Evandale

Stroll along one of the most evocative streetscapes in Tasmania and absorb the history of this charming colonial town.

Artists know the historic town of Evandale as the heart of Glover country – colonial painter John Glover is described as the father of Australian landscape painting. 

Others flock to admire the town’s well-preserved late-Georgian and early Victorian architecture. Its High Street is one of the most impressive streetscapes in the state. 

It's no surprise, then, that Evandale is the idyllic backdrop for the annual National Penny Farthing Championship each February. Wander the streets to browse the antiques stores and see noteworthy buildings such as the two St Andrews churches – one Anglican, one Uniting – the Clarendon Arms Hotel and the red-brick water tower that resembles a rook on a chess board.  

Eight kilometres south of town is Clarendon, a National Trust-listed three-storey mansion considered Australia’s grandest rural colonial estate. 

Alongside John Glover, Evandale’s history includes a couple of other noteworthy characters. John Kelly, father of the notorious bushranger Ned Kelly, was part of a convict road gang working near the town.

This quaint town is also filled with boutique accommodation to help you lean into the historical atmosphere. There's the 1820s property Briar Lane, set on five sweeping acres, or a Georgian design hideaway at Arendon Cottage.

Where

Evandale is a 15min drive (18km) south of Launceston.

Insider tips

• See the finalists for the Glover Prize, the richest landscape art award in Australia, at Evandale’s historic Falls Park timber show pavilion each March.  
• Welcome Sunday in local style with a visit to the morning Evandale Market at Falls Park, with stalls of local produce, crafts and bric-a-brac.
• For another slice of history and more local knowledge than you can poke a penny farthing at, head to Evandale Visitor Information and History Centre.