Freewheeling: Cycling in Australia exhibition traces the changing shape and character of the bicycle, and its impact on Australia’s social, economic and political life. The exhibition features a wide range of material culture related to cycling in Australia, including different types of bicycles, cycling fashion, advertisements and promotional posters, and trophies and medals won by some of Australia’s most successful cyclists. Freewheeling: Cycling in Australia is a touring exhibition from the National Museum of Australia.
Exhibition highlights
• The Cadel Evans collection — a Ridley ‘Helium’ road bike from the 2008 Tour de France, and a Cannondale mountain bike.
• Peter Heal’s recumbent bicycle — used to set solo cycling records across and around Australia.
• A four seater solar bike from the Queensland State collection
• Hubert Opperman’s beret — worn by ‘Oppy’ throughout his life as a tribute to the French for their generous support.
• Ernie Old’s Malvern Star — a ‘Sid Patterson’ road racer presented to the champion long distance cyclist in about 1956.
• Harry Clarke’s penny-farthing — an 1884 bicycle owned by a champion penny farthing racer.
• The Ken Ross cycling collection — medals won by one of a few Australian cyclists in Europe after the First World War.
• Marion Sutherland’s bicycle — made in Melbourne by Arthur Sutherland for his wife, Marion, about 1913.
Freewheeling: Cycling in Australia
Queensland Museum, South Bank
29 November 2014 – 8 June 2015
www.qm.qld.gov.au
