Historic Beechworth Buildings


The Beechworth Wardens Office

The Beechworth Wardens OfficeThe Beechworth Wardens Office is located at the far end of the Historic Precinct on Ford Street and during the height of the gold rush was responsible for collecting payment for miners rights and business licences and enforcing the rules of the gold fields.

The building was completed in 1860 by contractor F.Reagan of Melbourne at a cost of 365 pounds. It was a standard design as commissioned by the Public Works Department along with the Chinese Protectors Office next door. Additional work was completed on the building in the same year by Beechworth architect and Builder Donald Fiddes.

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The Chinese Protector's Office

The Chinese Protector's Office BeechworthThe Chinese Protector's Office in Beechworth was responsible for the collection of Miners' rights and business licenses and for enforcing the rules of the protectorate.

As the Chinese population in Beechworth grew rapidly from around 60 in 1855 to well over 4000 by April 1857 it soon accounted for well over a quarter of the entire Beechworth population. The Beechworth Chinese Protector was appointed to administer the local Chinese community.

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Beechworth Railway Station

Beechworth Railway StationThe Beechworth railway station is now longer operational having closed on 30th December 1976 after 100 years of service (opened 30th September 1876). It was located on the Yackandandah line of the Victorian railway line approximately 275 km's from Spencer Street Station (now Southern Cross Station) in Melbourne. The railway tracks to Beechworth have been removed but the station building, platform and goods shed all remain in a good condition. The station building is used as a youth centre and the popular rail trail bicycle path runs through the middle of the station grounds.

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Bank of NSW Beechworth

Bank of NSW BeechworthThe former Bank of New South Wales in Beechworth was built in 1856-7 on a prominent corner of Ford Street and Camp Street. Initially an agency for the Bank of NSW which was opened in 1853 and three years later as the gold rush grew in Beechworth the architects Robertson and Hale were commissioned to design the existing and substantial bank building.

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Beechworth Post Office

Beechworth Post OfficeToday’s post office was erected in 1869-70, to replace the original building which had been destroyed by fire. This amazing building is an Ital­ianate structure with a square tower containing the original bell and clock. It features a colonnade on the ground floor and a bal­cony with slender columns for the post master’s residence upstairs. Note a lion’s head iron drink­ing fountain. 

 

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Newtown Bridge Beechworth

Newtown Bridge BeechworthThe bridge across Spring Creek in Beechworth was first built of wood in the early 1850's. It was later decided to replace the wooden structure with a bridge the would 'be in service for the next two hundred years.' Quarry owners Donald Fiddes & Co. contracted Scottish stonemasons to commence work on the new bridge on 2nd April 1874. The bridge cost 2,450 pounds to construct and was built without mortar, using keystones to lock the granite blocks together. It was opened in 1875 and at the time was considered the best bridge in the colonies.

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