Our Buildings
Each building offers a different perspective on Beechworth's past, revealing the people, ideas and events that shaped the community.
The Beechworth Historic Precinct includes the following buildings and locations:
- Beechworth Courthouse
- Chinese Protectorate Office (later the Mining Registration Office)
- Gold Warden's Office
- Sub Treasury and Gold Office
- Telegraph Station
- Police Paddocks and Stables
- Stone and Timber Lock-Ups
- Beechworth Town Hall
From the Gold Rush and Ned Kelly to migration, law, communication and community life, the buildings of the Beechworth Historic Precinct reveal the many stories that shaped the town. Explore each site to discover the people, places and events that continue to influence Beechworth today.
Beechworth Courthouse
Built in 1858, the Beechworth Courthouse hosted trials central to the history of Beechworth and the nation, including those of notorious bushranger Ned Kelly. Today, visitors can step inside and experience its remarkable history firsthand.
Burke Museum
Discover the objects, photographs and artefacts that bring Beechworth's stories to life, from the Gold Rush and natural history to the people who shaped the region. One of Australia's oldest regional museums, the Burke Museum is open daily and welcomes visitors to explore its exhibitions at their own pace.
Telegraph Station
Long before phones and the internet, the Telegraph Station connected Beechworth to the rest of Australia and the world through Morse Code. Visitors can explore the history of communication on the goldfields and even send their own telegram today.
Sub Treasury and Gold Office
Built to protect the immense wealth flowing from the Ovens goldfields, this building once stored gold before it was escorted to Melbourne under armed guard. Over 14 years, more than 113 tonnes of gold passed through its doors - enought to cast a solid gold statue three storeys tall!
Beechworth Town Hall
Since the gold rush era, Beechworth Town Hall has been at the heart of community life, hosting civic events, performances, meetings and celebrations. Its grand façade reflects the optimism and ambition of a town that prospered during the nineteenth century.
Chinese Protectorate Office
The last remaining Chinese Protectorate Office in Australia tells the story of Beechworth's Chinese community during the Gold Rush. It offers insight into the challenges, discrimination and significant contributions of Chinese migrants who helped shape the region.
Gold Warden's Office
The Gold Warden's Office managed mining licences, claims and water rights during the Gold Rush, helping oversee one of Victoria's most productive goldfields. The building also reflects Beechworth's role in developing some of the state's earliest water management systems and mining regulations.
Police Paddocks and Stables
The Police Paddocks were once the administrative heart of the Spring Creek goldfields, where officials managed mining licences, settled disputes and enforced government regulations. Nearby stables supported the mounted police, whose horses patrolled the region and escorted valuable gold shipments across north-east Victoria.
Stone and Timber Lock-Ups
These lock-ups held prisoners awaiting trial in the nearby courthouse during the height of the Gold Rush. Both Ned Kelly and his mother Ellen Kelly were detained here, connecting this modest building to one of Australia's most enduring historical stories.
Step inside the story
These remarkable buildings are more than heritage landmarks. Explore the exhibitions, museums and guided tours that bring Beechworth's stories to life and reveal the many perspectives behind the town's history.
Looking for more history?
Continue exploring Beechworth's rich past with a visit to the Old Beechworth Gaol, one of the town's most significant heritage attractions and a site closely connected to many of the stories found throughout the Historic Precinct.