Circus Joseph Ashton
Encyclopedia
Ashton's Circus is the longest surviving circus in Australia
, pre-dating most others in the English-speaking world. The circus was founded in Launceston, Tasmania
, in February 1851 by James Henry Ashton, a man schooled in the tradition of English circus and who had experience the hard times of the C19.
When founder James Henry Ashton died in 1889, his son Fred, then aged 22, inherited the circus. The circus continued to be handed down throughout the family and today it is run by the 6th generation of Ashtons, Michelle and Joseph and their sons Jordan and Merrik.
Circus Joseph Ashton travels mainly in South Australia
and Western Australia
.
Other circuses ran by other members of the Ashton family include, Lorraine Ashton's Classic Circus and Circus Xsavia.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, pre-dating most others in the English-speaking world. The circus was founded in Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
, in February 1851 by James Henry Ashton, a man schooled in the tradition of English circus and who had experience the hard times of the C19.
When founder James Henry Ashton died in 1889, his son Fred, then aged 22, inherited the circus. The circus continued to be handed down throughout the family and today it is run by the 6th generation of Ashtons, Michelle and Joseph and their sons Jordan and Merrik.
Circus Joseph Ashton travels mainly in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Other circuses ran by other members of the Ashton family include, Lorraine Ashton's Classic Circus and Circus Xsavia.