Burke Museum
The Burke Museum houses more than 30,000 items, illuminating the heritage of Beechworth and the region alongside natural history and community stories.
About the Burke Museum
One of Australia's oldest regional museums, the Burke Museum has been collecting and sharing Beechworth's stories since 1857. Originally established as the Beechworth Athenaeum and later renamed in honour of explorer and former Beechworth Police Superintendent Robert O'Hara Burke, the museum is now home to more than 30,000 objects that reveal the rich and layered history of the region.
Today, the Burke Museum invites visitors to explore the people, places and events that shaped Beechworth, from the Gold Rush and local industries to natural history, migration and community life. Through fascinating artefacts, immersive displays and unique collections, the museum offers multiple perspectives on the stories that continue to define the region today.
Wander through a recreated nineteenth-century Street of Shops, discover a giant globe that still features the Russian Empire, encounter a rare taxidermied thylacine and uncover countless stories hidden within one of Victoria's most significant regional collections.
Plan your visit
Location: 28 Loch Street, Beechworth (next to the Town Hall Gardens)
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am to 4.30pm
Phone: (03) 5728 8067
Admission:
- Adult: $8
- Concession: $6
- Family (2 adults and up to 3 children): $21
- Indigo Shire residents: Free
What's on display
From recreated streetscapes and historic shopfronts to contemporary community stories, the Burke Museum's exhibitions offer multiple ways to explore Beechworth's past and present.
Discover the collection
The Burke Museum's collection ranges from Gold Rush life and the region's Chinese community to natural history, exploration and everyday life in a growing colonial town.
Research service
Access unique local and family history resources through the Burke Museum's research service.
Friends of the Burke Museum
The Friends of the Burke Museum is a volunteer organisation which supports the Burke Museum with community advocacy, fundraising and assistance with projects.
Looking for more history?
The stories don't end at the museum. Continue exploring Beechworth's rich and layered history through immersive exhibitions, guided tours and historic places across the Beechworth Historic Precinct.