Historical information

These photographs, taken by The Advocate in 1999, show Ashton's Circus Chaplain the Reverend Barry Fletcher, at the circus site located on vacant land on Station Road, north of the Deer Park Shopping Centre in Albanvale.

The circus chaplain played an important role in supporting circus performers, staff, and their families.

Travelling circuses formed close-knit communities that spent much of the year on the road, often away from traditional support networks.

The chaplain provided pastoral care, counselling, spiritual guidance, and assistance during significant life events, helping to foster a sense of stability and wellbeing within the circus community.

Significance

Ashton's Circus was one of Australia's oldest and best-known travelling circuses. The Ashton family has been involved in circus entertainment since the nineteenth century, and the circus regularly toured suburban Melbourne, including western suburbs such as Deer Park, Sunshine, and St Albans. Ashton's Circus traces its origins to 1850 and is regarded as Australia's longest-running circus tradition.

Physical description

Collection of digitally scanned coloured negatives

Inscriptions & markings

7692.01 - Aston Circus Chaplain Station Road Albanvale 1999 Photographs (Advocate 245).JPG

7692.02 - Aston Circus Chaplain Station Road Albanvale 1999 Photographs (Advocate 245).JPG

7692.03 - Aston Circus Chaplain Station Road Albanvale 1999 Photographs (Advocate 245).JPG