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 |
