Australian Sheep Breeders Association senior vice-president Ross McGouchie said it was not just a chance

“Right now there are 1200 sheep in this shed and 1600 in the one next door,” he said.

“All up I’d say there would be in excess of three-and-a-half thousand sheep in the showgrounds, which is the biggest gathering in Australia and maybe the world.”

Mr McGouchie said this show was a place to showcase the very best in the industry.

“What you’ve got at this particular show is the elite genetics of Australia. The best of every breed is here,” he said.

“People are competing to be champions, but they are also here in the hope of selecting semen or rams for their own breeding programs.”

Mr McGouchie said the trade was so lucrative people were willing to move their stock across the continent just for the show.

“It costs a lot, but they are bringing the very best here, so it can certainly be worth it,” he said.

Mr McGouchie is himself exhibiting entrants in various competitions and says it was a good opportunity to see how his stock stacked up against the completion.

“We haven’t had our sheep out to be judged yet, but we did well at a show not that long ago. We are hopeful, but hey, different judges, different days,” he said. 

Tom Russell and his family traveled to Bendigo from a property south-east of Horsham for the show, exhibiting the best of Melrose Merlino Stud’s stock.

“We’ve been coming here since before I was born. I reckon my old man has been doing it for 20 plus years.” he said.

Organisers said the show was not just a place to come together to talk about breeding regimes or the lamb and wool trades.

Today’s women of wool lunch was sold out, with a fashion show as well as more serious discussions about the struggles families have on the land.

Tomorrow visitors will be able to see entrants in the National Fleece Competition Awards, as well as more fashion parades and clothing from the Australian Wool Institute and site holders.

The Festival of Lamb will also run throughout the show and will include cooking demonstrations and the return of the popular Bob the Butcher.

The best shearers in the state will also vie for a place at the national titles with the state championships to be held over the weekend.

The show was established in 1877 and moved to Bendigo from Melbourne in 1999.

For more information, visit the Australian Sheep and Wool Show website.