Natural State News

Acclaimed Stillwater gets a Stablemate
The people behind Launceston’s acclaimed Stillwater café have opened a new bistro.

The Black Cow Bistro opened in Launceston in December 2008. It’s a more casual eatery than Stillwater and prides itself on showcasing premium Tassie beef – rather appropriately The Black Cow is in the old Lucks Butcher shop. The bistro’s logo, inspired by the ancient artworks in the Lascaux Caves in France, is a reference to Stillwater chef Don Cameron's prize Black Angus cattle.

Two staff from Stillwater, Craig Will (ex Marque IV second chef) and James Welsh (Stillwater Sommelier) have moved paddocks and are leading the Black Cow charge. The bistro is open six nights a week (closed on Tuesdays) from 5.30pm. There are plans to open every night.

Here’s a taste of what’s on offer:
Moulting Bay Pacific oysters - grilled with hollandaise/Pyengana cheddar (6) $16.5
Porterhouse, Cape Grim, dry hung 38 days from $27
House made summer berry pudding, clotted crème Chantilly $15.5
www.blackcowbistro.com.au

Queenstown’s Art Deco Paragon Theatre Re-opens

Queenstown once claimed the world's richest copper mine. The town’s Art Deco Paragon Theatre was a product of the town’s underground riches. The 1,150 seat picture theatre - with the motto ‘The city theatre in the country' was for many years the town’s main contact with happenings in the rest of the world.

But the Paragon, built in 1932, closed in 1984. While standing idle it was bought by Zimbabwe-born Alex Stevenson who, as well as being a local patron of Queenstown’s bourgeoning art scene, is also a local GP.
 
Alex juggled GP duties with the role of project manager and chief financier during the Paragon renovations. The theatre is a luxe version of its former self and seats just 60 people.

During the extensive five year refurbishment the Queenstown community enthusiastically returned items which had been removed and provided old photographs.

The result is a theatre faithful to its past (traditional 35mm projectors) but with modern luxuries: leather sofas, DVD and video as well as a contemporary bar and snacks menu.

On Christmas Eve Mrs Betty Beattie (nee Callow) who was an usherette in the 1930s cut the ribbon and declared the Paragon Theatre re-open. The Paragon will screen feature films and documentaries. Its commercial opening will be on February 13. Burn after Reading and Wall·E will feature –along with the reinvigorated Paragon.

Entry is $10 for adults and $8 for children.
Alex Stevenson: 0428 432873/alexstevenson@iinet.com.au

Festivale Turns 21
Held al fresco in Launceston’s historic City Park, Festivale is one of Tasmania's premier events.

For three days, February 13- 15 (Friday to Sunday), Festivale will offer up a menu of quality Tasmanian food and wine as well as music, dance and street theatre.

Festivale will feature about 70 food and wine stalls, all featuring Tasmanian-grown and Tasmanian-made produce. Newcomers on the Food and Wine Trail include Wursthaus At Olivers, Bruny Island Cheese and Bishop’s Vineyard.

Some of Tassie’s best wineries – Clover Hill, Josef Chromy and Moores Hill Estate – will be represented. Wine will be available for tasting as well as by the glass.

Live music is also a feature of Festivale. Funky reggae and groove, disco and big band sounds, are on a programme that will feature a non-stop line-up from three stages around the park each day.

Australian music legends The Black Sorrows and Russell Morris will perform on Saturday evening. James Reyne will get the 21st birthday celebrations under way on the Friday night. Elvis will be in the Park on Sunday.

For children, Festivale and Big Monkey will present Alice In Wonderland. Big Monkey is a profit-share theatre company based in Hobart and draws big crowds regularly to shows in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.

The event is expected to attract a crowd in excess of 45,000. Entry on Friday and Saturday is $15, Sunday $10; there is no charge for children under 12 accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be bought at the gate.
www.festivale.com.au

New Farm Gate Guide
Fruit Growers Tasmania launched its inaugural Tasmanian Fruits Farm Gate Guide in December.

The guide makes it a snap to source some of the freshest fruit produce direct from the grower.

The state‘s climate provides a diversity of produce to be harvested from early summer through to late autumn. Visitors can fill the boot of the hire car with apples, pears, cherries, berries and stonefruit from fruit growing districts across the state.

The brochure will be distributed through various tourism outlets including the Spirit of Tasmania. It’s available to download from the Fruit Growers Tasmania web-site:
www.fruitgrowerstas.com.au

Conservation Bargain
This conservation break departs from Hobart all year and given there is weeding involved costs just $40.

