Beechworth's Robert O'Hara Burke Museum dates back to 1857 when it was first built as the main building for the Beechworth Young Men's Association which held regular meetings at which its members listened to lectures and read essays on a range of subjects. In 1858 the group, and building, was renamed as the Beechworth Athenaeum.
After the death of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills the Beechworth community decided to build a museum to commemorate Burke who had been the Beechworth district Police Superintendent from 1854 to 1855. In 1863 the building was extended, and again in 1874. It was at this time that the
