| Evandale | |
Location: | 20 km southeast of Launceston |
Council: | Northern Midlands |
Population: | 772 |
Postcode: | 7212 |
One of the country's most beautifully preserved colonial villages, with many original 19th century buildings, Evandale lies in an attractive rural setting just 20 km from Launceston. The delightful landscape and spectacular views have attracted many famous artists, including John Glover and Tom Roberts, to capture the beauty of the district on canvas.
Governor Macquarie passed through the region twice, in 1811 and 1821. Early grazing licences were replaced by firm titles when settlers from Norfolk Island took up land in the district in 1816. The town was founded in 1829, growing up around a convict station set up to construct a proposed Launceston watersupply scheme.
Early settlers included George Collins, the son of LieutenantGovernor David Collins, and James Cox who built the magnificent and nottobemissed National Trust property Clarendon (1836) on the banks of the South Esk River, 8 km south of Evandale. The threestorey house is one of the grandest Georgian mansions in Australia, attractively furnished and surrounded by parklands and formal gardens. John Batman lived south of Evandale for 15 years before his historic voyage which led to the founding of Melbourne and a convict named Kelly, father of the notorious bushranger Ned Kelly, worked on one of the pioneer settlements in this part of the South Esk Valley.
The village is a browser's and history lover's delight with many of the original shops now housing quality crafts, antiques and tea rooms. The regular Sunday markets held in Falls Park bring many people to Evandale and the Penny Farthing Bicycle Race held in March each year is a major event. At nearby Breadalbane visitors can see glass being made by hand at Tasmanian Glassblowers, Tasmania's only glassworks.