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TOURISMINTERNET
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Beechworth Tourist Attractions Below you will find an alphabetical liting of the Tourist Attractions. Any Attractions that are underlined are Linked to further information.
ABORIGINAL ART Doma Mungi Gallery ( Chiltern )
ABORIGINAL DRAWINGS The Dudora Tribe have a sacred place on Mt Pilot, where no one was allowed to hunt animal or human. The art site depicts a number of animals, including the Tasmanian Tiger. This was thought to have been extinct on the mainland of Australia for over 2,500 years. There are numerous small caves and very good lookouts, and the whole site is well signposted with the interesting details of the area. Press here for more info.
ABORIGINAL TOWN NAMES A listing of aboriginal town names and their meanings from the North East.
ADVENTURE TOURS
ANIMALS ANTIQUES Beechworth has many interesting antique shops and displays. APPLES The township of Stanley, some 10 kilometres from Beechworth, is an orchard area predominately growing apples. When in Stanley ask anybody at the town where to get some Stanley Apples. APPLE JUICE Available at the manufacturers at Stanley. ARRON SHERRITS HUT, KELLY GANG Just a few kilometres past Woolshed Creek Falls the dirt road foords across the creek. Crossing the creek, you will come out at an intersection, where once the Woolshed School was located. This is situated on your right hand side on the right of the intersection. Less than 1 kilometre past here on your right hand side is the location of Arron Sherrit's hut. It was here on the night before the Kelly Gang attempted to ambush the Police train at Glenrowan, thet Dan Kelly and Joe Byrne shot and killed Arron Sherrit, the Police Informer. Three policemen were inside the hut when Arron was killed.
BBQ LOCATIONS
BEECHWORTH LEGENDS WALKING TOUR Beechworth Legends Walking Tour
BICYCLE HIRE At Tourist Information Centre
BICYCLE TOURS Many of the walking tours would be ideal for cycling. Please look at walking and driving tours below. Example, Beechworth to Wallaby Mine.
BICYCLE RAIL TRAIL Old Railway Line fully asphalted to Everton. Everton Station to Tarrawingee Station Tarrawingee Station to Wangaratta
BIRD WATCHING Chiltern is the Capital of Birdwatching in Victoria, having over 200 species living in or visiting the Chiltern Forest, which commences at Mt Pilot just 10 Kms from Beechworth.
BOWLING CLUBS Beechworth Bowling Club
BUS TOUR A bus tour of Beechworth is available. Please ask at the Tourist Information Centre.
BUSH RANGERS There were many bushrangers attracted by the gold. The Beechworth Courthouse and Beechworth Bourke Museum have details of these, including the Kelly Gang.
BUSH WALKING There are many walking tracks at Beechworth. For maps and details see the Information Centre. Gorge Walkin Tour 5 Kms FROM START TO END OF GORGE Lake Sambell to Lake Kerferd Walk 5.5 Kms ONE WAY One Tree Hill Walk 5.1 Km CIRCULAR WALK Powder Magazine to Woolshed Falls Walk 5.5 Kms TO FALLS Woolshed Falls Walk A CIRCULAR WALK JUST OVER 1Km Lions Walk ( Yackandandah ) The Gorge Walk ( Yackandandah )
BOATING Lake Sambell is ideal for small boats, canoes and yachting.
BYRNE, JOE, KELLY GANG Joe Byrne and his family lived in the Woolshed Valley. If you drive past the Woolshed Falls and continue on down the gravel road to El Dorado, you will pass Byrne Gully, named after his family, which is situated where an old gold mining town called Sebastopol was located. From here you can see the Kelly Caves.
CAMPING HOLIDAYS Camping is not allowed in the Beechworth Historic Park, but elsewhere there are many streams and creeks that are just perfect for a short camp. Reedy Creek at Woolshed is one such creek.
CANOES Canoes may be hired at Lake Sambell.
CANOE LOCATIONS Lake Sambell Fletchers Dam Eldorado "Lakes"
CAR HIRE & RENTAL Cars, Buses, Trucks, Limousines, Taxis
CARRIAGES VINTAGE Beechworth Carriage Museum now located at the Bottle Museum. Probably the most extensive display in the Southern Hemisphere.
CARS VINTAGE Every year at the Golden Horseshoes Festival, at Easter, a large range of vintage cars join in the festivity.
CASCADES, SPRING CREEK The Spring Creek cascades are able to be seen on the One Tree Hill Circular walk, to the north of the Powder Magazine. This series of falls allows spring creek to drop into the valley below. The track around here is quite steep, however the falls are spectacular in full flow.
