In 1876, the Geelong-born James Alexander walked across a tightrope from Stony Pier to Yarra Pier watched by a crowd of thousands. He was only 16.

He had been inspired by the French tightrope walker Charles Blondin, who crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope and who toured Australia in 1874. James himself became a world-famous funambulist (or tightrope walker). He often performed at night, his shows lit by torches of hessian soaked in kerosene. Sometimes he carried a boy on his back, balanced on a one-legged chair, rode a bike, or cooked pancakes for the crowd below.

There were several tightrope performers around, and competition for the title of ‘The Australian Blondin’ was fierce. Professional rivalry was behind the sabotage of one of his performances in 1879, which almost cost James his life.

There were also accidents. In 1878, performing above Malop Street, his 13-year-old assistant Henry Ruffin shook his hand on the tightrope, as planned, before the boy lost his balance and plummeted to the road below as James stood there watching, his palm still warm.

Text: Maria Takolander.