''It's a dying art,'' said Ken Gray of one of the features of this year's showcase - a 1930s shearing plant.

''It's an engine-driven plant,'' he said. ''It was petrol driven and could be shifted from property to property or even out in the paddock. Everything is electric now, of course.''

Mr Gray busies himself picking up the wool from the sheep, while another club member mans the machine. People stop to watch and he says they are impressed - ''a lot of people haven't seen that sort of thing before''.

Organisers of this year's Bungendore Show feared a clash with Australia Day would hurt their chances of pulling a large crowd. But the number of visitors was at least on par with previous years, said show secretary Fiona Dwyer.

''We were pleasantly surprised,'' she said. ''It looks like everyone came out on Australia Day.''

Numbers were boosted this year thanks to a new stunt bike show from Eljay Freestyle Entertainment and the return of the woodchop contest for the first time in many years.

''And people still love the traditional things like the cattle, sheep and dogs … and the horses, always,'' Mrs Dwyer said.

''It looks like it's been a successful day.''