Beechworth Historic Buildings - Guide to the famous and historic Beechworth Buildings

Historic Beechworth Buildings

The Stone Lock-Up Beechworth

The Stone Lock Up Beechworth The Stone Lock-Up in Beechworth is located in the area known as the Police Paddocks, or Police Reserve. This area is behind the main Ford Street Historic Precinct buildings and can be accesses by Ford Street, High Street or Williams Street. Beechworth's Stone Lock-Up was originally used as the Police remand lock-up for Beechworth Prisoners awaiting trial at the nearby Beechworth Courthouse. Male prisoners where held in the left cell and females in the right cell.

Beechworth Courthouse

The Beechworth Courthouse is an impressive stone building that is prominent amidst the Beechworth Historic Precinct in Ford Street. The Courthouse was constructed in 1858 by Smith, Bank & Chambers at a cost of 3730 pounds. Originally it was only a small courtroom with offices either side and a rear wing which housed the Sheriff and his Deputy. Extensions were completed by John Steven sin 1865 at a cost of 1499 pounds.

Beechworth Telegraph Station

The Beechworth Telegraph Station is one of the first buildings you will encounter in the Beechworth Historic Precinct as you arrive from the centre of town along Ford Street. The building was opened as a Telegraph Station on 21st January 1858 having been built by contractors McLuckie & Carter at a cost of 1,100 pounds. With an electric telegraph line in place between Melbourne and Albury the Beechworth Telegraph Station soon became an essential source of sending and receiving information.

Chevaliers Mill

The mill was built by Louis CHEVALIER at the head of the Newtown Falls on Spring Creek in 1855 and initially acted as a sawmill until it added flour milling equipment at a later stage. The Chevalier flour mill included French burr millstones. 'Newtown Flour Mills' was purchased by Graham and Wilson c1868 at which stage steam power was being introduced to the mill and then by John Burrows in 1875.

Beechworth Gold Office and Sub-Treasury

The Beechworth Gold Office and Sub-Treasury is located in Ford Street and is one of the most significant buildings within the Beechworth Historic Precinct. Beechworth's Gold Office and Sub-Treasury was constructed in 1858 by contractors Martell and Rogers at a total cost of 892 pounds. The building was expanded in 1861 by contractors Dalrymple and Simmie to include an additional two offices and a strongroom at a cost of 525 pounds.

Old Priory Beechworth

Old Priory Beechworth In 1886 four Brigidine nuns sailed from Ireland to Australia. They arrived in Beechworth where they established a convent in the former Oriental Bank building in Ford St, which in 1886 became the second Brigidine convent in Australia. The following year the sisters took over St Joseph's school, buying land adjacent to the school. Much later it became the Beechworth Old Priory Lodge.