Visit the sites of of Melbourne where the worlds finest magicians performed such as Harry Houdini on his visit in 1910. Discover their tricks and illusions, locations of historic events and the history of Melbourne’s Magic shops. Learn about the personal histories of the great illusionists such as Harry Houdini, Harry Kelllar, Chung Ling Soon and Howard Thurston. This walk is also a walking tour of Melbourne’s historic 19th century theatre locations.
About our tours: Tours are usually 2 – 2.5 hours by arrangement at any time of your convenience any time – day time or evenings. Bookings: (03) 9090-7964, 0408 894 724; Email: melbwalks@gmail.com. Cost: $55 each up to 5 persons; $39 each for 6-10 persons; $25 each for 11 or more persons.
| Where the world’s greatest magicians performed |
The Magician |
| PRINCES BRIDGE | The Great Levante 1941 |
| TOWN HALL, Lt Collins and Swanston | Davenport bros 1876, Stuart Cumberland 1886, Dante ‘Sim Sala Bim’ 1912, Tommy Parer, 1941 |
| MECHANICS INSTITUTE, ATHENAEUM, Collins nth | Howard Thurston 1905 |
| ASSEMBLY HALL, Scots church Collin Nth | The Great Malini 1916 |
| OPERA HOUSE, (HARRY) RICKARD’S OPERA HOUSE, NEW OPERA HOUSE, NEW TIVOLI, (Bourke street south). | Carl Hertz 1892, Le Roy, Talma, & Bosco 1905, The Great Carmo 1906, Chung Ling Soon 1909, Houdini 1910, Gustava Fasola 1911 (Wallace the lion) Tommy Parer 1941, Horace Goldin 1916, Sawing the lady in half |
| DIGGERS REST | Houdini, 18 March 2010 |
| BIJOU, Bourke south | Charles Moritt 1897 |
| GAIETY | Various |
| VARIETIES HALL, PRINCE OF WALES OPERA HOUSE- (Bourke street south). | Various |
| ST GEORGE HALL, KREITMAYERS WAXWORKS, Bourke nth | Harry Kellar 1876, Dr Pepper 1879, (see St G, Princ Th) |
| THEATRE ROYAL, Bourke nth | John Anderson, Wizard of the North 1858 |
| STRAND THEATRE, Bourke nth | |
| KINGS THEATRE, Russell | The Great Levante, 1941 |
| TEMPERANCE HALL – cnr Little Bourke and Russell | Various |
| FIRST WAXWORKS Bourke north | Various |
| APOLLO Hall Bourke South | Robert Heller 1869-1870 |
| HAYMARKET THEATRE, Bourke South | Various |
| ROYAL OLYMPIC, IRON POT Bke north | Wizard (Joseph) Jacobs 1854 |
| POLYTECHNIC south Bourke | Various |
| NATIONAL THEATRE, FULLERS PALACE, ST JAMES, THE PALACE, REVIVAL CENTRE Bourke Nth | Peppers Ghost 1864 (see St George’ Hall) |
| ROYAL AMPITHEATRE, ASTLEYS, PRINCESS THEATRE Spring west | Franquin the hypnotist, 1950,54,57 Carter The great 1920, Merlini 1950s, The great Virgil 1952, Peppers Ghost 1864 (see St George’ Hall), Tommy Parer TV |
| MELBOURNE STATE THEATRE, Russell and Flin | The amazing Alma, Chelalo, Long Tack Sam 1941 |
| FREEMASONS HALL. Lonsdale, bet Russell and Exhib | Dr Lynn (The vanishing Lady) 1886 |
| MENZIES HALL, Cnr Williams and Bke | Max Malini 1914 |
| QUEENSBRIDGE, | Houdini 1910 |
| HER MAJESTYS, Exhib and Lt Bke | Tommy Parer 1920s-1950s |
| MELBOURNE’S MAGIC SHOPS BELOW | |
| 51 Bourke | GIFT DEPOT 1875 |
| 235 Bourke | FUN SHOP 1962 |
| 123Elizabeth | TRIP TRAP TRICK 1962 |
| Elizabeth | BERNARDS 1937 TV (oldest) |
| 213 Collins | MAGICAL DEPOT, Claude Geust 1903 |
| 276 Collins | ANDRADE/ALLENS MAGIC SHOP 1903 |
| 325 Colins EmbarkArcade | ALADDINS 1927 |
| 62 Swanston | SEWARDS CONJURING SUPPLIES 1962 |
| MAGIC SOCIETIES | |
| Flinds Lane – Swiss House | AUST SOCIETY MAGICIANS 1920, |
| MAGIC CIRCLE 1938 | |
| MELBOURNE RING OF INT BROTHERHOOD 1949 |
Early Melbourne Magic Theatres
Further Information
Magical Nights at the Theatre by Charles Waller
Hocus Pocus by Treasury Museum