VICTORIA'S
GREATEST DRIVING TOURS AND HERITAGE TOWNS
Historic...
BEECHWORTH
Beechworth is one of the best weekends away in Victoria
for those wanting to visit a well preserved heritage
town replete with excellent accommodation and fine dining venues. This 1850s Gold Rush town in Victoria’s north-east
has become incredibly popular with those who
appreciate the combination of carefully restored colonial buildings, a splash of Ned Kelly history,
and large helping of beautiful countryside.
The region was initially explored by Hume and Hovell in 1824,
though it was some time before a settlement emerged. Beechworth
had a boom time when the gold flowed like water: in fourteen years
after first discovery in 1852, some four million ounces of gold
were officially mined.
It’s fabled that one wealthy miner actually rode through
town on a horse shod with shoes of pure gold - proving that horseshoes can bring
good fortune after all. But whether the story is true or not,
there’s no doubt the prosperity generated by Beechworth
gold has left an admirable heritage - and a little infamy.
The Kelly Gang made their home on a rocky hilltop eyrie overlooking
the town and surrounding country. The marauding gang became outlaws
in the region around Glenrowan, Greta and Beechworth in the 1870s,
and Ned was temporarily incarcerated in the local lockup, tried
in the courthouse, and imprisoned here.
Anyone wishing to follow in Ned’s footsteps, lawfully,
could start here in town. From the Post Office, Ford and Camp
Streets are lined with shops and hotels nestling comfortably close,
toe-ing the broad footpaths beneath swooping iron verandahs. Further
afield, in easy walking distance, are skillfully restored stone
and timber homes and some of the most beautiful cottage gardens
in the State.
Local-quarried granite was a favoured building material for important
edifices, and the town today boasts thirty-two buildings classified
by the National Trust - most in an excellent state of preservation
thanks to the skill of last century’s stonemasons and the
durability of the honey-coloured stone.
Beechworth Bakery is the spot for pies and cream cakes,
Wardens for good coffee and casual dining. The Bank Restaurant
offers fine dining which has long been renowned in the north-east.
A number of walking routes are marked on the Beechworth within-a-walk
map, available at the tourist information centre. Keen sightseers
can explore the Powder Magazine, ceremonial Chinese burning towers,
the scenic Gorge Road, Murmungee Lookout, and find innumerable
quiet, shady picnic spots. Local award-winning wineries have tastings
and cellar door sales. The cycling rail-trail to Everton is 16km,
mostly downhill - but remember it's all uphill coming back to
Beechworth.
Getting there: Beechworth is about 284km north-east
of Melbourne, off the Hume Freeway. It is a three hour drive from
the city. A suggested (longer) return route is via Whitfield,
Mansfield and Yea.
STAY THE WEEKEND AT:
The Bank Restaurant & Mews, 4 large B&B rooms, fine dining see review
Fiches of Beechworth lovely heritage house - B&B at its traditional best see review
The Stone Cottage, 2 s/c cottages 5mins walk to centre of town see review.
