Alfred Tipper
Australia- A Multifaceted Showman
- Early Life and Guardianship
- A Mechanical and Sporting Prodigy
- The Epic Sydney-to-Melbourne Ride
- An Entertaining Cyclist
- A Later Career as "Professor Tipper"
- Artistic Recognition and Legacy
A Multifaceted Showman
Alfred Henry Tipper, known as "Professor Tipper," was an Australian showman, cyclist, and self-taught artist whose eclectic interests in mechanics, sports, and entertainment fueled a distinguished and enduring career as a stuntman and miniature bicycle maker.
Early Life and Guardianship
Born on July 12, 1867, in Sale, Victoria, to Thomas and Catherine Tipper, Alfred was abandoned by his parents at the age of two and became a ward of the state. In 1874, he resided in Woolloomooloo, Sydney, as reported by the Maitland Mercury newspaper.
A Mechanical and Sporting Prodigy
Tipper's fascination with mechanics led him to pursue a career in dairy farming, where he excelled in understanding mechanical principles. In 1880, he discovered the sport of cycling and began performing in bicycle races.
The Epic Sydney-to-Melbourne Ride
Tipper's 900-kilometer journey from Sydney to Melbourne in 1896, carrying a 32-kilogram load on a penny-farthing bicycle, inspired him to tour internationally for the next six years.
An Entertaining Cyclist
Tipper devised an entertaining bicycle show featuring songs, earning his living and entertaining audiences in Britain and America. One notable act involved riding a miniature bicycle only 13 cm high while singing the folk song "From the Highlands and the Lowlands."
A Later Career as "Professor Tipper"
By the 1930s, Tipper co-owned a bicycle repair shop in Richmond, Melbourne, and continued to tour Australia, incorporating various bicycle designs into his performances. He earned the nickname "Professor Tipper" for his long white beard and conservative wardrobe consisting of a shirt and breeches.
Artistic Recognition and Legacy
Despite facing poverty in his later years, Tipper's passion for bicycles and his ability to captivate audiences remained undiminished. After his death at the Royal Melbourne Hospital on April 2, 1944, five of his oil paintings depicting his cycling achievements were discovered and displayed in a bicycle shop on Swanston Street, Melbourne.
These paintings caught the attention of young Melbourne artist Albert Tucker, who admired their "naive boldness, crudity of design, and unique interpretation of the Australian bush." Tucker purchased the works, which were signed "H.D." It was only after the publication of these works in the journal "Angry Penguins" that Tipper's true identity as the artist was established. Today, Tipper's paintings are held in major galleries, including the National Gallery of Australia and the Heide Museum of Modern Art.
