We present the results of a comprehensive search for stellar variability in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae .
Using the Mount Stromlo 40-inch ( 1m ) telescope at Siding Spring Observatory and a combined V+R filter , we have detected 100 variable stars across a 52 \times 52 ^ { \prime } field centered on the cluster .
The main aim of this project is to search for transiting ’ Hot Jupiter ’ planets in this cluster , the results of which shall be discussed in a separate paper .
Here we present the V+R lightcurves and preliminary investigations of the detected variable stars , which comprise 28 Eclipsing Binaries ( 21 contact binaries and 7 detached systems ) , 45 RR Lyrae stars ( 41 of which belong to the Small Magellanic Cloud and four seemingly to the Galactic Halo ) , and 20 K-giant Long Period Variables ( LPVs ) .
We also detected four \delta Scuti stars , one TypeI Cepheid , and one TypeII Cepheid .
One variable appears to be a possible dust-enshrouded SMC star with a short period pulsation .
Of these 100 variables , 69 are new discoveries .
Our eclipsing binary sample indicates a clear radial segregation in period , and includes two binaries that are seemingly orbited by low-luminosity stellar companions .
One RR Lyrae star shows a Blahzko effect with remarkable regularity .

Those variables previously known are cross-identified with Kaluzny and coworkers .
In agreement with previous studies , this work shows that the relative frequency of detectable variable stars ( particularly contact binaries ) in 47 Tuc is very low compared to other studied regions .
A distance modulus of 18.93 \pm 0.24 for the Small Magellanic Cloud and 13.14 \pm 0.25 for 47 Tucanae has been estimated from our sample , and are in agreement with values previously published .

The total database presented here contains V and I photometry for 43,067 47 Tuc field stars ( 13.0 \leqslant V \leqslant 21.0 ) , along with 33-night V+R lightcurves and astrometry for 109,866 stars ( 14.5 \leqslant V \leqslant 22.5 ) .