Circus elephants and riders at Rosewood, ca. 1928
Photo: State Library of Queensland

Rosewood History

Roll up! Roll up! The Circus is in town.

Can you hear it, the clown music?  (Listen to “Entry of the Gladiators by Julius Fučík)

Why does hearing that tune or the word “circus” evoke such feelings of nostalgia to those of us who’ve had the magical experience of going to a circus?

Back in 1921 C. J. Dennis wrote a poem in which he succesfully conveyed his love for the big top, urging everyone to join in the fun and excitement. It was one of the poems I learnt in my school years and have never forgotten.

You may remember the phrase “run away and join the circus”. Some people did. It sounded like freedom and a way to escape. That’s what going to the circus was, escaping to a world of spectacle, seeing things you’d never seen before. The outlandish costumes and makeup, the fear and excitement felt when watching the lion, tiger and elephant acts, the fascination and awe of the trapeze and acrobats and the laughter resulting from interactions with the clowns were all amazing to a child. So much so that countless children dressed as clowns for their Fancy Dress Balls over the years. 

The spectacle started in Rosewood when the circus troupe arrived at the railway station and a menagerie of cages, animals and extremely interesting people made their way to an empty paddock and later to the showgrounds. The elephants were unloaded and they pulled the wagons along Railway Street to their destination. Suddenly a huge tent appeared which was visible to almost everyone in town. The novelty of the sight attracted large numbers of people from the all over the district and beyond and it was not unusual to see people strolling around the area eager to catch a glimpse of the exhibits.

Little Ivy Collett from John Street, was a member of the Sunshine Club (Q.T.) in 1926. She wrote, The circus is coming here on Wednesday, and all the school children love sitting on the school fence watching the elephants going backward and forward.

The first circus to visit Rosewood was St Leon’s Circus. The proprietor, Matthew St Leon, was an acrobat and equestrian. On Saturday night the 29th April 1882, they performed to a crowded house and the spectators enjoyed acts of horsemanship by the lady and gentleman equestrians. The Leons professed they were the only circus in Australia to have lady riders. Acrobatic and gymnastic feats led by Monsieur Scho, who performed the difficult and astonishing feat of revolving one hundred somersaults, enthralled the crowd. I wonder how many children tried that the next day? There were dogs, monkeys, bare-back horse riding and Alf St. Leon with his wonderful three trick horses Empress, Silver and Rob Roy. Also Japanese performers on a single wire and pole and Mr. Taylor with his knives, brass balls and large globe. It concluded with a clever piece entitled The Grand Liverpool Steeple Chase. (Darling Downs Gazette 26 April, 1882)

Reporters wrote: This being the first time that a circus visited this place, the novelty of the sight attracted numbers from the surrounding districts, who were highly amused with the entertainment provided for them. We can confidently recommend lovers of circuses to patronise his tent wherever he pitches it.

The circus visited again in September and many more were to come. There were also opportunities for residents to see other circus troupes when they visited Ipswich.

Visits by Circus Troupes to Rosewood.

• Benhamo’s Circus opened in Rosewood in June1883.  See the Ad

Brothers Benhamo (William Benham) and Zebrediah (Zebediah Benham), 1877.
Photo: Performing Arts Collection, Arts Centre Melbourne

• A travelling circus show visited 24th November, 1891.
  On Tuesday night last a travelling company of showmen made an attempt to amuse us. The call-bird at the door kept shouting ” Step inside, and you will see a circus, all but the horses, for the small sum of one little shilling, children half-price.” Several responded to this invitation, and saw first a man lying on his back playing with two large globes with his feet. Next a young lady had a bout with a pair of toy Indian clubs. Next a trick with some sticks and crockery, a little dancing, and the performing dog was taken off the chain. The ringmaster shouted “Come on.” He was coming cautiously, when one of the audience, the first prize cattle-dog at our last show, faced him in such a pugnacious style that he was with difficulty persuaded to go through a few tricks; instead of an encore he got a stroke of a hoop. Some boxing-gloves were then produced, and any of the audience who felt inclined for that sort of game were invited to step forward, and have a go with the renowned “Jimmy.” A tall young man responded, and shaped very well with his head and shoulders, which be kept twitching in real professional style. A little more boxing with New Zealand George and Jimmy brought the show to a close. The audience with some little difficulty, got on their feet (they were all lying down, no seats being provided) and departed, and although they were grumbling I am sure they were well pleased.

