Former Nowra Show secretary and well-known local historian, Alan Clark, AM, has agreed to prepare a history in time for the sesquicentenary.

And Mr Clark, who already has an amazing list of local history and Shoalhaven cricket books already published, would love to hear from you. And you can catch up with him and other members of the Shoalhaven Historical Society at their stand at this weekend's show.

It will be a busy weekend for Mr Clark, who on Sunday will also launch his 17^th Shoalhaven Cricket book from 3pm at the Cambewarra School of Arts, of course on the History of Cambewarra Cricket.

Read more:Action packed program for 2022 Nowra Show

"It would be impossible to provide a comprehensive history of the society and its annual exhibitions, so we've settled on a system of picking out highlights and anecdotes from every show," Mr Clark said.

The earliest Shoalhaven event similar to the agricultural shows of today occurred in March 1855 at Greenhills - in the vicinity of where Graham Lodge stands today.

There were also four shows conducted by the Shoalhaven Estate Agricultural Society in the 1860s, before the establishment in 1874 of the Shoalhaven Agricultural and Horticultural Association - that became Nowra Show Society in 1983.

The first event organised by the A and H was a ploughing match in 1874 which was followed by the inaugural show in 1875.

Alan has started to systematically read about every show to write a page or two of information, and has worked his way through the 1870s and '80s into the '90s.

Read more: Record crowds at 1903 Nowra Show

The show of 1875 was held at Terara on the site recently vacated by the Presbyterian congregation when the St Andrew's Church opened at Nowra.

A majority of members then lived at Terara, but after years of enticing, the show eventually moved to Nowra in 1886.

For the 11 shows held at Terara, the association's rental had remained at £5.

Among the successful exhibitors of that era was Etienne de Mestre of the Terrara Estate who was widely known as a racehorse trainer, in particular, his five Melbourne Cup winners, including of course Archer who won the first two cups.

de Mestre won the cup five times in its first 18 years and held the record for training the most Melbourne Cup winners for nearly 100 years, which was finally broken by Bart Cummings in 1977.

Along with Archer in 1861 and 1862, and later trained a further three winners: Tim Whiffler (1867); Chester (1877); and Calamia (1878).

Naturally he won at the show with horses including the draught breeds, but also with sheep and vegetables; while his wife Clara (using her own initials) had success with flowers, jams and preserves.

While some of the ploughing contestants used bullocks, John Watson of Comberton Grange preferred horses, and he was unbeaten until 1881.

The pavilion displays must have been amazing, for potatoes were for many years in entries of half a cwt (25kg).

Read more: Reclaim the Night March to launch Shoalhaven International Women's Day activities

Then there were the apples brought from Wandandian by teacher James Booth, who sometimes arranged them in the shape of a pyramid.

After earlier bringing fruit on his packhorse, Booth needed a dray in 1883 when he brought 50 distinct varieties of apples.

Results in the vegetable classes reveal a large number of growers with Chinese ancestry.

Read more: TAFE to offer micro-brewing course in regional areas

The A and H had a number of differences of opinion with trustees of the Nowra Showground, but they managed to make regular improvements.

Tenders closed in November 1887 for construction of the original grandstand, and remarkably it was being used two months later during a sports meeting when Nowra celebrated Australia's Centennial.

It is hard to comprehend that at least six shows were held at Nowra before water was laid on to the site.

"One of the most difficult tasks in writing the show history is deciding which people deserve more than a paragraph or two," Mr Clark said.

"I know we will not please everyone," he said.

"There will be a passing reference to the caretaker of the ground in the early 1890s, one Isaac Stott who as a young teenager in England had been convicted of being a pickpocket and transported to Australia in 1834.

Read more: COVID stops Kiama's Cupid's Undie Run but you can still bare a little to help find a cure for neurofibromatosis

"He had reached the Shoalhaven by 1875 when he married a widow, Sarah Ann Knight (nee Vidler)."

While Alan will prepare the text for the history, he has the assistance of fellow Shoalhaven Historical Society member Geraldeen Walker who will be gathering photographs of the show from over the years.

Alan and Geraldeen will both be at the Nowra Show this weekend and hope to speak with patrons who have stories to tell about the show - and perhaps, photographs, medallions and other memorabilia.

The Shoalhaven Historical Society's latest publication, On This Day in The Shoalhaven will go on sale for the first time at the show, and patrons visiting the stand will be able to ask, "What happened on my Birthday?"

We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.