From $25 to $500: How much are people spending at the Ekka?
'I've already spent $30 since I walked through the gate,' Samford resident Christine Martin said.
'You know that you're going to spend money when you come here, it's part of the day,' said Logan mum Ashlee Harris, who had recently arrived with her husband Mitchell and son Henry on Tuesday morning.
The Harris family budgeted between $100 and $300 for the day, but were hopeful they would be able to stretch that amount as much as possible.
'You can enjoy a lot of the things here without having to spend a lot of money,' Harris' husband Mitchell Harris said.
'If we go under [$300] that's great, but I think you can do a lot with that money,' she added.
For Emma Norris, the day's budget of $500 was fluid as she set out to make memories for her two children, rather than focus on the dollar amount.
'It's about the experience and [making] memories,' she said.
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7NEWS
6 days ago
- 7NEWS
Behind closed barn doors: when the Ekka's cuddliest stars clock off
As the sun sets over the Ekka's iconic RNA showgrounds in Brisbane, a different kind of hustle begins behind the scenes of one of the Royal Queensland Show's most beloved attractions, the Animal Nursery. While show rides roar, showbags rustle and the scent of dagwood dogs drifts into the evening air, there are 350 tiny, fluffy and feathered friends preparing for bed. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today From curious baby goats to squeaky piglets, puppies, alpacas and even a Highland cow named Ginty, the barnyard cast wraps up another day of cuddles, curiosity, and camera flashes. And lucky for James Kemp — the man who has behind the nursery for the past 27 years — let us in on the bedtime routine of the secret stars of the Ekka. Herding goats, chasing chickens, and puppies on the loose Every day at 5.30pm sharp, little lambs and sheep start trotting to the big barn doors on the side of the public area. 'They know exactly when it's bedtime,' James said. 'Most of them,' he added with a laugh, as staff gently shuffle a few latecomers from their public pens into their night shelters. 'All the sheep, goats, and other animals in the main yard, which are most exposed to the public, go into one pen. 'It's a night pen where they sleep and get fed again if they need it. 'There's water out there. It's nice and quiet. They get away from some of the noise.' Adorable newborns in tow, they are ushered into the barn by James and his crew of 12. 'The little baby ones in here that are six to eight weeks old, they're learning how to be the next generation to come through,' James explains. Once inside, they lie down, ready to fall asleep after a long day — except one. A mischievous goat can be seen stretching far up over the fence to reach for some hay, apparently still hungry from a big day. In the meantime, chickens — some more co-operative than others — are herded into their night quarters. One particularly cheeky, fluffy chook gave staff a run for their money, with six or seven people chasing her down before she finally rejoined her feathered gang. Animals that spent the day in smaller pens are then let out to burn off some energy. They get to run around in the main area where the sheep and goats were earlier. 'They're not let out all together — it's a controlled process — but they love it,' James told First, it's the puppies' turn, followed by the alpacas. 'They all get let out for a good zoom around,' James laughed. Good night, sleep tight Once their little legs had a good stretch, puppies, miniature horses, alpacas, llamas and donkeys wind down. Asked if James says goodnight to the animals each night, James chuckled. 'Yeah ... but not on camera!' It's clear the bond between farmer and farmyard runs deep. James started his nursery nearly three decades ago to connect city kids and grown-ups to the farm life. 'In the early days, we read in Queensland Country Life that one in ten Brisbane kids had never even patted a dog,' James recalled. 'We knew something had to change. 'We're here to educate, not just the kids, but the adults too. 'You'd be surprised how many people don't know the difference between a llama and an alpaca or that a horse isn't a cow.' In one memorable moment this year, a visitor was stroking a sheep and exclaimed, 'it feels just like a sheepskin!' James said he replied dryly, 'Yeah, mate, only this one still has a heartbeat.' Now, the nursery welcomes thousands of visitors each day. From toddlers to grandparents, everyone has a favourite, whether it's a wriggly piglet or a wide-eyed lamb. But, as cute as they are, they are not up for sale. 'I'd say if we said everyone could take an animal home, that all be gone before lunch,' he laughed. One of James' favourites is Ginty, the nursery's resident Highland cow. With her signature long horns and shaggy white coat, she's hard to miss and even harder not to love, James said. Ginty first appeared at the Ekka as a calf, and now, at three-and-a-half years old, she has returned to calmly and contentedly steal the spotlight. 'She's just out there chewing her cud,' James said with a grin. 'She's been eating all day. She's like a big white vacuum cleaner.' A home on the RNA Showgrounds Behind the gates marked as staff only, a different kind of paddock life unfolds — for the humans. James showed exclusively where he and his crew live during the Ekka. The 12 staff eat, work, and live together around the nursery, bunking in containers built atop the barn. There is a makeshift kitchen and a massive outdoor fridge, as well as a washing machine — not to mention a toilet and shower block — hidden away from the public eye behind green Ekka-fences. There's a tent turned 'dining room' with wooden tables and plastic chairs. James' daughter, Ally, is spotted 'crackin' a coldie' with him after a long day. 'We're still working hours after the public leaves,' James said. 'The animals come first.' Every night, stables are cleaned, water is topped up, pens are scrubbed, bedding is fluffed, feed is restocked, each animal is fed and checked. On top of that, the sawdust covering hundreds of square metres of the nursery's arena has to be replaced multiple times during the nine-day Royal Queensland Show. James and his team find their reward in the special moments of wide-eyed wonder, particularly when little children visit. 'You see kids come in terrified, and within 30 seconds, they're cuddling a goat. That's the magic of it.'
