Beechworth History

Bank of NSW Beechworth

Bank of NSW Beechworth The 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.

Beechworth History Summary

Beechworth History Summary Originally used for grazing by the settler David Reid, the area was known as Mayday Hills until 1853, when it was renamed Beechworth. The Post Office opened on 1 May 1853 as Spring Creek and was renamed Beechworth on 1 January 1854.

In its golden heyday from 1852-1857, this was a fabulous gold region and centre of government; but its power, wealth and influence were short lived. At its wildest moments of gold discoveries, Woods related how an early party of prospectors retrieved a pan of gold weighing 14 lb (about 7 kg). Another lucky party, said Woods, cleared some 50lb (approx. 25 kg) of gold in a week. And so began a rush into this remote region. During the first election campaign in 1855, one candidate, Daniel Cameron, rode a horse shod with solid gold horseshoes. The extravagance of this event is still commemorated as the logo for Beechworth is a golden horseshoe.

John Buckley Castieau

John Buckley Castieau (1831-1885) was the Prison Governor at Beechworth from 1856 to 1869. During his tenor, and for some years after, the Beechworth Gaol, famous for its huge granite walls was known as Castieau's castle. As the Governor of the Melbourne gaol in 1880 he was an official witness to the hanging of Ned Kelly. His diaries were later published (2004) as The Difficulties of My Position: The Diaries of Prison Governor John Buckley Castieau 1855–1884 (2004).. In this book a drawing from the Australian Sketcher, 14 August 1880 shows Castieau sitting with Ned Kelly during his remand and also a photo of his signature as one of the witnesses to the Kelly hanging.

Beechworth Wheelbarrow Race

Beechworth Wheelbarrow Race The 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.

Beechworth Post Office

Beechworth Post Office Today’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.

Newtown Bridge Beechworth

Newtown Bridge Beechworth The 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.