By Melissa Coleman
In 1906, the first official Warwick Rodeo was held, making it Australia’s oldest rodeo.
There was no doubt that the Rodeo would become one of the toughest events in the rural area.
It was full steam ahead and by 1928 Warwick had become home to the regular Australian Champions.
The Warwick Gold Cup known as the “Holy Grail” was first presented to the winner of the open campdrafting competition in 1931 by Queensland Governor Sir John Goodwin.
It was after this that the Rodeo Society backdated the Gold Cup to 1928-1930 campdraft winners, each receiving acknowledgement.
Warwick business houses sponsored the event every year.
Although the Warwick Rodeo was not held during WWII, many rodeos were held at the grounds by American forces and charity groups.
No results for these events were kept and over the years, people who claimed to have won Warwick Rodeo during those war years cannot be validated.
In 1940 the Warwick Rodeo was immortalised in song by Australian country music legend Buddy Williams.
The song was called Heading for the Warwick Rodeo.
As early as the 1940s, saddle bronc rides were known as open buckjump rides, and Cobb & Co offered a hefty purse were valued at $200 for the winner.
Back then the weekly wage was $10.
Following the end of the war in 1946, the Warwick Rodeo committee was the second to affiliate with the new Australian Rough Riders Association (ARRA).
The first committee was Marrabel, South Australia, just two weeks earlier.
This affiliation continues today, however ARRA has become the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA).