CEMETERY TOUR
Tour of historic graves at Beechworth Cemetery. Ask for brochure at Tourist Information Centre. Jacob Hoffman- American Civil War Veteran. James Riley- American Civil War Veteran. John Drummond- Battle of Waterloo Veteran. John Watt- Shot by Bushranger. James Ingram- Beechworth's grand Old Man. Henry Ah Yet- Last Chinese person buried. The Chinese Burning Towers Dame Jean McNamara
CHERRIES Are available in season at Stanley, approximately 10 Kms from Beechworth. Simply ask anywhere or anybody when you arrive at the town of Stanley.
CHILDRENS PLAYGROUNDS Queen Victoria Park
CHINESE BURNING TOWERS Located at the Beechworth Cemetery. It is thought that approximately 2000 Chinese are buried in this cemetery. The simple headstones belie the impact the Chinese had on Beechworth. Much information is available at the Beechworth Museum.
CRAFT SHOPS There are many fascinating craft shops in Beechworth.
CROQUET CLUB Camp Street, near Beechworth Railway Station.
DOLL MUSEUM Gerogery Doll Museum, North of Albury
DRIVING TOURS There are two major drive tours, The Beechworth Forest Drive 26km.
E MAILS May be sent or received at the Beechworth Internet Cafe, above the Credit Union.
ENDANGERED LOCAL BIRDS
EVENTS Beechworth has many annual events, please look under the Calendar of Events Page, Beechworth Calendar, the link is at the top of this page. FESTIVALS Beechworth has many annual events and festivals, please look under the Calendar of Events Page, Beechworth Calendar, the link is at the top of this page.
FIDDES QUARRY The Quarry is a very interesting spot, as it was named after William Fiddes, a stone mason. Granite from this quarry was used in the construction of many of Beechworth's finest buildings including the Courthouse, the Powder Magazine and Newtown Bridge. FISHING Fishing around Beechworth is mainly done in the smaller streams, where there is a plentiful supply of trout. FISH FARM The Beechworth Fish Farm is located to the eastern side of the town.
FOREST DRIVE Beechworth forest drive takes you through hardwood forests and softwood plantations typical of North East Victorian foothills. The drive is 26 kilometres which takes about an hour and a half at a leisurley pace and allowing for many stops to take in the scenery.
FOSSICKING Fossicking is allowed in the Two and Three Mile Creek, Buckland blocks and along Reedy Creek. Many gemstones are found in Reedy Creek. These include agates, amethist, citrine, corundum, diamonds, garnets, jasper, lydionite, petrified wood, quartzites, rock crystal, rubies, sapphires, smoky quartz, tourmalines, topaz and zircon. See El Dorado for more details. Press Here for photo's of gold fossicking.
GALLERIES Beechworth Gallery Buckland Gallery Doma Mungi Gallery ( Chiltern )
GARDENS Town Hall Gardens La Trobe University Gardens, ( formerly Mayday Hills ) Lavender Patch Yackandandah
GARDEN TOURS There is a garden tour available, call at Tourist Information Centre Tours available to groups of 10 or more September to May. Out of Town Nursery & Garden
GOLD Beechworth is one of Victoria's best preserved Gold Mining Towns. In 1852 Gold was discovered, and by 1854 the population had swollen to over 9000. Reedy Creek and the Woolshed area became the richest fields in the North East. (For more information see El Dorado). A minimum of 18,000 ounces of gold or half a tonne of gold left the goldfields on the fortnightly Victorian Government escorts. Approximately 4,000,000 ounces of gold were obtained from the area between 1852 and 1866.
GOLD DREDGE ( El Dorado )
GOLDEN HORSESHOES MONUMENT This monument was erected to commemorate Victoria's first parliamentary elections held in 1855. Two gold mining groups existed in Beechworth, the "Monkeys", alluvial miners, and the "Punchers", dry miners. Each group forwarded a different candidate. On election day in September 1855, a large procession was organised by the "monkies" and led by their candidate, Daniel Cameron, marched from the Woolshed and Reids Creek goldfields to near the site of the monument. At this point Cameron's Horse was shod with solid gold horseshoes, each weighing just over 7 ounces. Cameron rode on to electoral victory and his ride has become legend. The Beechworth Golden Horseshoes Festival is now celebrated annually during Easter.
GOLD MINES The Rocky Mountain Extended Mining Co, mined for gold in Lake Sambell from 1856. A Tunnel was built to carry the sludge from the mining operations to Spring Creek in the Gorge.
