Learn about Alfred Henry Tipper - showman, cyclist, eccentric and artist. Alfred is featured on the Extraordinary Lives part 2 tour, where you can also learn about other stories from Fawkner Memorial Park.
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Download a transcript of Alfred's story from the Discover Cemeteries app.Early years
Alfred Tipper was born in Sale, Victoria on 12 July 1867. A ward of the state in his early life, Alfred worked on a dairy farm as a young man. He was a proficient mechanic but preferred a life on wheels - and in the spotlight.
Career
Alfred began his career by entering competitive cycling competitions in the 1880s. Some of these contests had large cash prizes and he often won. His success at these contests provided him with a living.
He extended his repertoire by undertaking long-distance rides. He rode a penny farthing from Sydney to Melbourne in 1896 carrying a 32 kilogram swag. This journey brought him fame if not fortune. But from then on, he made his living entertaining crowds with his one-man show.
In 1908, Alfred decided to ride around the world. He travelled throughout America and Britain, perfecting his curious form of entertainment. He cycled, sang and joked - all from the back of a bike.
Later years
Later in life, Alfred spent his winters in a horse drawn caravan opposite Brunswick Town Hall. In summer, he toured Australia and entertained crowds with his various shows. He also made beautiful miniature cycles of wire and metal.
Alfred produced a range of postcards to advertise his shows. He also painted pictures of himself riding through many Victorian towns. He signed the paintings, 'H.D’ - perhaps for ‘Henry Dearing’, another name he adopted.
He was a recognisable figure, tall and thin with a flowing white beard and long hair. Customary dress for Alfred, no matter the weather, was very short shorts and a flimsy shirt. He believed his plain diet and rational outlook were the reasons he never became ill.
Recognition
Soon after Alfred’s death, Albert Tucker, the famous artist, came across one of his paintings.
Albert bought every painting of Alfred’s he could find, calling him an artist ‘in the primitive style.' He also used one of Alfred’s paintings on the cover of an edition of the ‘Angry Penguins’ in December 1944.
The State buried Alfred Tipper at Fawkner Memorial Park, but his art lived on. Some of his works are now held by the Heide Museum of Modern Art and in a number of other galleries.
Bibliography
Adapted from material supplied by historian Dr Jan Penney, GMCT Trust member 2010-2020.
Browne, G. 2002, Tipper, ‘Alfred Henry (1867-1944)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University
City of Richmond 1988, Copping it Sweet: Shared Memories of Richmond, City of Richmond, Carringbush Regional Library.
Fry, G. 2006, Albert Tucker, The Beagle Press, Sydney.
Haese, R. 1981, Rebels and Precursors: The Revolutionary Years of Australian Art, Allen Lane, Ringwood.
Image source
Image taken from Trove.
