Beechworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BeechworthVictoria |
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Panorama of Beechworth town centre
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 Beechworth
Location in Shire of Indigo
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| Population | 3,290 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3747 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 560 m (1,837 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Indigo | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Benambra | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Indi | ||||||||||||||
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Beechworth is a historic town in north-east Victoria, Australia. It is famous for growing a lot during the gold rush in the mid-1850s. Many of its old buildings are still in great shape. Today, Beechworth is a popular place for tourists and is also known for making wine. In 2021, about 3,290 people lived there.
Contents
History of Beechworth
The area where Beechworth is located was first used for grazing animals by a settler named David Reid. It was sometimes called Mayday Hills until 1853. The Post Office opened on May 1, 1853, as Spring Creek. It was renamed Beechworth on January 1, 1854. One Indigenous name for this area is Baarmutha.
The Gold Rush Era
Between 1852 and 1857, Beechworth was a very important place for gold mining and government. Its time of great wealth and power did not last long. Early gold seekers found a lot of gold here. One group even found about 50 pounds of gold in just one week! This started a huge rush of people to this faraway region.
During an election in 1855, a candidate named Daniel Cameron rode a horse with real gold horseshoes. This amazing event is still remembered today. The symbol for Beechworth is a golden horseshoe.
Beechworth was far from Melbourne, the main city, and travel took a long time. People debated how to build a railway to Beechworth. A railway finally arrived in September 1876. But by then, the town's gold mining was slowing down. The train line closed in 1977 after 101 years.
During its busiest gold rush days, Beechworth had many businesses. These included a tannery, jewelers, boot makers, a brewery, and blacksmiths. It also had schools, hotels, a prison, a hospital, a courthouse, and police barracks.
People came from the United States, the United Kingdom, and China to find gold. At its busiest, Beechworth town had over 3,100 residents. Thousands more miners lived in nearby camps like Spring Creek and Woolshed. This made the total population in the Ovens area around 22,000. Chinese miners often had to live outside Beechworth town. The Beechworth Cemetery has a large section for early Chinese miners.
Recent Times in Beechworth
The Beechworth Magistrates' Court, which handles legal cases, closed on January 1, 1990.
Famous People from Beechworth
Beechworth has been home to many interesting people throughout its history.
Robert O'Hara Burke
Robert O'Hara Burke was a police inspector in Beechworth from 1854 to 1857. He later became famous as the leader of the Burke and Wills expedition. This was a very important journey across Australia.
The Burke Museum in Loch Street has many old items from Beechworth's past. You can see old newspapers, photos, clothes, and displays about the gold rush and early Chinese miners.
Sir Isaac Isaacs
Isaac Isaacs was Australia's first Governor-General who was born in Australia. He was appointed in 1931. His family moved to Beechworth in 1867 so he could get a good education. He went to the Common school and then Beechworth Grammar School. He was very smart and even taught other students when he was only 15!
Isaacs later moved to Melbourne to study law. He stayed connected to Beechworth by representing the area in government. He was elected to the Victorian Parliament and later to the first Federal Parliament in 1901.
Ned Kelly
The famous outlaw Ned Kelly had many connections to Beechworth. He spent time in HM Prison Beechworth. Two members of his gang, Aaron Sherritt and Joe Byrne, came from the Woolshed gold mining camp near Beechworth. Many people thought to be supporters of the Kelly Gang were held in Beechworth gaol for months without a trial.
George B. Kerferd
George B. Kerferd (1836–1889) lived in Beechworth for a long time. He became a Premier of Victoria, which is like a state leader. He played a big part in making sure Beechworth got its railway connection to Melbourne.
John Buckley Castieau
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Castieau (1831–1885) was the Governor of the Beechworth Prison from 1856 to 1869. The prison had huge stone walls and was sometimes called "Castieau's castle." He later became the Governor of the Old Melbourne Gaol. His diaries were published and give a look into life in Beechworth during the 1850s, 60s, and 70s.
Other Notable Figures
- Sir Albert Edward (Bert) Chadwick (1897–1983): A famous sportsman, businessman, and sports leader.
- Alfred William Foster (1886–1962): A respected judge.