Walk to Heaven & Hell ( Beechworth ) Magenta Gold Mine ( Chiltern )
GOLD MINING LOCATIONS There were over 8,000 people mining for alluvial gold along the Reedy Creek from Woolshed Falls to El Dorado. This was the richest and most famous creek in Gold mining in Australia. ( See El Dorado Gold for more details). All other creeks in the area have been extensively mined. Walking from Lake Sambell, once a gold mine itself, to Lake Kerferd, you will notice many mining areas. Again walking from the Powder Magazine to Woolshed Falls, you will notice the many mining shafts and mining areas.
GOLD PANNING Gold Panning is allowed in the Two and Three Mile Creek, Buckland blocks and along Reedy Creek. Press Here for more details and photo's
GOLF Beechworth Golf Course
GOLF DRIVING RANGE Hume Golf Driving Range, Albury
GORGE SCENIC DRIVE OR WALK A fascinating walk or drive which effectively commences at the Powder Magazine and finishes at the historic Newtown Bridge.
GRANITE TORS, ROCK SHAPES On the Gorge scenic drive, there are large granite outcrops that have been exposed by the erosion of overlying softer rocks. Rain, frost, wind and sun have weathered the granite into tors, some of which have been given colourful names such as Buddah, Pumpkin Rock and Sphinx.
HEAVEN AND HELL TUNNELS
HERITAGE TOWN TOUR This is a relatively short walking tour commencing at the Post Office and walking towards the Goal.
HISTORICAL BUILDINGS The Heritage town tour covers many historical buildings, so click on the above tour to see some photo's , the other main buildings are featured at the Tourist Information Centre. Please ask.
HORSE RIDING Trail Rides - Mt Pilot Tourist Farm
INGRAM'S ROCK Ingrams Rock is located on the One Tree Hill Circular Walk off the Old Chiltern Road north of the Golden Hoprseshoes monument. Named after James Ingram, who was a local newsagent, a bookseller and who served the local community for over 70 years in various capacities. He was instumental in establishing the Ovens & District Hospital, Ovens & Murray Hospital for the Aged, Mayday Hills Mental Hospital and the Beechworth Primary School. Was known as Beechworth's Grand Old Man. He died in March 1928 just 6 weeks short of his 100 Birthday, and is buried in the Beechworth Cemetery. INTERNET CAFE The Beechworth internet Cafe can be found in Camp Street, just past the Bakery, and above the Credit Union. There is of course internet access, internet games, E Mails, online chats, local area network game play. Also art on display includes watercolour paintings, photoghraphs and stainless steel craft.
KANGAROOS
KELLY CAVES The Kelly gang had strong ties to the El Dorado, Woolshed and the Beechwoth area. Joe Byrne and family lived along the Woolshed Road at a place once known as Sebastopol. Above Sebastopol there is a cave known as the Kelly caves, where the Kelly gang would hold up from time to time whilst visiting the area. A Guide can take you to the cave. To contact the guide please look under the town El Dorado and ring the Museum Number. KELLY GANG There was much activity of the Kelly Gang in this area, and the trials or misfortunes of the Kelly family are well documented. Both the Beechworth Court House and the Beechworth Bourke Museum have many interesting documents and exhibits. KOALAS Ettamogah Sanctuary, (Albury)
LAKES
LATROBE UNIVERSITY Formerly Mayday Hills Mental Hospital, now Latrobe University, the huge grounds covering 106 hectares, supports beautiful gardens and well presented range of trees. Some of the buildings date back to 1867. Coincidentally, Mayday Hill was named by the then Lieutenant Governor, Charles Joseph La Trobe, after whom the La Trobe University is named, when he visited the area in 1852. Please drive into the grounds for a look.
LAVENDER
LOOKOUTS
MOUNTAINS
MINING Much alluvial gold mining in this area. See Gold and El Dorado gold.
MUSEUMS
NED KELLY'S ARMOUR On display at Beechworth's Bourke Museum
NED KELLY'S CELL Behind the Tourist Information Building, Ford Street
NED KELLY'S COURTHOUSE Beechworth's historic Courthouse, Ford Street
NED KELLY'S DEATH MASK On display at Beechworth's Bourke Museum
ONE TREE HILL This is the name given to the location where one Red Stringy Bark Tree survived the miners's need for timber. It is located above the Powder Magazine and near the Golden Horseshoes Monument.
PARKS Queen Victoria Park, between the Gaol and the Beechworth Primary School. Town Hall Gardens, Opposite the Gaol and behind the Tourist Information Centre.
