Australia’s only full-time penny-farthing maker is turning a highly unusual passion into a standout niche, attracting customers from around the world. Dan Bolwell, who shifted from farming into building the towering old-style bicycles professionally, has developed a dedicated following among enthusiasts drawn to both the engineering and the spectacle.
Penny-farthings are hard to ignore on the street, and that attention appears to be part of their appeal. The distinctive bikes naturally stand out in everyday settings, giving riders a sense of novelty and visibility that modern bicycles rarely match.
That fascination has helped Bolwell build an international reputation in a small but loyal market. His work reflects the enduring interest in heritage cycling, where craftsmanship, design and personality matter as much as performance.
The growing attention around Bolwell’s business also comes as penny-farthings gain fresh headlines through world-record achievements. For a vehicle often seen as a relic of the past, the renewed spotlight shows there is still strong enthusiasm for these iconic high-wheel bikes in Australia and beyond.
