Beechworth History


James Ingram Beechworth Pioneer

James Ingram Beechworth PioneerJames Ingram was a local newsagent and bookseller and who served the local community for over 70 years in various capacities. He was instumental in establishing the Ovens & District Hospital, Ovens & Murray Hospital for the Aged, Mayday Hills Mental Hospital and the Beechworth Primary School. Was known as Beechworth's Grand Old Man. He died in March 1928 just 6 weeks short of his 100 Birthday, and is buried in the Beechworth Cemetery.

 

The Stone Lock-Up Beechworth

The Stone Lock Up BeechworthThe Stone Lock-Up in Beechworth is located in the area known as the Police Paddocks, or Police Reserve. This area is behind the main Ford Street Historic Precinct buildings and can be accesses by Ford Street, High Street or Williams Street. Beechworth's Stone Lock-Up was originally used as the Police remand lock-up for Beechworth Prisoners awaiting trial at the nearby Beechworth Courthouse. Male prisoners where held in the left cell and females in the right cell.

Read more...
 

Beechworth Courthouse

Beechworth CourthouseThe Beechworth Courthouse is an impressive stone building that is prominent amidst the Beechworth Historic Precinct in Ford Street. The Courthouse was constructed in 1858 by Smith, Bank & Chambers at a cost of 3730 pounds. Originally it was only a small courtroom with offices either side and a rear wing which housed the Sheriff and his Deputy. Extensions were completed by John Steven sin 1865 at a cost of 1499 pounds.

Read more...
 

George Biscoe Kerferd

George Biscoe KerferdGeorge Kerferd (1831 - 1889) exemplified the opportunities that the new colony of Victoria offered to immigrants. He started as a boiler-maker and miner and eventually became a premier and supreme court judge.

Kerferd’s political career was unplanned. It was inspired by his energetic and imaginative determination that Beechworth could be the centre of a thriving mining and farming district. He had arrived there at 23 years of age after migrating to Melbourne from Liverpool a year before.

Read more...
 

Beechworth Gold History Timeline

Beechworth Gold History1852: First discovery on present site of Beechworth, February 1852

1853: Woolshed (part of Reedy Creek, about 6 km below Beechworth) opened 1853 and was extraordinarily rich by 1855. The township was extended for 2 miles, but was almost deserted again within a few years

1855: Discoveries of new fields at Eldorado in 1855 and Wooragee (Magpie Creek), north of Beechworth

Read more...
 

Beechworth Telegraph Station

Beechworth Telegraph StationThe Beechworth Telegraph Station is one of the first buildings you will encounter in the Beechworth Historic Precinct as you arrive from the centre of town along Ford Street. The building was opened as a Telegraph Station on 21st January 1858 having been built by contractors McLuckie & Carter at a cost of 1,100 pounds. With an electric telegraph line in place between Melbourne and Albury the Beechworth Telegraph Station soon became an essential source of sending and receiving information.

Read more...
 


Page 1 of 4
Find us on Facebook
Follow Us