Thomas Arnott (Also known as Thomas Amott and Monsieur Du Pree) was the Wizard of the South who performed in Ballarat in 1855. A convict who served in Tasmania, he was a magician performing one of the earliest known magic shows in Australia. Thomas Amott was found guilty of grand larceny, and sentenced to transportation for seven years. He sailed to Australia on vessel 'Asia'. The register and conduct record noted that Amott was a Protestant, married, 5’11” tall with a mole on his neck , well behaved in both the Hulks and on the ship. The only disciplinary action noted in his conduct record was a fairly lenient two hours in public stocks for insolence to his assigned master in Hobart. The 'Asia' sailed from Portsmouth on 17 August 1827 and arrived at Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) on 07 December, offloading 198 convicts. Amott was assigned to work as a compositor in Hobart for James Ross, a Scottish free immigrant to Van Diemen’s Land in 1822. In April 1833 Amott was granted a ticket of leave, giving him increased freedom of movement in the colony prior to his being granted final Certificate of Freedom at the end of May 1834. He re-married at the Holy Trinity Church Hobart on 02 December 1833. Permission had been sought back in 1830 to marry Catherine (or Caroline) Fitzallen, a convict whose ticket-of-leave was granted in 1831. (This record draws on the research of Mary Christine Patterson)Copy of an entertainment poster and Licence to hold Theatrical Entertainments. wizard of the south, thomas arnott, thomas amott, monsieur du pree, entertainment