Events & Notices
ANZAC Day 2026
The Evandale History Society conducted a Dawn Service and an 11 am service to commemorate ANZAC Day 2026. Both services, were conducted in fine weather and were very well attended. The services were held in the grounds of the Evandale Memorial Hall. Morning tea was attended by a good crowd and catered by members of the Society. The commemoration was supported by students from the Kings Meadows High School and the Evandale Primary School and by pipers from the St Andrews Caledonian Pipe Band. The Society was fortunate in having Major General David Chalmers, AO, CSC (retd) give the ANZAC Address.
Unveiling of Plaque to commemorate site of the first Church of England chapel and school – March 2025
On 14 March 2025, members of the Society along with members of the Murray family (who were holding a reunion in Evandale) met in Pioneer Park Evandale for the unveiling of a bronze memorial plaque. The plaque commemorated the establishment and site of the first permanent Church of England chapel and school house in Evandale.
The chapel was officially opened by the Lieutenant Governor of VDL, Sir John Franklin on 19 February 1837. It was a timber building with a shingle roof approximately 6 meters by 12 meters. During weekdays it was used as a school. It was built on land donated by Mr Kennedy Murray Jnr. The chapel was replaced by a more substantial structure in 1844.
At the plaque unveiling, Society members: Barry Lawson, Laurie Wotherspoon and Cameron Richards spoke about the establishment of the chapel. The unveiling coincided with Cameron Richards’s launch of his book “Prosperous – The Kennedy Murrays and the origins of historic Evandale in early Colonial Australia”.
Visit to Springvale – February 2025
On 27 February 2025, a number of members met at the property “Springvale” to see what remains of the Evandale – Launceston water scheme tunnel. The tunnel entrance is reasonable accessible and about 130 meters long. The water scheme was commenced in 1836 with the aim of providing Launceston with fresh water from the South Esk River near Evandale. Work was undertaken by mostly convict labour. Two tunnels were commenced, however the scheme was abandoned in 1837 largely for financial reasons.
During the visit, one of our members, Stephanie Dean gave an informative talk about the scheme and in particular the “Springvale” site which in addition to the tunnel contains remnants of convict barracks and administrative buildings.
St Andrews Anglican Church – Fire in Church Hall 18 June 2023
Members of the History Society and the Evandale population more widely were saddened by the destruction of the historic timber Church Hall adjacent St Andrews Anglican Church. The fire occurred on 18 June 2023 and it is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault in the ceiling.
Murray Family crypt marker – 13 September 2022
On 13 September 2022 a cast bronze plaque on a sandstone plinth was erected in Pioneer Park, Evandale. The plaque marks the approximate location of the crypt which contained the remains of Kennedy Murray Snr (1771 – 1853) and Sarah (1805-1839) the first wife of his son , Kennedy Murray Jnr. The Society wishes to thank out member Laurie Wotherspoon for his work on this project.
Shameful destruction of the Morven Park Historic Grandstand by the Northern Midlands Council – March 2018
Early one morning in March 2018, the historic Morven Park grandstand was bulldozed by the Northern Midlands Council. Notwithstanding that the building was in the Evandale Heritage Zone, the grandstand was demolished without advance notice to the community. The reasons given by the Council for this extraordinary act were:
The Evandale Advisory Committee were advised that in 2014 and late 2017 risk assessments on the building had been conducted; and a report in regard to the proposed demolition was tabled at the November 2017 Council meeting. The Committee were advised that the grandstand had been demolished under the Northern Midlands Interim Planning Scheme 2013: 5.7 Emergency Works
5.7.1 Urgent works, that are undertaken for public safety or to protect property or the environment as a result of an emergency situation, that are required or authorised by or on behalf of the State Government, a Council, a statutory authority, or a corporation all the shares of which are held by or on behalf of the State or by a statutory authority. Noted that despite Council attempting to prevent access to the grandstand, reports had been received of children playing on the grandstand and there was evidence of activity at the site.
The members of the Evandale History Society were appalled by this decision from a Council that claims to respect and preserve the special built heritage of the Northern Midlands as well as claiming to practice open and transparent government. Requests for the Mayor and/or the General Manager to explain the decision to the members of the Society were met with silence.
The images below were taken shortly before the demolition. Readers are invited to decide whether the structure posed an immediate public danger – that required demolition of this historic structure without the usual notice.
