Beechworth is a popular tourist destination in the picturesque northeast region of Victoria, Australia. It remains one of the best preserved historical towns in the country with many fine colonial buildings. The town was a key supply centre in the Victorian goldfields during the 1850s gold boom. Because of its rich history, large flow of visitors, attractive natural setting, Beechworth real estate is an asset highly prized by many people.
The area near Beechworth was first settled by Europeans in September 1838 when David Reid (1820-1906) arrived with about 500 head of cattle, two bullocks and six servants. He settled at Currargarmonge, a few kilometers west of Beechworth. He harvested his first wheat crop in December 1839. At the end of 1843, he took up additional land at Wooragee, near Yackandandah where he expanded his wheat and sheep grazing activities. He built the first water driven flour mill in the district on his Wooragee property in 1845 and sold his first wool clip in 1848. By that time, other settlers had moved into the area establishing it as productive agricultural region.
The town has produced a number of notable figures, including Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs (1855-1948). Although Isaacs was born in Melbourne, his family moved to the small town of Yackandandah in 1859 and then to the larger neighbouring Beechworth in 1867. Isaacs attended the Common school and then to Beechworth Grammar School of which he was dux. He eventually carved out a career as barrister, politician, Victorian state and federal attorney-general and high court judge. He was a prominent federationist, having served as a Victorian delegate to the Federal convention. He was also the first Australian-born governor-general to serve the country.
The town is served by a number of high quality restaurants and cafes including Wardens Food and Wine; Gigis and Bank, both in Ford Street; and the Green Shed Bistro and Beechworth Bakery, both in Camp Street.
Some of the town restaurants have developed a national reputation, many visitors seeking them out specifically by name. Perhaps the best known in this category is the Beechworth Bakery.It proudly claims to be the greatest bakery in Australia. This bread and pastry maker is licensed to serve alcohol which, by itself, indicates it is not your average bakery. It is a multiple award-winning family business that was an early catalyst driving Beechworth as a significant tourist destination.
The building that houses the Beechworth Bakery was built in 1857, making it one of the oldest in town. The second storey and balcony were added around 1900. Over the years, it has been used as a shoe shop, dining room and pastry shop. It was purchased by the Beechworth Bakery in 1984, along with the adjacent. Twenty six years and much work later, including a couple of false starts, the business generates an annual turnover in excess of $12 million, serving over one million customers, and is one of the largest retailers of its type in Australian history. The owner, Tom OToole, has established similar bakeries in five other rural Australian towns – Echuca, Albury, Healesville, Bendigo and Ballarat.
The courthouse is the first court in which Ned Kelly, the most infamous outlaw in Australian colonial history, was required to answer a charge. He was charged and remanded for the murder of Sergeant Michael Kennedy and two other policemen from the nearby town of Mansfield. Kelly and his gang had killed the three policemen at Stringybark Creek in 1878.
Newtown Bridge traverses Spring Creek just east of the waterfall. This stone arched structure, built in 1874, links Ford Street on the northern bank with Bridge Road on the southern bank. Ford Street is the main thoroughfare through town; it runs into Sydney Road at the northern perimeter and which leads to Yackandandah and then Wodonga. At the southern end of town, Bridge Road leads to Wangaratta.
Over the years, Beechworth has had to reinvent itself moving from a frenzied gold town to the more sedately paced agricultural centre. Today, tourism is a key activity. The one constant during its life is that Beechworth real estate has been consistently viewed as among the most desirable in the region.
Jasmine Zahara is a popular copy writer with a home office in Beechworth and is passionate regarding this region of Australia. Jasmine blogs on more or less all regional Victorian themes and acknowledges Beechworth as among the most appealing country Australia spots.
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