18/08/2026
'Tigers in Turbot St' by Nicola Hooper
'Tigers on Turbot St’ Is inspired by a great, if not a wee bit crazy true Meanjin story.
In 1887, Irish Immigrant Charles Higgins leased an allotment on the corner of George and Turbot Streets in the C*D. There he set up his “Higgins Great Menagerie of Wild Performing Animals.” The menagerie had a mix of animals: five tigers, dingoes, snakes, a Russian bear, monkeys and others. The menagerie caused much documented neighbourhood disturbances: escaped animals, offensive smells and filth, noise (animals, carnival music), and safety fears. Forcing neighbours to take legal action. In November 1888, a tiger escaped while a staff member, was cleaning the cages. The tiger then chased him down Turbot and George Streets and bit the man on the head (he did survive) but that ultimately led to the closure of the city ‘Zoo’ soon after. This work celebrates this tale.
Nicola Hooper is a Meanjin/Logan-based interdisciplinary artist, printmaker and educator. Her practice explores the complex relationships between humans and animals, with a particular focus on zoonoses and the cultural narratives that shape our perceptions of the natural world.
Working in the traditional story-telling medium of lithography, Hooper creates 2D works, installation and immersive environments. Hooper employs fairy tale iconography, historical references and archival research to examine how fear, beauty and contagion intersect. Her work often draws on anecdotal news stories, museum collections and colonial histories, reframing them through visually subversive forms.
Hooper completed a Doctorate of Visual Arts from Queensland College of Art & Design, Griffith University in 2019, where her doctoral research Zoonoses – A Visual Narrative formed the foundation for her ongoing studio research practice. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in public and private collections. Her major solo exhibition ZOONOSES toured Australia from 2022 to 2025 across five states and 12 regional galleries, supported by Museums & Galleries Queensland and the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program.
