The day three circus lions escaped in Adelaide

IT was a day of drama — when three circus lions mauled and killed their keeper and escaped from their cages in Wingfield, and were shot by police snipers just minutes from hundreds of homes.

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IT might have been a story straight from the deepest, darkest part of Africa:
“Lions At Large: Trained marksmen and big game hunters bring down three big marauding cats.”

But it happened right here, on the streets of Adelaide.

During a day of high drama that many Baby Boomers will recall, four circus lions killed their keeper, escaped from their cages at a camp near Wingfield and roamed free in the area for almost three hours.

It was December 22, 1964, and The Advertiser reported the following day that the lions were within just a few minutes’ walk from hundreds of homes and unsuspecting citizens: “They were stalked and shot dead by police marksmen and two big-game hunters armed with at least a dozen shotguns and high-powered rifles.”

According to the report, the fourth lion had jumped casually back into its cage on the command of its owner and trainer.

Police with one of the lions after it was shot and killed, following its escape from a circus in Wingfield.

The drama unfolded after the circus hand who fed and looked after the lions was found “torn to pieces” in a paddock less than a kilometre north of Junction Rd.

Dozens of police rushed to the scene when it was feared the other three lions would run wild in the suburbs.

“Game hunters and Adelaide gunsmiths Mr WD Elkins and Mr WA Hambly-Clark were rushed to the circus camp along with highly trained police marksmen.

“After the shooters had opened fire, a wounded lioness bounded to within 15 yards of one group before she was stopped with another shot.”

O’Connell’s Circus had been presenting shows at Seaton Park, Mansfield Park, Taperoo and other nearby suburbs and had parked its animal cages holding lions, leopards, tigers and monkeys on the Wingfield property.

Gunsmith Bill Hambly-Clark moves in to shoot one of the lions at close range.

One of the escaped lions on the loose.

No one was able to explain just how the lions escaped their cages and attacked and killed their keeper.

The incident led an RSPCA spokesman to comment that “the society in most states of Australia has asked the Federal Government to pass legislation to prohibit animal acts in circuses”.

Alderman TH Grundy of Adelaide City Council commented, “I dread to think what would happen if one of these ferocious beasts broke loose in the West Parklands while children were playing in the vicinity.”

Lion trainer and owner Michael O’Connell with Ringo, the fourth lion, which re-entered its cage upon command, a week after the even in Port Noarlunga.

And yet Adelaide’s fascination with lions wasn’t over. Not even 10 years later, Bullen’s Circus established an African Lion Safari at Two Wells.

Along with lions, the park was also home to panthers, tigers, bison, llamas, monkeys, donkeys, camels, deer and ostriches.

For three generations, the Bullen name had been associated with circuses travelling Australia and entertaining the population with acts of derring-do.

Lions crowd together in the shade of a straw shelter as visitors drive past at Bullens Lion Park at Two Wells, 1972.

However, in the late 1960s, Stafford Bullen decided to close the circus and create a more permanent form of animal entertainment. He established his first African Safari Park at Warragamba, near Sydney.

There followed similar parks near Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. Adelaide’s Lion Safari Park opened in 1971 and, from my memory, it was a pretty barren, desolate place with very few trees, surrounded by a very high fence with nothing but a few tin sheds.

There was no doubting its popularity, though. Every weekend, hundreds of families would take the drive to Two Wells in the Ford or Holden, and with windows firmly wound up, would slowly drive through the park, where dozens of giant carnivores wandered about at will.

What could possibly go wrong?

Even with the precautions and technology we have today, the action of driving a car loaded up with your precious family, through an enclosure full of dangerous animals, is an alarming thought.

Park manager Miss M Donohoe feeds lion cubs Nelson and Caesar at Bullens Lion Park at Two Wells, 1979.

Just recently, on the Adelaide Remember When Facebook page, readers shared some of their fond memories of the park.

“I remember going there as a child,” wrote Leeanne Chetcuti, “sitting in my uncle’s car
while the lions jumped on the car. Uncle would scare us saying he couldn’t start the car and would open the window.

“I also remember the monkeys that would let down their little cup on a rope so we could put peanuts in it and they would pull them back up.”

Debra Wehrmann recalled “as a five-year-old, being with Mum and Dad in the Ford ute when a lion jumped into the tray, grabbed a shovel in its mouth and started swinging it around”. “It had to be coaxed out with food. Never did ask my Dad why he had a shovel in the back of the ute on that particular day.”

And Glenn Murphy told the story of the time his older brother borrowed the “newish” family car while Dad was away.

A lion resting under a shadeless sapling at Bullens Lion Park at Two Wells, 1972.

“We parked the car and the lions came up to have a look. Unfortunately, for some reason, the car wouldn’t start and we were there for over half an hour. A park attendant told us to move on but then realised our problem. He sent for the tow truck, which had a huge tractor tyre on the front, and proceeded to push us in the hope of getting us going. So there we were, sitting in our broken-down car with lions roaming all around us, not able to leave. We got out alive with a dented bumper, a hiding from Dad and bruised egos. Great memories.”

Quite a few posters recalled a rather tongue-in-cheek sign near the entrance gate saying “Poms on Bikes Admitted Free of Charge”.

The park folded in 1981, the owners blaming South Australia’s cold and wet weather for its closure, along with the economic downturn. It had been operating at a loss for four years and reached the point where it was no longer viable.

The only reminders of its existence today are the remains of the tall fence that once surrounded the entire property, the gates that still stand and, obviously, lots of memories.

Bob Byrne is the author of Adelaide Remember When and posts memories of Adelaide every day on facebook.com/adelaiderememberwhen