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

This camera, known as the Manhattan Optical Cycle Wizard was made towards the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th , when the pastime of photography was popular and people were also becoming more mobile. They were relatively cheap to buy and portable .An interesting item which shows the early mechanisms of cameras.Black rectangular hard cardboard and wooden case with a leather type covering. It has a leather strap handle attached with metal keepers. The bottom is hinged and opens to reveal the lens and other components of the camera which expand out when in use. The metal fitting on the inside are white metal. The top has an inner section which closes with two metal clips. It opens to reveal a rectangle of opaque glass held in place with two small metal clips.Cycle Wizard Manhattan optical co. N Y. Bausch & Lomb Opt Co Pat Jan 8 . 91.black cycle wizard, wizard camera, warrnambool history