Wangaratta - day 4

Today was yet another highly anticipated day for our tour – Beechworth. The weather was still being very kind with an exceptional forecast of a warm day for the area.

Beechworth is such a jewel in the region for a number of reasons. It is not only the last place the infamous Ned Kelly, bush ranger, was interred before being moved to Melbourne (for trial sentencing and hanging), but also for its development as a gold mining town and important regional centre in the mid to late 1800s.

There are more than 30 heritage listed buildings in the town (most of which are in the two main streets, Camp St and Ford Street) where the majority of the buildings survive from the 1850s. The notable deep gutters were constructed around the 1870s to assist with the disbursement of snow and flooding rains. The beautiful elms lining some of the main streets were planted around 1880 and all the buildings in town are painted with heritage colours and no neon signs are permitted for the businesses, in keeping with the heritage value of the town.

Outside the historic Courthouse

You can still send a telegram, sent via Morse code from here

 In Finch St, there are also some beautiful buildings and the granite façade of the old hospital is still to be found in Church St. It was built in 1856.

One of many beautiful cottages in Beechworth

The park at one end of town has some grand North American Sequoias and other plants which were transported from the Melbourne Botanic Gardens in 1875. This park is near the Museum in Loch Street which is named for Robert O’Hara Burke (of Burke and Wills fame) who was, for a time, Police Superintendent in the town.

At the opposite end of town down Camp St and continuing into Albert St is the highest point of the town and the site of the former psychiatric hospital. The buildings here are NT classified.

Now owned by La Trobe University, it is worth the short drive around the grounds which in spring time are a blaze of colour in the gardens. As you enter the grounds and follow the road to the right there is an avenue of oaks which was planted by an inmate who was simply known by his initials. Also, just at the beginning of the avenue are two magnificent white gums which are estimated to be more than 250 years old.

Before we were taken to the lake for morning tea, we took the route past the Beechworth Gaol and then dropped off our guide. The gaol was built between 1860 and 1864 and was eventually decommissioned in 2005. Again this building is NT classified.

Near the lake a Chinese sunken garden is in the process of being developed to recognise the contribution of the Chinese to the town during the days of the Gold Rush. It being spring, there were blossoms coming out on the trees and along the side of the lake the wattles were showing off their golden tresses.

After morning tea we were left at the Beechworth Courthouse for a very entertaining presentation about the history of the Courthouse as well as an interactive recreation of the trial of Ned Kelly. Naturally, I put up my hand to be involved and took the part of the Prosecutor. Costumes were provided and a script. It was a thoroughly entertaining end to our morning in this historic town.

Acting up in the dock before we started

Michael (aka Ned Kelly) setting the scene prior to the trial of Ned Kelly

All set to 'take to the stage'

Lunch was provided by the CWA across the road – beautiful soup and a roll. As they had a captive audience, they put on a raffle too. After lunch we were free to wander the town. So many places to visit – the honey shop, the pottery store (which, sadly was not open today), lots of cafes to choose from and beautiful buildings to photograph – Tanswells Hotel, the Post Office, and of course, the Beechworth Bakery.

Many a famous Beechworth Bakery Beesting was consumed with cups of tea or coffee this afternoon, despite having had such a beautiful lunch. No room for ice cream sadly. The ice creamery will have to wait for another day.

Our last stop was at Murray’s Brewery where we were able to taste the cordials that are today the mainstay of the establishment. Also housed here is a carriage museum under the auspices of the National Trust. Some renovations were being undertaken, but we were still able to see the carriages, despite their being crowded into a small temporary housing space.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring.