Beechworth.

Gold was first discovered in Beechworth in 1852 and in fourteen years more than 4 million ounces or 115 tons of gold was found with a value of over 2 billion dollars (1997 gold prices).

During the gold boom the population of the town rose to 8000 and it had 61 hotels and a theater in which world-famous actors appeared.

The Beechworth streetscape is so instantly charming because the buildings were largely constructed in the same style, at roughly the same time, and with the same material, the local honey-coloured granite.

Not a single building in the town centre feels 20th let alone 21st century and any 19th century time traveller would feel quite at home here today, if they could ignore the traffic that is.

Not that the town has much of that anyway...

Beechworth is part of Victoria's High Country Region with sensational views, historic villages, Ned Kelly country and "Man from Snowy River" fame.

It is an excellent stop-over between Melbourne, Sydney and/or Canberra travelling via the Hume Highway and taking the scenic route between Wodonga and Wangaratta.

The region is geographically varied, with towering winter snow capped mountains, tree-covered ranges, magical lakes, wild rivers and tranquil rural farmlands.

Lookouts in the area worth visiting are the Murmungee Lookout (south of the small town of Stanley), the Mount Stanley summit (7 kilometres south-east of Stanley) and the Mount Pilot lookout, around 15 kilometres north of Beechworth on the road to Chiltern.

The Historic and Cultural Precinct, located in Ford Street, is a major attraction, comprising of the town's old court house, telegraph station, town hall, a museum, and a dark cell which at one time housed the infamous bushranger Ned Kelly.

Adjacent to this precinct is the Beechworth Gaol, still in operation after having been built between 1859 and 1864.

Beechworth today is known for its amazing stories and rich colonial history.

La Trobe University's Beechworth campus occupies the site of the former Mayday Hills hospital (Beechworth Lunatic Asylum) which was established in 1867.

The hospital closed in 1995 and visitors are welcome to explore the site's historical buildings and attractive gardens, located at the southern end of Albert Road. Perhaps you would prefer to join local guides as they lead you on the Beechworth Ghost Tour through the halls and into the secrets of the former Asylum.

As the dusk settles overlooking the township you will be led through the distant and deserted buildings of what once was one of the three major asylums in Victoria.

'The Beechworth Lunatic Asylum' as it was originally named was built during the height of Beechworth's gold rush period in 1867 and operated until it's closure in 1995.

You will go deep into the heart of the old hospital and experience the wards and their mysteries.

Hear the stories, tales and myths that have led to this amazing tour and discover what life was like living and working in the institution during the 1860's.

Is this tour more than just your normal everyday 'Ghost Tour', who knows......?

Accommodation in Beechworth is, today, a little more comfortable....

The courthouse in Ford Street, built in 1853 at a cost of 3,730 pounds, retains its grandeur and original furniture, and visitors can stand in the same cell Ned Kelly did before he was taken to Melbourne Gaol and hung.

A town brimming with secrets of bygone eras, it's not hard to see why people flock to Beechworth to walk the very same streets down which the Kelly Gang sauntered.

Beechworth's current claims to fame are its growing number of microbreweries, the to-die-for range of Beechworth Honey, its regional fine food and the renowned Beechworth Bakery, Australia’s No.1 purveyor of piping hot pies, breads and cakes. My wife and I had the pleasure of returning to Beechworth during September 2009 and the place was looking as splendid as ever with its spring colours on full display.

And the Beechworth Bakery was as busy as ever with those with those delightful pies and pastries, Of course we visited the place twice just check it out properly...

Cradled in the foothills of the Australian Alps, Beechworth is a fascinating and beautiful town of many contrasts.

It is a town rich in history that offers a wonderful glimpse into times gone by.

A place to discover the natural beauty, meandering streams and thundering waterfalls, deep rocky gorges, rolling green valleys and stark granite outcrops.

The restored Historic and Cultural Precinct offers a wonderful glimpse into the past, with a museum, parks and gardens and the courthouse where Australia's most infamous bushranger 'Ned Kelly' and his mother were tried, and, as I said above, you can even visit the cell where he was held in his youth, see the gaol where he, his mother and sympathisers were imprisoned, and the court house where his final trial commenced.

More than 32 buildings are listed by the National Trust and Beechworth is regarded as Victoria's best preserved historic gold mining town, containing a rich legacy from the last century.

The town's wide tree-lined streets and solid local sandstone (honey coloured granite) buildings are hauntingly reminiscent of the bustling days when the streets rang with the clamour and excitement of the quest for gold.

The Beechworth region is rich with locally grown produce; fruit, vegetables, honey, nuts, berries, apples, preserves, with excellent restaurants, cafes, boutique breweries, bakeries and food and wine retailers to showcase it.

World-famous wineries, several specialising in robust reds, fortified ports and muscats compliment a fantastic gourmet food region specialising in cheeses, mustards and bakeries.

Great art galleries and famous artists, superb rose gardens and antique boutiques also make Beechworth their home.

Located just east of Beechworth's commercial centre is the Lake Sambell Reserve.

The reserve features a picturesque lake surrounded by BBQ and picnic areas, with the lake itself being a popular venue for water and boating activities.

There is so much to see and do in Beechworth that when you come you'll have to spend a day or three looking around.

Now when you do that you'll need somewhere to rest your bones won't you?

Well we've made that easy for you, just fill in the squares in the little box on the right and we'll take you to our page of Beechworth hotels where you'll find a list of all the hotels in Beechworth, their prices, facilities, pictures and just about eveything else you could want to know.

Go there now and check it out.

Well, you may not find any gold when you visit beechworth but you're sure to find many other things to make the experience worth while.

Enjoy,

John.

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