Historical information

This copy of a photograph originally published in Ovens and Murray Advertiser 1935 depicts ‘Barrowmen’ Tom Parkinson and Sid Evans with a wheelbarrow. In June 1935, Beechworth's local garage proprietor Tom Parkinson and Sid Evans, licensee of the Post Office Hotel, undertook a wheelbarrow push from Beechworth Post Office to the Chalet at Mount Buffalo. The event originated with a 20-pound wager made on ANZAC Day 1935, with Tom Parkinson betting that he could push Sid Evans from Beechworth to Mount Buffalo in a wheelbarrow in eight days or less. Both men trained for almost two months before the event and in that time gained a sponsorship with Dunlop Tyres, as well as national and international media attention. The event took place from 15th – 23rd June 1935, with Parkinson successfully pushing Evans the 82km distance and 1350 metre (4430ft) altitude in the allotted time. The wheelbarrow push has become known as the ‘Barrowthon’ and has inspired many modern-day ‘Barrowthon’ fundraising events across Australia.

Significance

This photograph is part of a collection of items held by the Burke Museum that relate to the famous Wheelbarrow Push in 1935.

Physical description

Black and white portrait orientated rectangular reproduced photograph printed on matte photographic paper.