Beechworth History - The History of Beechworth includes stories, people, buildings and events

Beechworth History

James Ingram Beechworth Pioneer

James Ingram Beechworth Pioneer James 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 Beechworth The 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.

Beechworth Courthouse

The 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.

George Biscoe Kerferd

George Biscoe Kerferd George 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.

Rosanna Nicholls

Rosanna Nicholls – the first person to be sentenced to death at the Beechworth Circuit Court

By Anne Hanson

William Nicholls was born at Sebastopol Flat, some ten kilometres north west of Beechworth on New Year’s Day in 1857. He was the only son and youngest child of twenty-five-year-old Rosanna Nicholls.

Gold had been discovered at Sebastopol early in 1856. When William was born, it was a four street settlement with a population of about 1000. As well as the miners themselves, there were butchers, storekeepers, blacksmiths, dairymen, a Church of England school, bakers, barbers, brewers and, of course, numerous hotelkeepers.

A Man of Distinction

John James Beresford Bowman - Beechworth John James Beresford Bowman was born in November, 1832 at Queenborough near Sheerness in Kent, England. He was the second son of Reverend William and Anne Bowman. While his father originally intended him for the church, John Bowman’s bent lay more towards legal matters than matters clerical and before leaving England in 1853 he studied law.