North Queensland Field Days 2016 — fifty years of displays

ACT’s original report records more than 50,000 visitors and around 300 exhibitors at the North Queensland Field Days.

Original ACT archive feature. Images from the ACT archive; no individual photographer is identified in the retained feature.

The North Queensland Field Days celebrated its 50 year milestone on May 18 and 19 when more than 50,000 people turned up.

Held every two years, the 2016 25th Field Days was again at the Stuart Correctional Centre Service Farm Reserve at Julago, which is off the Bruce Highway approximately 12km south from Townsville’s CBD.

It is one of the biggest of its type in Australia.

Times may be tough but many were there to check out state of the art trucks, machinery and equipment and to meet friends and colleagues.

This event is designed to support the industry and resource sectors, transportation, trades, safety, energy and mining throughout North Queensland, with exhibits by suppliers, service providers, government agencies and manufacturers.

They also provide an excellent environment for businesses and visitors to network, market, to obtain suppliers, contractors, products, services and industry contacts.

A lot of those in attendance were from Townsville but others came from around the Burdekin, Charters Towers, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands, out west and south to Rockhampton.

Organisers said around 300 exhibitors supported the Field Days and some have been to every event over the five decades.

Some of the new exhibitors came from as far away as Victoria and New South Wales

Rear Vision: where are they now?

Were you there, or have an update on the trucks and people featured here? Tell ACT what happened next. We will verify current updates before adding them to the archive.