Historic Beechworth Events


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

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Golden Horseshoes legend

Golden Horseshoes legendMiners took their politics seriously, and both the 'Monkeys' and the 'Punchers' sponsored rival candidates for Parliamentary representative for the Ovens Goldfields. After a series of bitter clashes, the election of September 1855 was a colourful event which resulted in the creation of the Beechworth Golden Horseshoes legend. Although there are conflicting stories about the incident, it is generally believed that the horseshoes were made from gold supplied by "Big " Johnston, owner of the Woolshed field's richest claim.

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Beechworth Wheelbarrow Race

Beechworth Wheelbarrow RaceThe trial of strength and endurance resulted from a bet made on Anzac Day 1935, between Beechworth's local garage proprietor Tom Parkinson and the licensee of the Post Office Hotel, Tony Evans. The bet, for twenty pounds, was that Parkinson would not be able to push Evans from the Beechworth Post Office to the Chalet at Mt. Buffalo in a wheelbarrow, given the time-limit of eight days. Although by all accounts the wager had originated in the local pub over a couple of beers, Tom Parkinson and Tony Evans took their bet very seriously.

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Discovery of Gold in Beechworth

Discovery of Gold in BeechworthGold was discovered in Beechworth in February 1852. The Ovens gold rush at Beechworth was followed closely by discoveries at Yackandandah, Nine Mile Creek, Stanley and Wooragee. There were three distinct gold fields areas in Indigo Shire: Beechworth, Yackandandah and the 'Indigo Goldfield' (Chiltern-Rutherglen).

It is estimated that by November 1852 there were as many as 8000 miners camped on Beechworth's Spring and Reid's Creek goldfields. Rushes continued from 1852 - 1854 with miners inundating, then abandoning areas, sometimes to return again when more gold was found.

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Beechworth Highlights

Beeches on High

Located just 100 metres from the heart o...

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Norman Lindsay

Beechworth's first online shop is dedica...

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