The Kiama Show has always celebrated agriculture, community, and entertainment, but its history also holds a mirror to the values of society. Once, it wasn’t just about livestock and baking competitions; the sideshows were full of weird, wonderful, and sometimes shocking attractions.

The boxing tent was one of the biggest draws. Men from the crowd would step into the ring to take on professional fighters, with travelling troupes like Jimmy Sharman’s becoming iconic across Australia. It was raw, rowdy entertainment, but the idea of locals throwing punches in front of a crowd now feels like something from another era.

Other sideshow acts traded on curiosity and spectacle.

Posters for the Kiama Show once promoted “Jolly Nellie,” the “biggest woman in the world at 42 kg,” and “Abdullah Abdul Carim,” a mystic who supposedly made mango trees grow in seconds and boys lay eggs. 

Posters for the Kiama Show once promoted “Jolly Nellie,” the “biggest woman in the world at 42 kg," Image Source Kiama on Show

Across the country, sideshows featured performers like the bearded lady, the two-headed man, and other so-called “freaks.” While acts like sword swallowers displayed genuine skill, many sideshows exploited physical difference, showcasing people as curiosities rather than celebrating them as individuals.

How clever was Abdullah the Wizard ? What a feat making boys lay eggs!!!!! Image Source Kiama on Show

Today, these attractions seem politically incorrect, but they also reveal how far we’ve come. Modern shows prioritise inclusivity and education, valuing diversity over shock value.

Yet, the past isn’t without nuance. For many performers, sideshows were a way to make a living and find community in a world that otherwise rejected them.

Figures like the famous bearded lady Josephine Boisdechene found success on their own terms, despite the exploitative nature of the industry.

The boxing tent and sideshows are long gone, but the show’s role as a community hub remains.

While the attractions have changed, the spirit of wonder and shared experience continues.

Reflecting on these quirky parts of history reminds us of both how society has evolved and the resilience of those who performed in these shows. 

Today, the Kiama Show is a celebration of the best in all of us, quirks included.