Database of Australian show routes

Database of Australian show routes

The Penny Gaff presents below a list of 10,000 days and dates that document the visits of circus and other travelling shows, mostly throughout Australasia, in the period 1833-1969.

Use the filters provided to narrow down your search to a date, location or show of particular interest. Consult the pdf at the bottom of the page for further information about this unique database.

If you have any corrections or additions to suggest, drop a line to the Penny Gaff by way of our Forum.

wdt_ID Day Month Year Location Region Details Genre Origin Source
1 16 Dec 1833 Sydney NSW Croft, Mr, tightrope dancer, at Theatre Royal B 1 SMH
2 5 Mar 1835 Parramatta NSW Tightrope dancing & c., at Governor's Arms, Windsor Road B 1 SMH
3 9 Apr 1835 Sydney NSW Tonson, Monsieur, at Theatre Royal B 2 SMH
4 26 Jun 1837 Sydney NSW Quinn, Master, tightrope dancing, at Theatre Royal B 1 SMH
5 31 May 1841 Launceston TAS Courtier, Mr Powell, The Celebrated Necromancer & Fire King J 2 CCh
6 13 Aug 1841 Hobart TAS Galt, Mr, slack rope artist, at Royal Victoria Theatre B 2 M
7 13 Aug 1841 Sydney NSW Dalle Case, Signor, & Gymnastic Co, at Royal Victoria Theatre B 5 SMH
8 30 Aug 1841 Hobart TAS Courtier, Powell, Fire King & Necromancer, at Royal Victoria Theatre J 2 M
9 9 Nov 1841 Sydney NSW King, Mr, leaper, at Royal Victoria Theatre B 2 SMH
10 27 Dec 1841 Sydney NSW Dalle Case's entertainments, in Lower Saloon, Royal Hotel B 5 SMH
11 9 Feb 1842 Sydney NSW Hughes, Croft & Martinnear B 1 SMH
12 19 May 1842 Sydney NSW Dalle Case's 'Brazilian girls', benefit performance B 10 SMH
13 31 Oct 1842 Adelaide SA Moorehouse’s, Mr, illustrated lecture on Comparative Anatomy K 1 SAA
14 14 Nov 1842 Hobart TAS Dalle Case, Signor, & Foreign Gymnastic Co, at Royal Victoria Theatre B 5 M
15 1 Dec 1842 Hong Kong CHI Dutronquoy & Company U 5 FCHKG
16 16 Dec 1842 Hobart TAS Dalle Case, Signor, & Foreign Gymnastic Co, at Albert Theatre B 5 M
17 27 Feb 1843 Launceston TAS Dalle Case, Signor, & Foreign Gymnastic Co B 5 CCh
18 11 Mar 1843 Launceston TAS Maladroit, Ducrow & Carlo, Messrs, at Theatre Royal Olympic B 2 CCh
19 22 Apr 1843 Launceston TAS Band of 99th Regiment, to play in Barrack Square R 2 CCh
20 5 Aug 1843 Launceston TAS Knowles, Montague & Cameron, The Mrs, at Olympic Theatre Z 2 CCh
21 14 Aug 1843 Sydney NSW Equestrian drama, at Royal Victoria Theatre B 1 SMH
22 16 Sep 1844 Hong Kong CHI Dalle Case, Signor, recently arrived from India B 5 FCHKG
23 26 Feb 1845 Launceston TAS Rea's, Professor, Balloon Ascent E 1 CCh
24 1 Oct 1845 Melbourne VIC Laurent's, M., slack rope performances B 5 Arg
25 22 Dec 1845 Sydney NSW Hughes and Croft, at Grand Christmas Gala, Rushcutter's Bay B 1 SMH
26 28 Feb 1846 Launceston TAS Courtier's, Mr Powell, entertainments, at Royal Olympic Theatre J 2 CCh
27 6 May 1846 Launceston TAS Risley, Monsieur & Sable Brethren, at Royal Olympic Theatre U 3 CCh
28 27 Jun 1846 Launceston TAS Courtier's, Mr Powell, benefit performance J 2 CCh
29 15 Jul 1846 Launceston TAS Hengler, Mons, celebrated tightrope dancer B 1 CCh
30 16 Jan 1847 Sydney NSW Merry-go-round S 1 SMH
31 28 Jan 1847 Port Phillip NSW Courtier, Mr Powell J 2 PPH
32 20 Apr 1847 Adelaide SA Hall & Plush’s, Messrs, dissolving views G 1 SAA
33 24 Apr 1847 Brisbane QLD Croft's, George, Amphitheatre A 1 MBC
34 15 Nov 1847 Launceston TAS American rope dancer B 1 CCh
35 27 Dec 1847 Launceston TAS Radford's Royal Circus A 1 CCh
36 17 Jan 1848 Adelaide SA Kesterton's, H., dissolving views, illustrated lecture & chromatrope G 1 SAA
37 30 Mar 1848 Hobart TAS Radford's Royal Amphitheatre A 1 M
38 24 May 1848 Launceston TAS Radford's Royal Amphitheatre A 1 CCh
39 11 Jun 1848 Sydney NSW Croft's tightrope performance at Royal City Theatre, postponed B 1 SMH
40 15 Jul 1848 Darlinghurst NSW Crofts', Mons & Mdme, tightrope dancing, in front of H.M. Gaol B 1 SMH
41 18 Jul 1848 Melbourne VIC Ammott, Mr, entertainer, at Mechanic's Institute V 2 Arg
42 2 Dec 1848 Goulburn NSW Rammo Sammo, Indian juggler B 2 GH
43 6 Dec 1848 Hobart TAS Ashton's appearance at Radford's B 1 M
44 26 Dec 1848 Launceston TAS Radford's Royal Amphitheatre A 1 CCh
45 1 May 1849 Melbourne VIC Hayes', Thomas Henry, circus A 1 Arg
46 4 May 1849 Melbourne VIC Quinn, John, walks tightrope across Yarra River B 1 Arg
47 21 Jul 1849 Sydney NSW Quinn's, John, benefit, at City Theatre B 1 SMH
48 1 Sep 1849 Windsor NSW Quinn, John, walks rope over Hawkesbury River, at Windsor punt B 1 BLS
49 22 Sep 1849 Maitland NSW Quinn, John, walks rope over Hunter River, opposite Fitzroy Hotel B 1 MM
50 13 Oct 1849 Melbourne VIC Ethiopian Serenaders, at Queen's Theatre Royal U 2 Arg
Day Month Year Location Region Details Genre Origin Source