• Fitzgerald Bros. Circus and other combined shows, including Carl Hagenbeck’s Zoological Circus visited in August 1898.
• Fitzgerald Bros. Novelty Shows, Circus & Menagerie – August 1899
  This was written at the bottom of their advertisement in the Darling Downs Gazette
  Great Jumping Match this evening at 9.30. Messrs Fitzgerald Bros Newhaven and Mr. Sloane’s Flirtation. For £100 (One Hundred Pounds) This match was made in Rosewood on Thursday last during the visit of the Circus there, Mr. Sloane not being satisfied with his defeat in Brisbane. 
• Wirths Circus and Zoo visited in July 1905.  See the Ad
• Wirths Circus visited in July 1908
  Last week the mammoth show paid a short visit to Rosewood, and, as usual, it was liberally patronised. A new departure was made this year by opening the menagerie after school hours in the afternoon for the inspection of the school children at a small cost. The opportunity to see the wild animals was largely availed of by the children and some of the parents.
• Wirths visited again in August 1909 and as usual there was a full house. Large members of the school children saw the various animals by visiting the menagerie in the afternoon. The vehicle used in the “moto-car act”  belonged to a local Rosewood man, Mr. William Edward Collett.
• Barton’s Circus visited on 9th May 1910 and Marburg on 10th May.    See the Ad
• Wirth Bros “Greatest Show on Earth” visited in July 1911.    See the Ad
• St. Leons visited 17th May 1913.  It was held behind the Rosewood Hotel.  The circus also visited Marburg and Lowood.
  Rosewood Register and Marburg Mail, 23rd May 1913.
  St. Leon’s well-known combination appeared in Rosewood to a fair house on Saturday night. From the first to the last act the show was a good one and those who attended were perfectly satisfied that they had obtained their money’s worth. The triple horizontal bar act and trapese and ceiling walking by Miss Marie Sole was especially good, whilst the living statue work of the nine Renfros was a revelation to Rosewood. Dooley, the Upside Down Man, did some astounding equiliberistic acts with his head on a swinging trapese, and, after, amazed the audience with the cleverness and unique turns on the slack wire. Chico, the football pony gave an exhibition of kicking a football. The four horse riding of Senorita Phillipina evoked generous applause, her work consisting of bounding from the ground to an erect position on the back of a cantering horse. The acrobatic feats and the clowning were also clever. Should St. Leon’s return, packed house is inevitable.
• Wirth Bros visited in July 1914, July 1915, July 1918, July 1921, August 1924, July, 1926 and June 1928.

This article is from the “Rosewood Register and Marburg Mail”, 1st July 1921.
THE SHOW THAT IS ALWAYS NEW.
The one annually recurring event to which this district looks forward to the visit of Wirth’s Circus. The year may come and the years may go, but with “Wirth’s” goes on forever. The great show is always the same and yet it is not. The same enterprising proprietors are out to give the amusement loving public the best possible value for its money, the same urbane business manager is in charge, the same smiling energetic advance manager heralds the huge combinations advent, but the entrainment which they combine, in presenting to the delight of the Australasian public is always new, always replete with the latest novelties procurable, and is therefore an attraction of the first magnitude.

This season’s tour began under the happiest auspices with a remarkable boom in Sydney-a boom that was very obviously induced by the exceptionally fine programme presented. The very same programme will be given when the circus visits Rosewood on Wednesday July, 13th. They’re figures on it an aggregation of talent which Wirth Bros are extremely fortunate in being able to secure and which the public are still more fortunate in being able to enjoy. To mention but one of the many star acts, there is that of the Uryeno troop of Japanese acrobats whose cleverness is rivalled only by their versatility. Japs are always regarded as past masters in acrobatics but with their wonderful Risloy work, lightning, tumbling, and “upside down” feats that must be seen to be appreciated. This quintette present a whole show in themselves and one alone worth the price of admission. Over a score of other turns all stars in their own particular line will also be presented, the details of which may be gleaned from the distinctive posters, which at present form one of the outstanding features of the landscape.

