Beechworth History

Beechworth Town Hall

The Beechworth town hall and erect a double storey building. Early on the hall also served as a Court of Petty Sessions, with the magistrate seated in an elaborate carved chair. Kerosene chandeliers illuminated the hall for social occasions. Adjacent are the Beechworth Town Hall Gardens 1875, when botanist Ferdinard von Mueller donated trees.

Powder Magazine - Skidmore Road Beechworth

Powder Magazine - Skidmore Road Beechworth Built in 1860 to store the gunpowder used in the local gold mining, the powder magazine was designed to minimise the risk of explosion. Only copper fittings were used and an elaborate lightening rod was fitted. People entering had to wear special shoes. Should an explosion occur the design of the building and compound would ensure the blast traveled upwards. The magazine closed in 1918 and fell into decay. The roof was removed to stop vagrants sleeping there and was almost demolished. The National Trust restored the building in 1966.

Chevaliers Mill

The mill was built by Louis CHEVALIER at the head of the Newtown Falls on Spring Creek in 1855 and initially acted as a sawmill until it added flour milling equipment at a later stage. The Chevalier flour mill included French burr millstones. 'Newtown Flour Mills' was purchased by Graham and Wilson c1868 at which stage steam power was being introduced to the mill and then by John Burrows in 1875.

Rocky Mountain Tunnel

Rocky Mountain Tunnel Beechworth As Beechworth's alluvial gold deposits were depleated groups of miners organised themselves to begin using more advanced mining techniques including races to carry water from the creek area and the beginning of sluicing. A mining method using water under pressure to wash away the dirt.

Robert O'Hara Burke Museum Beechworth

Robert O'Hara Burke Museum Beechworth 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.

The Beechworth Wardens Office

The 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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