38 Facts About Henri L'Estrange

Henri L'Estrange, known as the Australian Blondin, was an Australian successful funambulist and accident-prone aeronautical balloonist.

Modelling himself on the famous French wire-walker Charles Blondin, L'Estrange performed a number of tightrope walks in the 1870s, culminating in three walks across Sydney's Middle Harbour in 1877.

Henri L'Estrange remains the only tightrope performer ever to have walked across a part of Sydney Harbour.

Henri L'Estrange tried to return to his original career of tightrope walking but, with new forms of entertainment, humiliating falls and other Blondin imitators, he found success elusive.

Henri L'Estrange was born about 1842 in Fitzroy, a suburb of Melbourne.

Henri L'Estrange first came to public attention in 1873 as a member of a Melbourne performance group, the Royal Comet Variety Troupe, a gymnastic, dancing and comedic vocal combination with Miss Lulu L'Estrange and Monsieur Julian.

In 1876, Henri L'Estrange performed solo for the first time in Melbourne, and quickly gained a reputation as a fearless performer.

Henri L'Estrange began using the moniker "the Australian Blondin" from early 1876.

Henri L'Estrange's show included a fireworks display for the public's entertainment.

Henri L'Estrange performed in the Domain from January through to April 1877, but not without incident.

On 7 February 1877, as Henri L'Estrange neared the end of his wire act, sparks from the fireworks going off around him fell into the nearby store of gunpowder and fireworks, igniting them.

In late March 1877, advertisements began to appear in the Sydney newspapers for Henri L'Estrange's proposed harbour crossing.

Henri L'Estrange advised those wishing to see his performance to travel on his steamers as they were the only ones with permission to land passengers.

Whilst the event was profitable Henri L'Estrange considered that the majority of viewers were non-paying "dead-heads".

Everything being ready, precisely at 4 o'clock Henri L'Estrange come out of his tent on the eastern shore, dressed in a dark tunic and a red cap and turban.

Henri L'Estrange took a few steps backward and then proceeded up the inclined part of the rope steadily to the western shore, at the slower speed of about sixty steps a minute, the rope swaying considerably as he went.

Henri L'Estrange soon reappeared in a small row boat to greet the crowds, although many had already rushed the steamers to leave, resulting in a few being jostled into the harbour.

Henri L'Estrange was presented with a large gold star, engraved with a scene of his latest triumph, the date of his public performance.

Henri L'Estrange thereafter took his show on the road, going first to Brisbane in May 1877, and reportedly afterwards to Singapore, England and America.

Henri L'Estrange came to Sydney with his balloon in November 1878, accompanied by reports of successful flights already made in India and The Sydney Morning Herald offered a confident appraisal of Henri L'Estrange's new venture:.

Henri L'Estrange is perfectly confident that he will prove successful in travelling amongst the regions of the clouds, and, if so it will prove an agreeable variety after the many failures we have had.

Henri L'Estrange struggled to fill the balloon through the afternoon of 17 November 1878, with gas supplied by the Australian Gas Light Company.

Henri L'Estrange blamed the failure on having been supplied with "dense" gas and a filling pipe that was too narrow and leaky.

Henri L'Estrange wrote to the Council again, this time asking for permission to use Belmore Park for a second attempt.

Henri L'Estrange, realising that the balloon was not going to lift higher, threw out the anchor, which caught in the spouting of a building and threw the balloon into the drying yard of the Benevolent Asylum, where it caught in the washing lines and wires and was practically destroyed.

Henri L'Estrange survived an even more disastrous attempt in Melbourne less than six months later at the grounds of the Agricultural Society in a balloon named Aurora.

Henri L'Estrange had the presence of mind to deploy the silk parachute which slowed the rate of descent.

Henri L'Estrange's landing was softened by a tree and although severely shaken, L'Estrange was uninjured.

Henri L'Estrange described the rest of his voyage in a letter to a friend:.

Henri L'Estrange's balloon descended rapidly over the rooftops of Woolloomooloo, slamming into a house near the corner of Palmer Street and Robinson Lane.

Henri L'Estrange managed to disentangle himself and fell first onto a chimney then a shed 25 feet below.

Henri L'Estrange scrambled down from the rooftops to a waiting mob, who whisked him away to Robinson's hotel on the William Street corner and would not let him leave.

Henri L'Estrange proposed the park to be free entry with all monies being made via the sale of refreshments on site.

On 23 December 1882, Henri L'Estrange advised the public that he would cross the harbour once more, this time riding a bicycle across Banbury Bay, close to the site of his original success.

Henri L'Estrange rode his bicycle towards the centre, where, with the rope swinging to and fro, he stopped briefly to steady himself but instead, realising he was losing his balance, he was forced to leap from the rope and fell into the water below.

Again steamers took a dwindling crowd to Banbury Bay where they found Henri L'Estrange's rope had been mysteriously cut, and he cancelled the performance.

In 1886 Henri L'Estrange again applied to the Sydney City Council for permission to establish an amusement ride called "The Rocker" in Belmore Park.

The driver was fined and Henri L'Estrange's injuries are not recorded.