Roll up to the circus!

During the 1890s and early years of the twentieth century, the circus tent was arguably the most popular place of entertainment in Australia. Of the many native and foreign circuses which toured our continent throughout those years of emergent nationhood, the Fitzgerald Brothers’ Circus became the largest and most successful provider of circus entertainments across Australasia. Yet, despite thousands of performances during the years 1889-1908, very few pieces of ephemera remain. A recent week spent at the National Library revealed some unique and diverse articles relating to the Fitzgeralds, each of which casts light upon this important nineteenth century entertainment company.