PICNIC LOCATIONS
PLAYGROUNDS Queen Victoria Park, between the Gaol and the Beechworth Primary School
POWDER MAGAZINE Located at the western end of Camp Street. Built in 1859, this structure was used to store large quantities of gun powder. Gun powder was used to blast open gold bearing alluvial and quartz deposits. At the time it was illegal for anyone to hold large amounts of gunpowder unless it was stored in a magazine. It was closed in 1918.
RAIL TRAIL The old Beechworth to Wangaratta railway line has been converted to a rail trail. Rail Trail details and photo's.
ROSE GARDEN
SCHOOL GUIDED TOURS AND ITINERARIES To have your school group given fully comprehensive tours of this area, contact the Old Priory.
SWIMMING LOCATIONS Lake Sambell Fletchers Dam
SIGHTSEEING Items in Beechworth not to be missed. Powder Magazine Carriage Museum Burke Museum Woolshed Falls Gorge Tour Forest Drive Heritage Walk
TASMANIAN TIGER Preserved Tasmanian Tiger on display Burke Museum Drawing of Tasmanian Tiger, Mt Pilot Aboriginal Walk.
THE PRECIPICE Situated in the One Tree Hill Circular Walk, below Ingram's Rock, the Precipice overlooks the site of the Reids Creek Goldfields.
TOUR GARDENS
TOWN TOUR Beechworth Legends Walking Tour
TRAIL RIDES Trail Rides - Mt Pilot Tourist Farm TUNNELS Rocky Mountain Tunnel. Located in the Gorge Walk or Drive, on the Beechworth side of the Gorge towards the Newtown Bridge End of the Drive, there are some skeletons of some willow trees which hide the entrance to the tunnel. The Rocky Mountain Extended Mining Co mined for gold in the Lake Sambell area from 1856. The tunnel was built to carry sludge from the mining site to Spring Creek. Running under Beechworth itself, the tunnel took 2.5 years to complete and cost 13,500 pounds.
At Woolshed Falls there is a diversion tunnel cut into the granite to divert Reid's Creek so the miners could look for gold in the old creek bed. Just behind the Silver Creek Caravan Park there are two tunnels, one directly above the other, known as Heaven and Hell. These tunnels were cut through the granite hill to divert water from the Silver Creek to assist the gold mining. The tunnels are approximately 300 metres long.
VIDEO HIRE
WALKING TOUR Beechworth Legends Walking Tour
WALKING PATHS
Gorge Walking Tour 5Kms FROM START TO END OF GORGE Lake Sambell to Lake Kerferd Walk 5.5Kms ONE WAY One Tree Hill Walk 5.1Km CIRCULAR WALK Powder Magazine to Woolshed Falls Walk 5.5Kms TO FALLS Woolshed Falls Walk A CIRCULAR WALK JUST OVER 1Km Heaven and Hell Walk A WALK NEAR SILVER CREEK 1Km Wallaby Mine Walk A WALK FROM CAR PARK 1Km Lions Walk ( Yackandandah ) The Gorge Walk ( Yackandandah )
WATERFALLS
WATER RACES The Newtown Bridge crosses a substantial mining race cut into solid granite. The race cut 12 feet deep and 8 feet wide, and 400 metres long, was the tail race of the Rocky Mountain Gold Mining Company. Above the Woolshed Falls, which is just below the car park, there is a little wooden bridge crossing the creek. Upstream from the bridge you can see the water race which has been cut through solid granite to divert the creek. The cut was carefully graded to ensure a steady flow of water. The Gorge Water Race ( Yackandandah )
WATER TUNNEL At the Woolshed Falls walk, approximately 300 metres along, there is an observation site looking down into a deep creek gully. The miners cut a hole through the granite to create this diversion tunnel so that the stream would not undermine the steep banks, and cause them to collapse. From this observation point you can see the water coming out of the tunnel. A further 150 metres along the track you may be able to see water entering the tunnel. About 500 metres along the track you come to an observation point on the opposite bank, and from there have an excellent view of the entrance to the tunnel.
WINERIES Pennyweight Winery Sorrenberg Vineyard Schmidts Strawberry Winery, Yackandandah
WOOLSHED FALLS These Falls are spectacular falls which fall nearly all year round. From the pool at the bottom of the falls was extracted nearly 2,000 ounces of gold when the creek was diverted and the pool pumped dry. At the falls there are picnic facilities, BBQ and toilet facilities and an historic gold walk
WOOLSHED FALLS HISTORIC GOLD WALK The Woolshed Falls Historic Walk takes you on a walk around an area that was the centre of one of the richest goldfields in Victoria. The walk shows the creek diversion, the diversion tunnel cut into granite, water races, granite water race, and the Woolshed Falls Pool and Viewing Platform.
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