The short break holiday has been the rage in travel for some time now. But if you’re reeling from the financial meltdown and have scrubbed it from the agenda there is a way to get it back into the diary.

A Conservation Break weekend with Conservation Volunteers Australia on North Bruny Island doesn’t focus on expensive self indulgence but rather helps contribute to a long-term conservation program. 

Working with the local coast care group, volunteers remove the boneseed weed, an unwelcome South African which is taking over native vegetation and restricting wildlife habitat. The weekend package includes a walk at the Neck, plenty of wildlife, all meals and transfers from Hobart.
This conservation break departs from Hobart all year and given there is weeding involved costs just $40. Basic accommodation or shared camping, meals and transfers from Hobart are included.
www.conservationvolunteers.com.au

 

Taste Hobart Tour
This tour, launched in January, features famous Tasmanian taste icons – Cadbury chocolate, Cascade beverages and the Lark Whisky Distillery. 

On the Taste Hobart Tour participants are able to indulge at the home of Cadbury chocolate and soak up the history, beauty and of course the beer whilst enjoying a Tasmanian taste platter at the Cascade Visitors Centre.  The tour concludes at the Lark Whisky Distillery with tastings of some of the finest liqueurs, spirits and whiskies in Australia.

The four-hour tour departs Monday-Friday at 12.30pm from the Hobart Visitor Information Centre. 

The tour costs $110 per adult; $59 Children and $310 family (2 Adults and 2 Children). Tour includes transfers to and from the Tasmanian Visitor Information centre, exclusive VIP offers, samples, site entries and discounts. 

Tas Vacations: (03) 6234 4666 or taste@tastehobart.com.au

Ten Days on the Island
 Australia’s only state-wide arts event, Ten Days (27 March – 5 April across Tasmania)
offers an extraordinary program featuring international artists and events from island locations alongside Australia's finest talent.

Ten Days presents performances and works across the artistic spectrum in a program that features five world premieres and 17 Australian premieres. Over 730 artists from 20 countries - Australia, Nova Scotia Canada, Taiwan, Cuba, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Hong Kong, Torres Strait, Jamaica, Japan, Mauritius, Newfoundland, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland, Singapore, Taiwan, Manhattan USA and Wales, will be seen in 62 Festival projects in 99 venues in 52 locations across the state, all in ten days.

The Opening bash for 2009 will centre on Constitution Dock in the heart of Hobart, featuring free bands, spontaneous, roving entertainment, food stalls and the first of the amazing Dance Hall series at City Hall.
www.tendaysontheisland.com

King Island Imperial 20
The only coast to coast footrace in Australia will be held on Sunday 8 March 2009.
The Imperial 20 is one of the most unique running events in the country. The main feature is a challenging 32km (20 mile) footrace across the island. There is also a 32km walking race and team events. This is not just another run... generous hospitality and the island’s incredible food feature also.
www.kingislandrace.org.au

MORE EVENTS

Southern Open Vineyards Weekend
From 28 February vineyards and wineries throughout Southern Tasmania will open their doors to the public for cellar door sales and tasting over the weekend. This is a fantastic opportunity to taste wines from the Coal River, Derwent and Huon Valleys, the east coast and elsewhere.

Some of these boutique vineyards are generally not open to the public. A variety of food and wine will be available at many of them.

Fingal Valley Festival, 14 March
The Fingal Valley World Coal Shovelling Festival holds world mining titles (coal shovelling and roof bolting) recognised by the Guinness World Records.

The annual festival also includes a shearing competition, yard dog trials, wood chopping, veterans cycle race (Fingal to Mathinna return) and sheaf tossing.
www.ltvtasmania.com.au

John Glover Festival, 7-10 March
The Glover Prize exhibition is a fabulous show of paintings depicting Tasmania. The $30,000 prize is the richest landscape award in Australia. As part of the festival the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra will perform the Glover Prize Chamber Concert on 8 March.
www.johnglover.com.au

Media Contact:
Sonia Rendigs at Media Moguls: (03) 9836 2167
sonia@mediamoguls.com.au

Download: High-resolution images from Tourism Tasmania's Visual Library.

Check the Events Tasmania website for upcoming events:
www.eventstasmania.com

For further information:
travelmedia.tourismtasmania.com.au
www.discovertasmania.com