Considerable interest was added to this visit of Wirth’s circus that year because amongst the performing horses were three fine greys that Wirth Bros had purchased from Mr. James O’Shea of Rosewood the year before. They proved to be so satisfactory in their role that Mr George Wirth negotiated with Mr. O’Shea for another three horses, which were delivered to the company while they were in town.

In 1928 when the Circus visited, the weather conditions were terrible. The proprietors had the misfortune to lose one of their valuable circus horses before leaving Rosewood for Laidley. In the early hours of the morning one of the animals strayed in front of a down goods train and was caught by the cow-catcher and thrown into the cattle grids. Its injuries necessitated that it be put out of its misery.

• Sole Bros Circus – June 1929
  See the six famous Soles, high-Jumping greyhound, world’s best. Be sure and visit Sole Bros. Circus at Rosewood, Saturday night, 22nd inst. Performing elephants, clowns, dummies, trick ponies. The Lloyd’s, lady riders, Andrew and Jack Sole, premier jockeys.
  CIRCUS TRAINS. A special train standing in the North Ipswich shunting yards in the vicinity of the tarpaulin shop has been an object of interest to many people in the last few days. With another train it has been reserved by Wirth Bros., and to those associated with the circus it will be a home for almost two months. Window curtains and other comforts indicate that, despite their rovings, circus people know how to make even a train a real home. It requires a good deal of organisation to manage the circus in the efficient manner which enables it to show at a different place every night in the week, except Sunday. On Monday it left Tweed Heads, entertained the Beenleigh people, showed at Beaudesert the next night, entrained across to Rosewood for a midweek showing and up to Laidley for Thursday night. On Friday night it was in Ipswich, staying here until Saturday night. At 12.20 this morning the first train conveying the circus left for Gympie followed by the second train at 1.30 a.m. The circus people hoped to arrive at their destination in time for breakfast, intending to entertain the Gympie citizens to-night. The circus will then continue from town to town as far north as Cairns, finally returning to Brisbane at the completion of a State-wide tour for the National Exhibition in August. (Q.T. 21 June, 1929)

• Perry’s Circus – 20th August 1931. Laidley 21st. Gatton 22nd.  (Combined circus of Perry Bros. and Sole’s)
• Perry Bros Huge Ring Circus – 15th May 1934.  See the Ad
• Wirths’ Bros Ltd Mighty Circus – 23rd August 1937  See the Ad
  The circus was packed with new acts, death defying thrills, crazy clowns, a big troupe  of world-famous International circus stars, equestrian marvels, dare-devils of the air, whirlwind tumblers, crazy clowns, Japanese Risley artists, performing tigers, seals, elephants and canine wonders.
• Wirths Bros Circus – 22nd August 1939 after an interval of two years.
  Acts to thrill the folk of Rosewood included the world famous Flying De Vards direct from Madison Square Gardens, New York, who flitted through the air in their high-flying “Under and Over,” passing trick, the famous Leotard Troupe, the Briello Troupe from Cuba and the Francois Troupe of international musical comedy clowns. Wild animal acts, equestrian work, performing monkeys, dogs and pigs also entertained. A herd of nine elephants and a menagerie of 18 cages of wild animals together with a large school of beautiful horses travelled with the show, which was hauled from place to place by two special trains. Each afternoon the zoo opened for inspection from 4 to 6 p.m and the animals were fed at 4.15. Admission for a child cost 6d and adults paid one shilling.
   While the families were attending the circus that night, the homes of Harold and and Arnold Jacobs were robbed. The intruder took jewellery, money, and other goods, including a quantity of food.       See what happened to the thief.   
• Bullen Bros 24th January 1941. Lowood 28th.  See the Ad
  One of the elephants was called to assist a cargo boat that had slipped its moorings in 1941. Cargo Boat Aground

• Bullen Bros’ Circus – 21st April 1942.  Marburg on 20th April.
• Silver’s Circus & Zoo – 12th July 1946.      See the Ad
• Sole Bros’ New Circus – 26th March 1947.  See the Ad

Henry Reed from Mutdapilly joined Wirth’s circus.  Read about him.

