Evandale, Tasmania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Evandale Tasmania
St. Andrews Church, Evandale
Evandale Location in Tasmania
Population	1,345 (2016 census)
Established	1809
Postcode(s)	7212
Location	8 km (5 mi) from Perth 18 km (11 mi) from Launceston
LGA(s)	Northern Midlands Council
State electorate(s)	Lyons
Federal Division(s)	Lyons

Evandale is a super old town in northern Tasmania, Australia. It sits right by the South Esk River, about 18 km south of Launceston. The town is named after an early explorer, George Evans.

Evandale is famous for its beautiful old buildings from the 1800s. It also has a popular Sunday market and hosts the yearly national Penny Farthing Bicycle Championships! In 2016, about 1,345 people lived in Evandale.

In Evandale, you'll find a primary school, churches, parks, pubs, shops, and a fire station. Other towns nearby include Nile, Deddington and Perth.

Evandale's Past: A Journey Through Time

Clarendon House, just outside Evandale, was built in 1836 and is looked after by the National Trust.

Evandale has a long and interesting history. Let's explore how it came to be!

First People: Aboriginal History in Evandale

The very first people to live in the Evandale area were the Palawa, who are Tasmanian Aboriginal people. This land was important to the Ben Lomond and North Midlands Nations.

Archaeologists have found signs of old Palawa campsites and tools near the river. This area was likely a hunting ground and a meeting place for local clans.

At first, some settlers and Aboriginal people had peaceful interactions. However, as more settlers arrived, things became difficult. The Aboriginal people faced many challenges and fought to protect their land. By the 1820s and 1830s, traditional Aboriginal life in the Evandale region had sadly changed a lot.

Colonial Times: How Evandale Grew

St Andrew's Anglican Church, Evandale, is a beautiful old building.

The modern town of Evandale began as "Honeysuckle Banks." Governor Lachlan Macquarie camped here in 1811. The first settler in the area was David Gibson, who received land in 1809.

The land around Evandale was very good for farming and raising animals. This made it an attractive place for early European settlers.

Early Settlers and Buildings

One important early settler was Captain Andrew Barclay. He was given land in 1816 and built "Trafalgar," which is the oldest building still standing in the area. He also built "Cambock," which had a bell tower to warn workers about fires or attacks. Many streets in Evandale are named after him, like Barclay Street.

Another settler, George Collins, was granted land where part of Evandale now stands.

Building the Town

The town of Evandale slowly grew from the 1820s onwards. Roads were built to connect Evandale to other towns like Launceston and Campbell Town.

The 1820s were a bit wild, with bushrangers (like outlaws) and Aboriginal people sometimes causing trouble for farms and travelers. Law enforcement was handled by soldiers and appointed constables.

Naming Evandale

The area had a few different names over time. It was first called Honeysuckle Banks, then New River, and then Collin's Hill. In 1829, it was officially named Evansdale, after the surveyor George William Evans. Later, in 1836, it became Evandale.

For a while, people still called it Morven, which was the name of an earlier planned town site. Today, the local sports ground is still called 'Morven Park.'

Town Life and Progress

In the 1830s, there was a plan to bring water from the South Esk River to Launceston, but it was too difficult to build.

The first inn (like a hotel) opened in 1832. The oldest pub still open today is the Prince of Wales Hotel, built in 1836. The Evandale Post Office opened in 1835 and is a lovely old building.

In 1835, citizens asked for a church to be built. Governor John Franklin helped start the building of the first church in 1838, which also served as a school.

In 1876, a railway line connected Evandale to Hobart. This was an important link for the town.

Statues in Evandale: Honoring Heroes and Artists

Evandale has several statues that celebrate important people:

• A statue of Harry Murray in Memorial Park. He was a very brave soldier in World War I.
• A statue of an unknown penny-farthing rider at the corner of Russell and Scone Streets.
• A statue of John Glover in Falls Park. He was a famous landscape artist.

Famous People from Evandale

Major Harry Murray was a highly decorated soldier from World War I.

Many interesting people have connections to Evandale:

• Steve Biddulph - an author who writes about parenting.
• Bob Cheek - a former leader in state politics.
• John Glover - a well-known landscape artist.
• Hollie Grima - an Australian women's basketball player.
• Nathan Grima - an Australian Rules Football (AFL) player for the North Melbourne Kangaroos.
• Susan Irvine - an author and expert on roses.
• Harry Murray - one of the most decorated soldiers of the British Empire during World War I.

Evandale in Stories

• The Roving Party is a book by Rohan Wilson. It tells a fictional story about John Batman and William 'Black Bill' Ponsonby during the Black War.