THE Gawler Show has missed out on a grant funding opportunity that would have helped with the upgrade of its Nixon Terrace showgrounds.

Successful recipients of the federal government’s $20 million Regional Agricultural Show Development Grants Program were announced last week, with 19 of the 122 successful recipients based in South Australia and sharing in $2.3 million.

Gawler Show secretary Kate Cowell said that the Gawler Show was unsuccessful but that the show society is very happy for all the shows which were.

The AgShows program provides grants of up to $500,000 to eligible regional show societies and their state and territory peak bodies, and can be used to repair, upgrade, build or buy showground infrastructure or attractions.

The grant activities are aimed at keeping agricultural shows running, invigorating regional communities and bridging the divide between country and city.

Organisers of the Mount Pleasant Show were successful in their application for $124,000 to build a new administration building.

The wheel-chair friendly build will include suitable space and access for use by community groups at Talunga Park, as well as have a disability-accessible toilet.

There are around 580 agricultural shows across Australia, contributing to around $965 million to the economy each year.