High Country Life

Beechworth was transformed from an agricultural outpost into an economic powerhouse overnight when gold was discovered at David Reid’s pastoral run at May Day Hills in February 1852, prompting thousands of hopeful prospectors to descend and transform it into an bustling regional centre with churches, banks, schools, hotels and taverns being constructed along with houses of worship, banks, schools and hotels being established to house all their needs.

Beechworth’s heritage-listed buildings take you back to the golden rush era, while its historic courthouse offers a recreation of Ned Kelly’s trial.

History

Beechworth is an iconic Victorian gold mining town and must-visit for all visitors to Victoria. Packed full of National Trust and Heritage Council of Victoria listed buildings carefully preserved to reflect their elegance, including honey coloured granite streets lined with trees and 19th century houses that combine to form an exquisite village-feel streetscape. Discover antique stores, cafes and restaurants, craft shops and art galleries, or embark on an engaging walking tour that uncovers Beechworth’s rich past!

Discover Beechworth’s history at the Burke Museum and gain insights into Aboriginal heritage, gold fever and Ned Kelly. Or join a lantern-lit tour for ghost tales from old town Beechworth or head out into the surrounding countryside on a walking trail; it is particularly breathtaking during autumn when trees display vibrant golden yellows, rich reds and orange hues – an experience not to be missed!

Beechworth (then known as Mayday Hills) was transformed when gold was discovered at Spring Creek below the gorge in February 1852, becoming an important goldfield. Within eleven months 8000 hopeful gold seekers had arrived and used their wealth to construct churches, banks, schools, hotels, shops and an impressive stonewall jail – as well as dry diggings which often led to violent confrontations between they two camps.

Beechworth was once a bustling goldfield town and in 1858 saw the opening of London Tavern (now The Beechworth Hotel), the first all-brick hotel on Ovens goldfields. Arranged around an inner veranda-ed courtyard and now listed on Victorian Heritage Register.

By 1860, reef mining of quartz had replaced alluvial work, and a gaol was constructed. Beechworth became more refined with the opening of a Catholic church in 1868 and railway services arriving there three years later in 1876. Hydraulic sluicing became common practice and an estimated 1400 km of water races existed by 1880 when Rocky Mountain Mining Company constructed an 800-metre tunnel beneath Beechworth to divert water off at Spring Creek.

Walking Trails

Town is known for its historic buildings and heritage listed sites; more than 32 heritage listed sites exist within its boundaries. Once known as Mayday Hills, this boomtown quickly expanded after alluvial gold was discovered in 1852; beginning as a humble settlement of campsites and timber huts at that time but quickly growing into one of Ovens Valley goldfields’ central hubs with businesses, houses, hotels, shops, churches and even schools!

Yeddonba Aboriginal Walk was reopened in 1997 to showcase the artwork of Duduroa people, who once resided here. This 45-minute stroll is easy, taking you from picnic area near Gorge Road bridge all the way up to sandstone shelters and lookout. There is also the Gorge Walk offering spectacular rocky outcrops, granite tors, stunning waterfalls, and refreshing pools!

Explore Beechworth’s rich history at the Burke Museum during your stay. Its main exhibits revolve around Beechworth’s Chinese community, Kelly Gang members and gold mining in Victoria and Australia; plus courthouse reenactments and collections of punishment irons and manacles are equally fascinating.

Other attractions include an old telegraph station and the Beechworth Museum with its reconstructed cottage, school, general store and whitewashed gaol. Furthermore there is a gallery featuring local artists’ work as well as a streetscape of reduced size reproduction shops.

Beechworth is widely acknowledged as one of Victoria’s best preserved historic gold rush towns. Once an integral hub in Ovens Valley, Beechworth boasts numerous heritage-listed structures such as James Gwilt’s Beechworth School of Arts building, former Star Hotel and Burke Museum – just to name a few!

Beechworth offers several trails that explore its goldmining and farming past, such as its Historic Mined Landscape which is both historically and scientifically significant as an example of landscape altered through mining practices such as hydraulic sluicing, tailraces, sludge piles and pebble dumps – providing crucial information about gold mining technology as well as its effect on natural environments.

Food & Wine

Beechworth’s food and wine scene is well-recognized nationally. Restaurants and cafes in Beechworth pride themselves on offering excellent service and quality, while its many independent vineyards produce world-class wine such as Shiraz Merlot Viognier blends.

Beechworth has been carefully preserved through National Trust-listed buildings. Built from honey-coloured local granite, its graceful yet dignified look is enhanced by wide tree-lined streets, 19th century houses and wide tree-lined streets; while public parks and gardens feature mature English trees with lush, blooming gardens to add another element of charm and provide much-needed respite from everyday life.

Gold was discovered in the Ovens Valley in 1852 and an explosion in population ensued. Mayday Hills was eventually renamed Beechworth after its counterpart in England in 1856 to mark its new status as center for northern Ovens Valley goldfields.

An assortment of businesses were opened, from tanneries and jewellery makers to bootmakers and livestock sale yards and hotels. Schools, churches, gaols, police barracks, hospitals for the elderly, mental asylums and flour mills also began operating during this time.

By the end of the 1850s, over four million ounces of gold had been discovered. Dan “Mad Dog” Morgan passed through Beechworth on his journey back to Melbourne after breaching his ticket-of-leave conditions; during that year, Beechworth received its own gaol as well as having its own smelter, gold mining museum, public library, church and public school facilities – not forgetting reef mining as the primary source for gold; a powder magazine was also established.

Early administrators recognized that gold would eventually run out, so they invested heavily in town infrastructure by building hospitals, jails and mental asylums – even constructing one smelter at Stanley – before investing more heavily in mining operations.

Accommodation

Beechworth is an idyllic gold rush town that will transport visitors back to Australia’s Victorian-era history. The heritage-listed buildings, such as the Beechworth Historic Courthouse (where Ned Kelly was tried), and guided tours of Beechworth Gaol provide visitors with an intriguing window into Australia’s rich past.

Beechworth’s main street offers charming cafes, bakeries and specialty stores for visitors to discover. Additionally, Beechworth is home to heritage-listed gardens such as Beechworth Rose Garden and Botanic Gardens that provide beautiful backdrops to enjoy an leisurely lunch with friends or family.

Beechworth’s architecture also reflects its diversity during the gold boom years. For instance, The London Tavern (1859-62) stands as an all brick hotel built around a verandah courtyard and listed on the Victorian Heritage Register; this structure stands as a reminder of migrants flooding in during gold fever times as quickly as their towns transformed and changed shape.

At its height in 1857, Beechworth boasted over 3100 inhabitants. Small settlements emerged along creek beds such as Nine Mile Creek Diggings, Hurdles Flat and Reedy Creek as a result of gold mining activity (as illustrated in Ovens Directory 1857).

Beechworth was home to many families despite its difficult life on the goldfields, including those of Chinese origin. Although Chinese residents were not permitted to reside within Beechworth itself, camps on its outskirts provided refuge from various controls, regulations, and licence checks. Today, Beechworth Cemetery celebrates these early migrants through the Chinese Section.

Beechworth’s early administrators saw clearly that its wealth would eventually run out and invested in public amenities – including hospitals for the aged, gaols and general/mental asylums – while developing agricultural/timber industries and water supply systems.

Beechworth has become well-known as an epicenter for wine and food lovers, featuring boutique cellar doors and restaurants specializing in regional produce to craft exquisite culinary masterpieces. Additionally, Beechworth is also popular with nature enthusiasts who can stroll the beautiful forests or enjoy scenic drives that provide stunning views of granite formations or cascading waterfalls.