Beechworth
Drive Back in Time is a popular annual Beechworth event held over two days each autumn. With polished chrome the proud owners present their vehicles in a static parade along Ford Street Beechworth in front of the Historic Precinct. There is also a steam display in the nearby Police Paddocks. The Beechworth Drive Back in Time weekend also includes a guided tour of the region by local enthusiasts. The weekend includes displays of cars, trucks and motor cycles as well as steam engines and other displays. There are various award categories and other informational displays on the day. The display to free to see and a great day out for both motoring enthusiasts and those enjoy a good family day out.
The Beechworth Golden Horseshoes Easter Festival is traditionally the biggest annual festival on the Beechworth calendar and each year attracts around ten thousand visitors to the region with many booking out accommodation and restaurants years in advance. The festival also attracts many day visitors from the surrounding districts all keen to see the spectacle. The weekend highlight is the Beechworth Golden Horseshoes Easter Festival parade which makes its way down Ford Street to the delight of onlookers and varies each year to include everything from elephants to the local comical marching band. There are plenty of activities during this weekend with the popular Easter egg hunt and side shows popular amongst the children.
As well as being Victoria's best preserved gold mining town, Beechworth also has a number of remnants and ruins of our past. The Beechworth hospital facade is one such ruin and the most significant of all the partly remaining buildings in town. The hospital facade has a great, but in some ways sad, story and it is worth the short walk from the centre of town to see the facade and read its story. There is an informational board on site. The Beechworth Hospital Facade also makes a great location for wedding photos as well as happy snaps of your time in Beechworth. The hospital facade is located at the end of Church Street, approximately a five minute walk from the corner of Ford and Church Streets
The Beechworth Celtic Festival is an annual event that takes place throughout the streets, pubs, halls and other venues in Beechworth. Each year the the Festival attracts thousands of people to town to enjoy the entertainment that spans an entire weekend in November. The Celtic Festival is a great day out for everyone with many free events, stages, street performances and community groups getting involved. There are also a number of ticketed events which offer value for money and ticket holders see some of Australia's finest musicians and performers. With marching bands, pipe bands, Celtic musicians, street performers, dancers, markets and food the Beechworth Celtic festival is weekend of fun for all.
Opera in the Alps is held each year in the grounds of LaTrobe at Beechworth. With a typical Australia bush backdrop Opera in the Alps has been staged in Beechworth each January for a number of years and each event attracts visitors from around Australia. Regular headline acts have included performers such as Marina Prior, David Hobson and James Morrison as well as some of Australia's rising stars. Tickets for Opera in the Alps should always be booked in advance as the popular seating and picnic areas do sell out. Ticket options may vary from year to year but generally included a seated area and a BYO chair and picnic area. Food and alcohol are available on site.
Beechworth is home to some of Australia's most iconic flora and fauna. Within minutes of the centre of town you may see koala's, kookaburra's, kangaroos, wallabies, cockatoos, blue tongued lizards, echidna's and wombats. There are also majestic gum trees, waterfalls, cascades and bush walks. Beechworth has plenty of walks to enjoy. From the casual strolls around the streets of Beechworth to the many bush trails and walks that let you discover hidden disused mines, waterfalls, cascades, creeks, typical Australian bush and wildlife there is a walk to suit everyone. Walks in Beechworth cover all levels of fitness with some longer more challenging bush walks to easy walks that let you experience this amazing part of Australia.
Robert O'Hara Burke was born in Galway, Ireland in 1820. He joined the Irish police force in 1848 and then came to Australia in 1853. He first went to Tasmania then to the Victorian goldfields where he became a police inspector at Beechworth.
The 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.
Harry Power, whose real name was Henry Johnston, is in many ways probably one of the better of the bushrangers. He was certainly far better than the sullen, bullying lout he took on as an apprentice in early 1870. In fact, it may be the extraordinary interest shown in 
Emma was raised in Beechworth and started pole vaulting in late 1994 after Mark Stewart, who became her first pole vault coach, placed a notice on her local club room window. She won the Australian title in 1995, with what was then seen as a promising vault of 3.40m. The 1997 World Uni Games champion made a move to Adelaide and then Perth to train with former Russian coach, Alex Parnov.
The now closed HM Prison Beechworth is located at the corner of Sydney Rd and Williams Road, Beechworth and was built on the site of Beechworth's first stockade between 1859 and 1864 at a cost of 47,000 pounds. The prison ceased to be operational in 2004 and was subsequently sold into private developers hands. Unfortunately at this stage the building remains closed and no public access is available.
