The Canning Agricultural, Horticultural and Recreational Society Inc.
Founded 1894 Established 1909
THE STORY OF CAHRS ONE HUNDRED YEARS
1909 – 2009
Early Years:
Around the year 1894 a group of pioneers from the community of Cannington, WA conducted horticultural shows at the local primary school. Cannington was then recognised as the focal point for the surrounding rural settlement and was the chosen site for an Agricultural Hall to be built at the corner of the Albany Road and Station Street. In its endeavour to encourage the formation of agricultural societies within rural communities, the State Government granted funds for the hall which was built on one half acre made available by the Canning Road Board. The Hall was opened for use in 1896 and became the home of social activity and meetings for persons interested in local agriculture. A body to be known as the Canning Agricultural and Horticultural Society was formed to be affiliated with the Royal Agricultural Society of WA and incorporated in the year 1909. From this time on, annual Agricultural Shows have been held at this site, other than during war periods.
Property Ownership:
From the date of its formation to the present time, the Society has acquired adjoining parcels of land bordered by the Albany Highway, Station Street, Grey Street. and Liege Street comprising 12.9736 ha held in fee simple title, together with the area of two crown reserves of .5568 ha vested in the Society. This land is located within the City of Canning Region Centre under its Town Planning Scheme No.40 and under Policy 4.8 Stadium Precinct. It is strategically positioned with a substantial frontage to the Albany Highway, access to essential utility services, close to public transportation of bus and rail and adjoins the commercial complex of Westfield Carousel.
As an Agricultural Society affiliated with the Royal Agricultural Society, the Canning Society is some what unique by virtue of its land ownership. It no longer serves a rural community, but is located within an urban environment with assets in the order of $33 million, with no liabilities.
Society Buildings:
Of its total holding, the Society occupies for its purposes .5790 ha on which it conducts the affairs of the Society and has built several halls and administration office.
These buildings comprise 943m2 Exhibition Hall, 639m2 (1984) Liddelow Hall and office (2001) and 363m2 Vickery pavilion (1998). These community facilities are titled the ‘Cannington Exhibition Centre’, available for use by kindred bodies and organisations as permitted under the terms of the Constitution of the Society . All buildings are air conditioned with modern facilities. The current depreciated value in in the order of $2.6m.
Constitution and Administration:
With the introduction of greyhound racing and expansion of the premises under the control of the Society, the constitution and rules were amended to add ‘Recreational’ to the title, such now being the “Canning Agricultural, Horticultural and Recreational Society Inc.”.
The Objects under this constitution were also expanded to include – “To promote participate in and encourage public participation in all forms of sport and racing recreation and cultural affairs including arts crafts music and theatre vocational courses lectures and conferences exhibitions and demonstrations by use of buildings and premises under the care and control of the Society.” The Society is a voluntary, non profit organisation which relies upon the involvement of its members to conduct its programme of activities.
Membership of the Society is open to any person who is a member of and associated with one or other of the recreational or community activities which is conducted on the premises of the Society.
The present membership is 108 persons. Subscriptions are $15 per annum. Affiliate membership is granted to eleven organisations with similar activities of the Society, with a subscription of $55 per annum.
The administration is managed by a Committee of Management of eleven elected members. The Society engages an Executive Officer and Administrative Assistant who are the only paid employees. The Committee is advised by a Professional Consultant on affairs of finance and property management.
Activities:
The activities performed on the property of the Society are wide and varied. The halls and pavilions are in constant use by those organisations that come within the description under the’ Objects’. These users are not confined to the City of Canning but consist of active groups throughout the metropolitan area. The Vickery Pavilion is leased to the Defense Services for Air Training Corp purposes, allowing the Society to support youth activities.
To offset maintenance and running costs, hire charges are levied for hall use. These are divided into categories depending on the degree of non profit activities as follows -
| Category 1 | Non profit activities ie exhibitions | 30% discount |
| Category 2 | Conduct of events charging fees | 15% discount |
| Category 3 | Social events | full charge |
Affiliated bodies under Category 2 are granted an additional 15% discount.
