NSW Royal Agricultural Society, which hosts Sydney Royal Easter Show, celebrates 200 years

When you go to the Royal Easter Show this year, take a moment to reflect on how it all began.

Two hundred years ago, Sir Thomas Brisbane, the governor of Sydney's fledgling British colony, was deeply concerned about the need to produce more food.

In an effort to try and grow food crops and run livestock on better soils the white settlers forced the Indigenous population further inland and changed the landscape to a European model.

Brisbane was a scientist in the British mould, and he conducted experiments in growing tobacco, cotton and coffee and established the NSW Agricultural Society to foster a culture of experimentation and competition.

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Article written by: Michael Condon and Joshua Becker