Beechworth Climate
Beechworth has a cool climate for much of the year. Because it is a higher town, it often gets snow each year. Sometimes it snows quite a lot!
| Climate data for Beechworth Composite (1908–1986, rainfall 1858–2023); 580 m AMSL; 36.37° S, 146.71° E | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 39.3 (102.7) |
40.0 (104.0) |
36.7 (98.1) |
27.6 (81.7) |
23.2 (73.8) |
20.5 (68.9) |
19.8 (67.6) |
20.9 (69.6) |
25.6 (78.1) |
28.9 (84.0) |
36.2 (97.2) |
37.5 (99.5) |
40.0 (104.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27.3 (81.1) |
27.3 (81.1) |
23.9 (75.0) |
18.6 (65.5) |
13.9 (57.0) |
10.7 (51.3) |
9.6 (49.3) |
11.3 (52.3) |
14.3 (57.7) |
17.8 (64.0) |
21.5 (70.7) |
25.1 (77.2) |
18.4 (65.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.4 (56.1) |
13.8 (56.8) |
11.4 (52.5) |
7.9 (46.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
3.4 (38.1) |
2.6 (36.7) |
3.4 (38.1) |
4.9 (40.8) |
7.0 (44.6) |
9.3 (48.7) |
11.6 (52.9) |
7.8 (46.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 1.8 (35.2) |
2.9 (37.2) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
0.9 (33.6) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 51.7 (2.04) |
50.5 (1.99) |
61.6 (2.43) |
66.4 (2.61) |
91.6 (3.61) |
109.5 (4.31) |
109.5 (4.31) |
106.6 (4.20) |
90.8 (3.57) |
89.1 (3.51) |
69.6 (2.74) |
62.5 (2.46) |
959.7 (37.78) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 6.1 | 5.8 | 6.7 | 8.1 | 11.3 | 13.3 | 14.9 | 14.9 | 12.7 | 11.4 | 9.1 | 7.7 | 122.0 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 34 | 37 | 41 | 50 | 62 | 68 | 69 | 63 | 55 | 50 | 43 | 38 | 51 |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Beechworth Composite | |||||||||||||
Local Newspapers
During its gold rush days, Beechworth had two important newspapers: The Ovens and Murray Advertiser and The Constitution and Mining Intelligencer. These papers competed fiercely and were sometimes published every day. They were read widely throughout the area. Today, these old newspapers are important for learning about history. They are available at the Burke Museum and in libraries. The Ovens and Murray Advertiser is still published as a local paper today.
Things to Do in Beechworth
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Beechworth is a popular place for tourists to visit.
- You can see displays about Ned Kelly at the old court house.
- The Ned Kelly Weekend celebrates the outlaw's story.
- There are many yearly festivals, like the Golden Horseshoes Festival Easter Parade.
- Visit the Burke Museum and the Forests Commission museum.
- Explore waterfalls, the Gun Powder Magazine, and Newtown Bridge.
- Take ghost tours at the Beechworth Lunatic Asylum.
- Enjoy the Beechworth Bakery, Beechworth Honey, the brewery, and the lolly shop.
- You can also find restaurants and wineries.
- The town is one end of the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail, a path for walking and cycling.
The music video for Jason Donovan's 1989 song "Too Many Broken Hearts" was filmed in Beechworth!
Sports and Recreation
- Australian Rules Football: The town has a team called the Beechworth Football Club. They play in the Tallangatta & District Football League.
- Golf: Golfers can play at the Beechworth Golf Club.
- Mountain Biking: The Beechworth Mountain Bike Park has special tracks for cross-country and downhill biking. It is looked after by the Beechworth Chain Gang Mountain Bike Club.
- Skate Park: The Beechworth skate park has three bowls for different skill levels.
- Swimming: Beechworth has a swimming complex with three pools: one for babies, one for kids, and a 25-meter pool for adults.
- Cricket: The Beechworth Wanderers Cricket Club plays in the Wangaratta & District Cricket Association. They have teams for different age groups, including Under 16's, 14's, and 12's.
Books About Beechworth
Many books have been written about Beechworth, its goldfields, and its history. These include stories about bushrangers, police, Chinese miners, and the railway.
- Beechworth: An Australian Country Town and its Past by Tom Griffiths (1987)
- The Kelly Outbreak 1878–1880 by John McQuilton (1979)
- Shenanigans on the Ovens Goldfields: The 1859 Election by Antony O'Brien (2005)
- Beechworth: A Titan's Field by Carole Woods (1985)
- Listen to what they say by Jennifer Williams (2005)
- Colonial Casualties: Chinese in Early Victoria by Kathryn Cronin (1997)
Images for kids
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Church, Beechworth, c1855. Photo by Walter Woodbury
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The Commercial Hotel, Beechworth, c1855
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