of the show has been tweaked

Image: Scott Barbour/Getty Images