Residents of the Rosewood district, who saw the circus arrive in town, remember their visits with great fondness. The elephants were a favourite. When Wirth’s Circus came to town by train, the elephants could be seen waving their trunks over the side of the wagons. The loading ramps at the sale yards were used to get the animals off and back onto the train. All the elephants would enjoy a soft drink compliments of Teddy Thomas after unloading the circus equipment at the railway station and towing the wagons and cages with lions and tigers etc down to the showgrounds. 

Over the ensuing years rising transport costs, insurance premiums, licence fees and red tape have hit circus operators hard. Customer distaste with animals being used for the entertainment of people has seen the demise of the circus as my generation knew it.

It was a different time. As an animal lover who has marvelled at the spectacle, when I reflect on the plight of the animals, some of the sparkle dims in my memory of going to the circus, yet the child within still remembers that indescribable feeling of wonder.

As of 15th of April 2021, Australia is “circus animal free” following the Stardust Circus being unsuccessful in securing animal insurance.

The following is taken from the memoir of one of my family members. (1921-2010)
I remember when I was a schoolboy, one of the greatest tortures that I could endure was the day the circus would come to town and I’d be sitting up there in a classroom and the circus would be in the rail yard close by. You could hear all the sounds to which you could put an image. You’d be in class and you’d have to listen to this stuff and not be there! It was cruel! You’d hear something thumping coming off the railway truck, or an elephant trumpeting or a lion roaring or something, the squeak of a pulley which was the tent going up. You could put an image to everything. On this occasion I had to wait until half past three to get out. The time seemed to be held back with a string, the clock wasn’t moving around. But eventually it did get around to half past three and we would tear down as if our lives depended on it to get to the circus. I raced down there and Oh! it was a wonderful scene. There were dirty-looking circus people who were wonderful. They would look no good if they were cleaned up, but they were scruffy-looking and rough-looking and there’d be vans and wagons and animals in cages. I raced around one corner and all of a sudden there I was, my eye just about level with an elephant’s knee. I looked up and up and there was this three-storey great elephant towering above me. Oh, I was amazed. I got out of his reach and his trunk was groping around in the air and I thought, how marvellous!

I came from a family where everything around the place got fed; birds and the stray dogs and cats, so I thought, I’d love to feed him. And so, I remembered, near the grain shed, where the unloading had been done, a bit of corn had been spilt. I thought, I wonder will he eat corn?  So I raced over and grabbed a few grains of corn, might have been twenty grains, and I had it in my hand and I approached him very cautiously. Then I said, “Hey, no, that’s no good”, and being a practical fellow I whipped the hat off and put the corn into the hat. It was a nice new little Panama. I extended it the full length of my arm to see whether he was interested. The trunk came around exploring, and it apparently got the seal of approval. It made just one neat little take, the hat and everything, and I stood there [shouting] “No, no, not the hat, just the corn!” but he didn’t hear me. The hat was taken right up into the air and the great cavern, like the Grand Canyon opened up, reddish inside, and the trunk went back and my hat and the corn went in. I couldn’t believe it!  

Well, I went home that afternoon, late! I didn’t know how I’d get on because if anything went wrong and I couldn’t go to the circus, that would be worse than missing the pictures. Mum said to me “Where’s your good new hat?” Oh why did she have to say “Good new hat?” Why didn’t she just say, “Where’s your hat?” I had to tell her that an elephant ate it! I think she was so pleased that I wasn’t in it when the action took place, that she was only too happy to let me go to the circus…. That night the elephant was prancing around the ring doing its performance and when he passed he spotted me, and I vow to this day, he gave me a big knowing wink and a bit of a nod.

Wirth Bros circus elephant getting off a train wagon at Roma Street Station.
Photo: State Library of Queensland

© Jane Schy, 2024