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Historic Evandale swells every February as its annual National Penny Farthing Championship rolls onto the calendar, writes JESSICA GRIMBLE.
There’s a picture-perfect village in northern Tasmania with the appearance and charm of years past.
Historical Evandale, south-east of Launceston, is perfectly preserved and recognised as a National Trust-classified Georgian village.
Heritage buildings include St Andrews Church, the Uniting Church with its classic belltower and Doric columns, Blenheim (1832), Royal Oak (1840) and adjoining stables (now an antique shop), Clarendon Arms Hotel (1847) and Fallgrove (1826), Solomon House (1836) and the saddler’s shop (1840).
Minutes down the road is Clarendon House – a Georgian house built in 1838 with stunning formal gardens and grounds, a tree-lined avenue, Italianate facade, early colonial outbuildings. Today it’s owned by the National Trust.
But it’s through the town’s hosting and my family's involvement with the National Penny Farthing Championship that I have become familiar with the beautiful area and its people.
More than 70 riders from across Australia and overseas made the pilgrimage to Evandale in February for the annual event, in its 32nd year.
It is the biggest penny farthing race event in the world. And it’s as hotly contested as any sporting event you could see, anywhere.
Evandale’s streets are the ideal setting for the event and the town embraces the influx of visitors with great enthusiasm.
Penny farthing sculptures and photos adorn the footpaths and can be found inside most of the shops, too. Even cupcakes aren’t exempt from the “pennies” touch.
Some of the competing riders are successful cyclists in their own right; but a significant contingent has chosen pennies as their bicycle of choice.
The 1880s transport adheres to its original design – no gears, no brakes – which can make for some pretty hairy moments on the race track. That’s without their height added to the equation.
Competitors take on a triangular-shaped course and one lap is a quarter mile. A range of events including a slow race, slalom, sprint, relay, biathlon and obstacle races for men, women and children are competed across the day.
A push, push, push and the riders are off and racing; the rounding of corners takes care, practice and awareness of others as the riders manage their balance from their high vantage point and the enormous bikes tip to one side.
Local boy Ryan Sullivan returned from Nashville, Tennessee last weekend to claim his second championship. Queenslander Sally Dillon took out the women’s championship while junior boys’ winner was Tasman Dillon Hines, also of Queensland. My cousin Molly Bolwell, of Horsham in Western Victoria, was junior girls’ champion.
The 20-mile Clarendon Road Race is the following day. It takes in the scenery from Evandale and north to Perth before returning to Clarendon House.
The previous weekend, riders competed in the Century Ride – a penny farthing tradition dating from the 1880s. It requires participants to complete a 100 mile, or 162-kilometre, ride in one day. Riders can also opt for a metric century, or 100-kilometres.
Market stalls, a grand parade and entertainment at the Evandale Village Fair creates an atmosphere of a colonial country gathering and stunning weather makes for a great day out.
The local shops offer a unique experience to find some great treasures during your stay.
Pop February 21 into your 2015 diary for a great, and very affordable, weekend escape.
Evandale is also home to art competition The Glover Prize across the March long weekend. John Glover was a 19th century landscape artist who settled near Evandale in 1832 and his works can be found in public galleries across Australia and overseas.
Evandale is popular for its Sunday markets, held weekly and filled with fresh produce, local crafts and bric-a-brac and refreshments.
Nearby is the Tamar Valley Wine Route, with more than 20 cellar doors open for tastings. People will find a range of fresh local produce along the way.
Nature walks, art galleries and wildlife are also among attractions within the greater area.
Major airlines fly from Tullamarine airport to Launceston multiple times daily and prices start at $50 one way. There are a range of accommodation options in town, from the local pubs to bed and breakfasts and boutique rooms. Car rental, taxis or public buses will transport you to Evandale from Launceston airport.