Ashton's Circus is the longest surviving circus in Australia, pre-dating most others in the English-speaking world. The circus was founded in Launceston, Tasmania, in February 1851 by James Henry Ashton, a man schooled in the tradition of English circus and who had experience the hard times of the C19.
When founder James Henry Ashton died in 1889, his son Fred, then aged 22, inherited the circus. The circus continued to be handed down throughout the family and today it is run by the 6th generation of Ashtons, Michelle and Joseph and their sons Jordan and Merrik.
Circus Joseph Ashton travels mainly in South Australia and Western Australia.
Other circuses ran by other members of the Ashton family include, Lorraine Ashton's Classic Circus and Circus Xsavia.