Venturing out of the big smoke to the country we drove from Melbourne up to Beechworth which took 3 hours.
Admittedly, we were supposed to visit Bright however accommodation was fully booked especially when travelling with a puppy. Boy, am I glad we diverted to Beechworth.
Even with COVID-19 social distancing restrictions in place and many venues still remaining closed, we could not see and do everything we wanted to !
Gold was discovered in Beechworth in 1852, and by 1857 the population had risen to over 20,000 including thousands of Chinese miners and 60 pubs !
During the goldrush, Beechworth was one of the richest goldfields in Victoria. The wealth from the Gold Rush built Beechworth and the historic buildings.
We meandered the local streets absorbing the ambiance. Everyone was cheerful and happy to be out and about.
Our 9-year-old Kidsetter spotted ‘Golden Era Service Station’ which instantly reminded him of Route 66. Meeting the lovely gentleman who owned the shop, he began telling our Kidsetter fascinating stories about his incredible toy collection and display. Our Kidsetter was enthralled and it was somewhat difficult extracting him !
Naturally, when in the country you must find the local bakery. We discovered Gum Tree Pies and we all claim they are the best pies we have eaten (so far) in the world ! Massive claim, but true. 😊
We booked a tour to visit the iconic Old Beechworth Gaol. The Gaol is one of Australia’s most significant post-European cultural sites. It’s role in the chain of events that led to the execution of Ned Kelly is significant as it housed Ned’s mother, Ellen Kelly, many of the Kelly sympathisers and Ned himself, alongside his brother Dan and the rest of the Kelly gang.
The Gaol was constructed in the 1860’s with granite quarried onsite and remains an historic example of gold rush architecture. A panopticon prison which epitomises the severely simple Classical style of nineteenth-century prisons.
We are new to travelling with a puppy and discovered it’s not as easy as we thought. Dogs are not allowed in many locations especially National Parks. This meant that the walks we were intending to do, had to be adapted.
The walks in Beechworth take you through historic sites in town to remnants and marvels of the gold mining era, to spectacular views and tranquil settings.
The power Magazine, built in 1859, was where miners were required to store bulk black powder overnight and was constructed so that any explosion would travel upwards, not outwards.
Woolshed Falls are simply visually breathtaking along with the sound of water crashing over rocks.
I was reluctant to visit our next location however the local tourist information centre said there were stunning walks that allowed pups ! Beechworth Lunatic Asylum, later named Mayday Hills Hospital dates back to 1867. The hospital was one of Victoria’s three major country asylums for 130 years until it’s closure in 1995. Surrounded by nearly 290 acres of farmland. Mayday Hills was completely self-sufficient with a farm, piggery, orchards, kitchen gardens, tennis courts and a theatre.
The rich botanical setting was founded on donations of exotic trees and shrubs from the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne. The gardens are set against a backdrop of magnificent native trees, mostly brittle gums.
Next, it was time for a picnic at Lake Sambell. Once an integral part of the gold mining story, now a beautiful place to wander, picnic and have a dip in the warmer months.
Beside Lake Sambell are Chinese Gardens which acknowledge approximately 6,000 Chinese miners who once lived here.
We booked a tour with a local historian named David who filled in many gaps in our Ned Kelly history. We ended the tour by visiting the Beechworth Courthouse. Built in 1858, the Courthouse served many judicial purposes until it’s closure in 1989. The courtroom was the scene of countless trials involving Ned Kelly and his mother Ellen.
Beechworth is a thriving country town, surrounded by natural beauty, abound with historic folk hero status. A great way to immerse Kidsetters alike in Australian history.
