The circus community has had a long and happy association with the site where the Arts Centre now stands. From the 1870s to the 1950s, the site played host to a number of circuses including Cooper and Bailey's, Wirths', Cole's Circus and Menagerie, Chiarini's Circus and FitzGerald Brothers' Circus.

The circus collection includes costumes, props, posters and photographs representing many of Australia's best-loved traditional circuses including the Ashton family circuses, Holden Brothers', Wirths', Perry Brothers and Sole Brothers. Many items such as Ashton's handwritten touring schedules and the Holden Brother's correspondence school notes provide a window into life on-the-road while sequinned and spangled costumes speak of Big Top glamour.

The emergence of 'new circus' troupes since the 1970s is also documented through objects and archives that reflect the importance of humour, gender politics and nationalism to this new form of physical expression. Colourful costumes including Circus Oz's iconic lifesaver 'cossie' vie for space with photographs capturing the formative days of Melbourne's Soapbox Circus and Circus Oz and diminutive costumes from Albury/Wodonga's Flying Fruit Fly Circus.