Con Colleano

Cornelius Sullivan, better known as Con Colleano, was a celebrated circus performer in the early twentieth century. He was born in Lismore, New South Wales, on 26 December 1899 to Edward Patrick “Pat” Sullivan and Julia Vittorine Sullivan (nee Robinson), who was of Aboriginal, African, and South Sea Islander descent.

In the early 1900s, the Sullivan family toured regional Australia with a small circus troupe, performing tightrope acts, acrobatics, and boxing exhibitions under various stage names. Around 1907-1910, they spent time at Lightning Ridge, performing for miners and locals during the height of the opal rush. The Ridge provided a ready audience for travelling entertainers. Though their stay was brief, the family’s presence left a local impression, and their performances were remembered by some of the early residents. Con Sullivan was listed on the Application for Establishment of a provisional school which lead to the formation of Opale School in 1906.

To sidestep the racial prejudices of the time, the family adopted the Italian-sounding stage name “Colleano,” which allowed them access to broader audiences. Cornelius, performing as Con Colleano, refined a high-wire routine inspired by Spanish bullfighting and became known for his stylised “toreador” persona. His forward somersault on the tightrope, long considered impossible, became his signature.

By the 1920s, Colleano was a global star, headlining with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in the United States and performing before royalty across Europe. He was at one point the highest paid circus performer in the world.

Colleano's rise to international fame occurred in a period when Aboriginal Australians were denied citizenship and subject to widespread discrimination. His heritage was often obscured in publicity materials, but in later decades, his story has been reclaimed as one of indigenous resilience and cultural significance.

Con Colleano died in Miami, Florida, on 13 November 1973. He was cremated.

• Con Colleano @ Wikipedia.

• Con Colleano @ Australian Dictionary of Biography.

• Con Colleano @ Find a Grave.

Sources:
Con (Cornelius) Colleano (1899-1973), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 13, 1993; Con Colleano, circusringoffame.org; Con Colleano: Australia’s international tightwire superstar, Overnights, ABC Listen, 3 October 2023; Con Colleano: Australia’s ‘Wizard of the Wire’, SBS Voices, 12 March 2019; Con Colleano, circopedia.org.