Monsieur Festot is another of those mysterious flash-in-the-pan magicians, here for a day and never seen again.

On March 29, 1850, he was advertised as “The only living German Conjuror in this Colony, who will then surprise the Public with his feats of ventriloquism, tight-rope dancing, conjuring &c. winding up with the celebrated trick of hatching eggs in a bag.”

The occasion was an Old English Easter Sports event, organised by Mr. H. Lineham, the proprietor of the Old White Hart Inn at the top of Great Bourke Street in Melbourne, near the still-existing Windsor Hotel (1).  The events were to be held opposite the Inn and included, amongst the conjuring, a greasy pole competition, a football match, quoits and skittles, and a pig race. Advertising continued until April 1.

With no application made to the Colonial Secretary for approval to perform, we are left to conclude that the performer was not a professional. His title, Monsieur, hardly aligns with his claimed German origins. Although there was a much later magician, Testot/Testoo, there is no evidence of a connection. Monsieur Festot may have hatched his eggs and vanished inside his own magic bag.

(1) The Old White Hart Inn/Hotel: This hotel was built in 1846 on the south-western corner of Spring and Bourke streets, opposite Parliament House, for Pieter Laurentz Campbell. Early election speeches were made from the corner balcony. Purchased by Charles Lister in 1870, it was rebuilt with extensive frontage to both streets. Sold in 1920 to Melbourne Hotels Ltd, who owned the adjacent Windsor Hotel, it was known by the 1950s as the Windsor Annexe because staff were accommodated there. The dining room became Ricco's, one of Melbourne's early Italian restaurants. It was demolished in 1960 to make way for a new wing of the Windsor.