Tourists are flocking to holiday in Maitland with the showground housing up to 100 caravans every week.
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The Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Association has been a camping site for half a century and offers 150 powered sites as one of its revenue streams.
Its function coordinator Bronwyn Bell said the venture was a good earner for the society, and allowed them to pour more money into restoring the showground.
She said tourists often returned once they experienced the peaceful surroundings, and they liked that it was pet friendly.
The showground has 150 powered sites and water and offers basic amenities and a dump point. It charges $25 per night or $150 for a week.
Ms Bell said the society wanted to expand its camping ground to help meet the demand, but said a lack of finances to upgrade the amenities were holding them back.
The grounds have three showers and three toilets in a block, as well as other toilet blocks.
“We average 50 to 100 through the week and we’ve certainly got the room to expand – we’d love to expand, we’d like to improve the amenities, put in more showers, and add a laundromat,” she said.
“Because the facility is so old – it’s the oldest ongoing showground on the mainland – every cent of revenue is put back into repairing the grounds.”
We average 50 to 100 through the week and we’ve certainly got the room to expand – we’d love to expand, we’d like to improve the amenities, put in more showers, and add a laundromat.
- Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Association function co-ordinator Bronwyn Bell
There have been renewed calls for a designated caravan park in Maitland to offer tourists a range of affordable accommodation.
It comes after sporting groups were forced to stay as far away as Lake Macquarie and Muswellbrook when they were competing at a Maitland sportsground.
The potential flow-on effects for tourism when concerts are held in the vineyards has also prompted the calls.
The society offers camping throughout the year except during Groovin the Moo, Maitland Show, and the annual Hunter Valley Caravan, Camping 4WD and Boating Show.
They also reduce the sites available at the beginning of each month as the markets use the whole grounds.
Ms Bell said the society would be open to a partnership with Maitland council to help cater for more caravans close to the CBD.
“We don't have the funds to do it, and we don’t qualify for a lot of grants because we’re privately owned,” she said.
Belinda-Jane Davis
Passionate about community news
Passionate about community news
