Gilham, George and Wife
Nationality - TBC
Birth - Southwark, London, 26 November 1837 | Dublin, Ireland, abt 1844
Marriage - Mary Josephine Christy, Sandhurst, Victoria, 17 August 1862 | George Gilham, Sandhurst, Victoria, 17 August 1862
Death - Surry Hills, Sydney, 31 July 1887 | Melbourne, 14 September 1866
Career - George Gilham, an outstanding equestrian, was active in colonial circus from about 1852 until about 1883. He appears to have served his equestrian apprenticeship in Malcom’s Royal Australian Circus, York Street in the early 1850s. He first comes to notice as “Master Ord” in May 1852.
Copyright - Subject: George Gilham and Josephine Christy, equestrians with Burton’s Circus Date: c. 1860 Photographer: Not identified Courtesy: State Library of NSW, P1/626
With Burton’s Circus, Bathurst, 1851
Among Mr Burton’s riders was the noted George Gilham, a Sydney boy, whose exploits with horses were of such daring and original a character that an offer across sea was made of £50 a week to him. But times were good in Australia, and “George was too great a favourite to be allowed to leave”. (Australian Town & Country Journal, 3 August 1904, p. 34)
With Malcom’s Royal Australian Circus, Sydney, May 1852
The evening’s amusements will commence with an Act of Horsemanship by Master Ord, as , in miniature. (Empire, 10 May 1852, p. 1).
With Burton’s Circus, Bendigo, October 1861
… Mr Gilham, bare-backed, was worthy of especial notice. Of the ladies, we may mention favourably the dancing of Miss Christy … (Bendigo Advertiser, 31 October 1861, p. 2)
With Burton’s Circus, Adelaide, January 1862
… Miss Josephine Christy, whose performance on the somewhat unfavourable floor of the circus, was a most wonderful exhibition of graceful elasticity … Gilham was loudly applauded in the three-horse act, which is always considered a task for a first-rate horseman … Taylor introduced his balancing feats; Gilham followed with Master Waterland as the Olympians; and a display of daring leaps by the company over horses concluded the best Circus entertainment ever presented in Adelaide. (South Australian Register, 2 January 1862, p. 3)
With Burton’s Circus, Hobart, February 1871
Mr George Gilham’s display of horsemanship when riding two horses bareback around the circle and over the hurdles was greatly admired and loudly applauded … Mr Gilham’s English, Irish and Scotch (sic) performance on horseback was followed by a comic song by the popular clown, Mr Walter Airey, who was awarded with a heavy burst of applause … (Mercury, 28 February 1871)
Gilham, George and Wife
TBC
Southwark, London, 26 November 1837 | Dublin, Ireland, abt 1844
Mary Josephine Christy, Sandhurst, Victoria, 17 August 1862 | George Gilham, Sandhurst, Victoria, 17 August 1862
Surry Hills, Sydney, 31 July 1887 | Melbourne, 14 September 1866
George Gilham, an outstanding equestrian, was active in colonial circus from about 1852 until about 1883. He appears to have served his equestrian apprenticeship in Malcom’s Royal Australian Circus, York Street in the early 1850s. He first comes to notice as “Master Ord” in May 1852.
Copyright - Subject: George Gilham and Josephine Christy, equestrians with Burton’s Circus Date: c. 1860 Photographer: Not identified Courtesy: State Library of NSW, P1/626
With Burton’s Circus, Bathurst, 1851
Among Mr Burton’s riders was the noted George Gilham, a Sydney boy, whose exploits with horses were of such daring and original a character that an offer across sea was made of £50 a week to him. But times were good in Australia, and “George was too great a favourite to be allowed to leave”. (Australian Town & Country Journal, 3 August 1904, p. 34)
With Malcom’s Royal Australian Circus, Sydney, May 1852
The evening’s amusements will commence with an Act of Horsemanship by Master Ord, as , in miniature. (Empire, 10 May 1852, p. 1).
With Burton’s Circus, Bendigo, October 1861
… Mr Gilham, bare-backed, was worthy of especial notice. Of the ladies, we may mention favourably the dancing of Miss Christy … (Bendigo Advertiser, 31 October 1861, p. 2)
With Burton’s Circus, Adelaide, January 1862
… Miss Josephine Christy, whose performance on the somewhat unfavourable floor of the circus, was a most wonderful exhibition of graceful elasticity … Gilham was loudly applauded in the three-horse act, which is always considered a task for a first-rate horseman … Taylor introduced his balancing feats; Gilham followed with Master Waterland as the Olympians; and a display of daring leaps by the company over horses concluded the best Circus entertainment ever presented in Adelaide. (South Australian Register, 2 January 1862, p. 3)
With Burton’s Circus, Hobart, February 1871
Mr George Gilham’s display of horsemanship when riding two horses bareback around the circle and over the hurdles was greatly admired and loudly applauded … Mr Gilham’s English, Irish and Scotch (sic) performance on horseback was followed by a comic song by the popular clown, Mr Walter Airey, who was awarded with a heavy burst of applause … (Mercury, 28 February 1871)