News.com.au
7 days ago
- News.com.au
Food truck slammed for ‘insane' burger price
Another day, another polarising menu item with an eye-watering price tag. This time, it's a $55 burger that's got the internet riled up. The 'Blockbuster Burger', from the Gold Coast's Smash Burgers, is on the menu at the Ekka – Queensland's annual agricultural show. For those not familiar with the event, it's formally known as the Royal Queensland Show and often attracts 400,000 visitors a year. Today, 'Ekka Wednesday', is even a public holiday in Brisbane – so it's a pretty big deal. Over 110 food vendors pop up at the gathering, which is held at Brisbane Showgrounds, and some iconic food items have even become synonymous with the show, such as the renowned strawberry sundae. This year, an epic-sized (and priced) burger is set to take out the top spot as the internet's most viral creation from the nine day event. The Blockbuster Burger features double beef patties, double smoky bacon, lettuce, tomato, special burger sauce, and liquid cheese, all held together inside a giant 'block bun,' which is a hollowed-out half loaf of bread. The decadent dish is served with chips and comes in at $55. A spokesperson for the Ekka told that it's 'designed to feed two … but to be honest, could feed more'. Optional extras cost between $2 and $4 and include gluten-free bun, extra cheese or meat, and bacon. 'It's huge,' the spokesperson continued. 'Visitors to the Ekka love trying new and wonderful food items … and the blockbuster burger certainly stands out among all the options available!' They also noted that Smash Burgers offers a range of other more affordable options, such as a regular smash burger and chips for $22. 'There are also plenty of other value menu items priced at $10 or less from other vendors, and family meal bundles starting from just $12 that can feed a family of four,' they added. Despite the novelty factor, it didn't take long for people to raise a few eyebrows online. 'That burger is more expensive than the ticket to enter the Ekka,' one person wrote, noting that an adult ticket is $40.95 and a child's is $26.95. Others called it a 'scam' and said anyone who paid that amount for a burger was an 'idiot'. 'Jesus Christ,' someone else simply said. 'No idea who would buy this'. 'Is this … real?' another confused commenter asked. 'What an absolute p**stake,' declared another. Someone else tried to break down the maths: 'So an extra patty is $4. That means the two patties in the burger are $8. Bacon is $3, so with two slices, that's $6. We're up to $14 now. Gluten-free bun is $3, which is more expensive, so let's say the standard bun is $2. Another $2 for the cheese. Now we're at $18. So there must be $37 worth of lettuce, tomato, and sauce in that burger.' Others wondered why the photo of the giant burger wasn't included on the menu board, instead, just a regular burger was pictured. 'A photo of the giant burger would at least gets me curious and explain why they want $55 for it … why advertise with just a basic burger?' someone asked. Others, after seeing the product, said they still wouldn't pay $55 for it. 'That looks like a 1kg brick of dog s**t,' one foul-mouthed comment read. 'Looks absolutely sh*thouse,' another equally as eloquent reply read. However, not all the commentary was negative. 'It is a bloody good whopping feed! Well worth the coin,' one happy punter declared.
News.com.au
13-08-2025
- News.com.au
‘Put it in your gob': Albo delights crowd at Brisbane Ekka, continues tradition of awkward food snaps with sundae moment
Anthony Albanese has delighted crowds at the Ekka on the public show holiday, enjoying snaps and following the pollie tradition of awkwardly tucking into the food staples. The Prime Minister touched down at the landmark Brisbane agricultural show on Wednesday and quickly set about mingling with show attendees while flanked by photographers and his press team. Mr Albanese spent some time sampling the Ekka's delicacies – from Queensland-made honey to luscious bananas – and even tucked into a famous strawberry sundae as photographers captured the unflattering moment. But unlike in 2023 – when awkward snaps captured Mr Albanese taking a cautionary lick of the sundae's cream – he spent no time in enjoying the sweet treat. In video captured by The Courier Mail, Mr Albanese even jokingly gestured to an ABC reporter holding her own sundae to 'put it in your gob'. He then quipped: 'I had to for the interview!' Politicians who have graced the Ekka have followed a tradition of being snapped in unflattering moments while trying to eat. Most notably, former opposition leader Peter Dutton caused a stir by tearing into a dagwood dog in 2022. He revealed it prompted some outrageous messages. 'Most of my mates actually were pretty rapid-fire texting me like, 'WTF', but anyway, what do you do?' Mr Dutton joked on 2Day FM the following day. 'With the cameras there, I mean you can't eat it from the side because the sauce drips off and you do a Bill Shorten … so it leaves one angle and it's not a great one. 'There is no good angle, so you just accept your fate, right? But chewing from the side was definitely not an option.' Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie was snapped in a similar position with a dagwood dog but took it on the chin – even taking it tongue-in-cheek by making prints of her eating the show staple. Even outside of the show, politicians have always looked awkward trying to dine. Tony Abbott was infamously captured biting into a raw onion, Bill Shorten almost forgot how to eat a sausage and roll as he tried to tackle it sideways, while Malcolm Turnbull ate a meat pie with a knife and fork.
