The Heritage Highway - Evandale, a village from the 1800's

The Midland Highway is also known as the Heritage Highway and it is so full of early convict history and beautiful Georgian houses. We started in the north east at Scottsdale and drove through to Evandale, a beautiful little English style village located on the Esk River. Launceston is only 20k away and the Launceston Airport a short 4k. Evandale is a National Trust classified Georgian village. The first we see driving into Evandale is an old leaking stone water tower, dating back to 1895. A little further down the road is the information centre and our first stop. We were told that the water tower needs repair and no one will commit to the repair costs, so to stop the tower crumbling further it needs to be topped up with water, which of course slowly runs out the cracks. The information centre has a good walking tour pamphlet, and walking is really the best way to see Evandale. The information centre, located in the old school building, built in 1889, and also has a display of what Evandale once looked like, as well as a good pictorial display.

Established in 1809 by David Gibson, one of the Norfolk Island evacuees, the area was known as Pleasant Banks, Governor Macquarie established the area as a military post in 1811 and named it Honeysuckle Banks.  Evandale has been known by many names – New River, Paterson’s Plains, Gordon Plains, Collins Hill, Morvan, and Evansdale (1829) until in 1836 the name was changed to Evandale in honour of Tasmania’s first Surveyer General. The 1830’s saw the building of tunnels on the slopes of the western and southern hills to provide a water supply to Launceston, built by convict labour. The model of the tunnels in the information centre is very informative. The tunnels were never completed.
View from our window at the RV camp.

We stayed two nights in the free council camp at Falls Park. Originally part of Fallgrove Estate c1869 One needs to be self contained and a permit is required via a website. Great place to stay, walking distance to the village. No one can stay on Saturday due to the markets on Sunday.

The post office was opened 1 June 1835.

The Clarendon Arms Hotel, built in 1847, is where Mark ‘Chopper’ Read was drinking before he shot a former bikie. The remnants of the old watch house and convict cells can still be seen. One of the ‘famous’ prisoners was John Kelly, the father of bushranger Ned Kelly.

The whole main street was full of beautiful flowers.

The Prince of Wales Hotel, built in 1836, is now divided into an antiques shop and country pub.

The old Saddler Shop from 1840 the corner next to the Prince of Wales is now an antique shop.

Solomon's Cottage was built in 1836 as a bakery by Joseph Solomon, it was known as Clarenden Stores. It had also been an inn, a private residence and is today a Bed and Breakfast.

 So many beautiful buildings in Evandale. This is Lake Leather. It was built in 1848 as Eldersfield Butchery.

 This building was originally a stable for the Royal Oak Hotel, c 1840, next door. It became a garage and then an art gallery. Today it is an antique shop.

 One of the many interesting buildings is the Penny Farthing Emporium. Once Brown's Village Store, it has been re-created inside to look like a country store from the turn of the century.

 I was fascinated by the large amount of lolly jars, just like the "olden days". We stocked up on humbugs and dolly lollies.

 The Emporium is also the local newsagent, so it is open every day.

Today Evandale is famous for the February Penny Farthing Festival, and its Sunday Market at Falls Park. We stayed here twice on our trip.