Beechworth

Beechworth Vic 3747 (Pop 3 400)
Pic: by Fir0002

Beechworth is an historic High Country goldmining town located 285 km n-e of Melbourne. It is one of Australia’s best preserved 19^th century towns with more than 30 National Trust listed buildings. Original inhabitants were the Min-jan-buttu Aborigines and vast gold discoveries followed in 1850s until 1921. A successful tourism industry was launched in 1960s. Golden Horseshoes Festival (Apr), Drive Bank in Time (May), Beechworth Harvest Festival (May), Celtic Festival (Nov). 

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Ned Kelly's Cell, Albert Rd held Australia’s notorious bushranger as a 15 year old for 6 months. The Beechworth Gaol, William St (1859) where a number of the Kelly family and gang were incarcerated.  Historic & Cultural Precinct many outstanding and well preserved granite buildings, the telegraph station, town hall, courthouse and powder magazine. Harness & Carriage Museum, Railway Ave National Trust run museum with excellent displays, historic memorabilia & many horse drawn vehicles including a fire cart, funeral hearse and Cobb & Co coach. Beechworth Gallery, Albert St has fine local and international exhibitions. Historic Beechworth includes St Andrews Church (1857), Christ Church (1858), St Joseph’s Church (1868), Post Office (1869), Commercial Hotel (1873), Hibernian Hotel (1876), Wallace Park (1890s). Burke Museum, Loch St (1856) built as a library and houses one of Australia’s largest Ned Kelly collections as well as historic Aboriginal artifacts, a natural history collection (a preserved Tasmanian Tiger), the Chinese Collection & Children’s Collection (19^th century toys). Open (9am-5pm) daily. 

Nearby:
Beechworth Cemetery (north) Established 1856 has some 2 000 Chinese goldminers graves, twin ceremonial Chinese Burning Towers (1883) and a prayer desk.  Beechworth Historic Park numerous trails connecting points of interest (Powder Magazine, One Tree Hill, Spring Creek Cascades, The Precipice, Fiddes Granite Quarry, Reids Creek Goldfields, Wollshed Falls. Tel Parks Victoria 131 963. Gorge Scenic Drive a 5 km drive skirting north and west Beechworth taking in lookouts, granite tours and waterfalls. Stanley (10 km s-e) historic goldmining village affording excellent Australian Alp, Ovens Valley and Lake Hume views from nearby Mt Stanley (1 064 m). Mt Pilot Lookout (5 km north) (548 m) spectacular Murray Valley views and Aboriginal cave paintings and an initiation rock cave nearby at Yeddonba Aboriginal Art Site.

Accommodation:
Beechworth has 5 motels, 3 hotels, several holiday cottages/apartments, 7 B&Bs and two caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: Ford St. Tel (03) 5728 3233 or 1300 366 321.