Santa Claus comes to town!

Santa rides a tram down Bourke Street in Melbourne in 1959.

Christmas was big business for the city's department stores and Myer's has a circus ring complete with performing pony and clown, as well as the obligatory opportunity to meet with Santa.

Excerpt from a Cinesound Review newsreel from 1959.

Content warning: this clip features animals performing in a circus context. The NFSA does not endorse the use of animals for entertainment purposes and presents these clips as part of Australia's audiovisual history.

Notes by Beth Taylor