The levy of charges is assessed on operating costs and are usually below hire charges by other bodies. An affinity with the Society is fully appreciated by the users . These halls and buildings are in constant use and booked two years in advance.
Over the past ten years or more, the Society has had a close association with the Canning Arts Group at Riverton in the production of the Canning Art Award, now recognised as a significant award. Granting the free use of the Exhibition Hall over a ten day period, and donating $500 has assisted the Group. The Cannington Exhibition Centre is now accepted as being ideal to conduct public displays for this type of production.
Greyhound Racing Venue:
During the early 1970’s the State Government brought down legislation to permit greyhound racing . The Society saw the opportunity to develop portion of its holding to construct a greyhound racing venue. It was instrumental in forming an Association to apply for a licence, which was granted in 1973. The Society there upon constructed the buildings and track which exist today at a cost of $2 million, leasing the premises to the Canning Greyhound Racing Association. This body has since changed to the present W.A. Greyhound Racing Association (WAGRA). A lease of 30 years with two 30 year options was entered into. The lease area contains 12.3946 ha. Rental for the premises has varied over years, but from 2006 amounts to $450,000 pa.
The lease permits the Society to have common use of the premises outside of race meetings, and full use of the whole premises to hold the Canning Show.
The first term of this lease will expire in 2011. The location of the premises and changed circumstances of both parties has considerably changed the original position . WAGRA and the Society are currently negotiating the relocation of the racing track to the vacant rear part of the site allowing WAGRA to build a ‘state of the art’ premises.
Should WAGRA decide to exercise its option for a further 30 year lease, this could alter the future plans of the Society. However it has clearly stated that such action would not be in the long term interest of both bodies and WAGRA should look seriously at the preferred option to move to the rear land. This decision may not be available until February , 2010.
Canning Show:
The organisation of this annual event remains one of the main tasks of the Committee of Management . Held in the first week of November, the Show attracts around 11,000 people to take part in a full programme of entertainment and display of cultural exhibits by local residents. The catchment for the Show extends beyond Canning and is more related to the population in the South East Metropolitan area where approximately 400,000 reside. The 2008 Show exhibited over 2,000 entries for a full range of cultural activity. The Society conducts this function without financial support from any government body and aims to recover its outlay only. It will continue to be a major event with the scope to encourage greater participation from the community.
FUTURE DIRECTION AFTER 2011
Strategic Plan:
At the Annual General Meeting of members of the Society for 2006, the Committee of Management placed before the meeting a questionnaire to ascertain the ‘Future Direction’ of the Society. On the basis of the greyhound racing venue moving from its existing site, it will allow for the redistribution of space required to provide for the Society’s need well into the future. Members were asked to indicate their preference for improvements. The greater majority voted in favour of the following activities -
- Additional exhibition space
- Cultural workshops – arts, crafts, music, theatre
- Conference and display facilities
- Social and family activity halls
- Performing arts and concert theatre
- Indoor sports building – archery, bowls etc
- Indoor entertainment centre.
The City of Canning has produced a ‘Visionary Concept’ of the way the Region Centre could develop. It showed the premises of the Society as the focus for progressive change by integrating with other Centre interests to be part of a ‘Resort Style of Recreational Complex’. The Society has embraced this vision, indicating to the City it is prepared to co operate in future planning processes to achieve a workable Strategic Plan.
Financial Implications:
The Committee of Management is well aware the cost of future development and improvements will be substantial, well beyond the resources of the Society as presently established. While there is some prospect of outside financial assistance, the bulk of cost will need to come from funds derived by the Society from its assets.
The Society relies entirely upon revenue from its premises to finance activities. For this reason, a policy has been adopted in the past not to dispose of its land, but to create opportunities for rental premises.
A thorough professional examination of the options open to the Society lead to the possibility of it taking advantage of the commercial value of the property, and to utilise this to provide funds capable of financing desired improvements. Much more has to be done in this regard. It does appear however a self sufficient development for a Community Project of this magnitude is feasible and well worth pursuing.