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Episode 34, Friday 3 October 2008
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Andy and the team take us to some of their favourite spots and landmarks in Northern Tasmania. Andy draws the short straw, and heads to the Boag’s Centre for Beer Lovers, which started life as The Lame Dog pub in 1826.
The Boag’s Brewery has been a Launceston landmark for generations. There were originally several breweries on the site on the banks of the North Esk River. They eventually amalgamated to form the Esk Brewery established in 1881.
In 1883 it was taken over by James Boag and his son, James Boag II. James II took over the reigns shortly after (1887) and added new buildings and a malt house. By 1900 there were 30 permanent employees. Then came James lll - giving rise to the modern, and very successful, advertising campaign 'Who is James Boag?'
Niccole walks us through the inspiring Wood Design Centre. Established in 1991 it is Australia’s only museum collection of contemporary timber design, and is in fact one of the best collections of timber objects in the world.
And that is its aim; to have Tasmania recognised world-wide as a centre of such excellence, because of our sensational natural timbers (think bird’s-eye Huon and musk, just for a start) and our highly talented designers and crafts people.
Meanwhile the good Prof Adrian indulges himself in one of his passions … motor racing. The beautiful town of Longford had a 7 kilometre race track, part of it being the town’s public roads, that was one of the fastest tracks in the world. It hosted the Australian Grand Prix in 1959 and 65, and saw 12 World Champions, including Sir Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart and Jimmy Clark. And the Longford pub has a terrific collection of racing memorabilia that charts all those years when the ground trembled and high octane was in the air.
Finally, Gordon takes us to one of the North’s many fine, 19th century English-style mansions that dot the landscape and nestle behind manicured hedgerows. He shows us some of the treasures in Franklin House in South Launceston, and we see views of Entally House at Hadspen, Woolmers at Longford and Clarendon House at Nile. He then very sensibly tells us all to get out there and visit them … they are there to be seen, in all their splendour. What are we waiting for?
