The Top Places To Visit In Beautiful Beechworth, Australia
A small town nestled among the rolling pastures and wild forests of northeastern Victoria, Beechworth is a place where beautifully preserved 19th-century buildings house museums, boutique wine bars and cafés. Our guide to Beechworth’s top sites will take you to places of historical significance, to an award-winning craft brewery and to a secluded, stunning scene of natural beauty.
Independently owned businesses thrive with the bustle of visitors drawn by the palpable history of this idyllic little town. Today, it’s known for its wine, beer and honey, but Beechworth’s past was largely shaped by the discovery of gold in the 1850s, and its brief boom during the gold rush era. This area also has historical associations with the explorer Robert O’Hara Burke and bushrangers Ned Kelly and Harry Power. Here are seven highlights. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.
Beechworth Historic Courthouse
Beechworth’s courthouse is refreshingly free of cordon ropes and often-ubiquitous ‘don’t’ signs, allowing the visitor to freely wander and genuinely get a feel for the place where Ned Kelly’s mother, Ellen, stood trial after the infamous ‘Fitzpatrick Incident’. Later, Ned stood trial here himself. Holding cells in which they were incarcerated flank the courtroom, and visitors are encouraged to sit inside these rooms and reflect while listening to recordings of their stories. Enthusiastic staff are knowledgeable about the local history and bring the stories to life.
Harry Power’s Cell
Famous bushranger Harry Power was kept in this dank, cobwebby cell beneath the Town Hall many times, as he made seven appearances at the Beechworth Courthouse. Power came to Australia from England, for the crime of stealing a saddle and bridle. On arrival, after serving time, he lived an honest life until an incident in which he was wrongly accused of horse-stealing led to him shooting two German troopers (possibly in self-defence), neither of whom were fatally wounded. He fled but was captured, and later became a notorious bushranger. It is said that he took a teenage apprentice, one Edward Kelly, but apparently returned him to his mother’s care after a year or so, complaining that he was ‘too soft’ to ever make it as a bushranger. History would prove him wrong.
The Robert O’Hara Burke Memorial Museum
Before his ill fated ‘Burke and Wills’ expedition, Robert O’Hara Burke was Beechworth’s superintendent of police. The museum in his name houses a large collection of local Australiana, including pieces from the gold rush era and a replica 19th-century street, each shop front filled with authentic items from the times. Highlights are items from Burke’s infamous expedition, including a saddlebag from the journey.
Loch Street, Beechworth, Australia, +61 3 5728 8067
Beechworth Gaol
Ned Kelly spent close to two years within the confines of Beechworth gaol, and a walk around its eerie precincts offers a chilling opportunity to imagine what life was like here. The tiny cells occupied by Ned and Ellen Kelly can be viewed, as well as gallows and observation towers. Other famous prisoners included Dan Kelly and Harry Power. Beechworth Gaol is privately owned, and has been bought by 50 locals who plan to turn it into a community space.
Bridge Road Brewers
Beechworth’s Bridge Road Brewers is a thriving craft brewery. Family-owned with the beer still brewed on site, it is increasingly well known for its delicious, award-winning ales. The signature Beechworth Pale Ale is a classic, but others such as the rich and refreshing Celtic Red Ale, the Hefe Weizen Bavarian Wheat Beer, and a range of zingy IPAs are also a treat. Brewery tours, a lively bar and busy pizza restaurant are on site.
Woolshed Falls
The spectacular Woolshed Falls are part of the Chiltern-Mt. Pilot National Park. Especially beautiful after rain, the cascades plunge into a rugged gorge, in an area so wild and serene, it is hard to believe the attractions of Beechworth are close by. In the gold digging days, fossickers searched for gold in the pools around the falls. Woolshed Falls are located around six kilometers out of Beechworth, off McFeeters Road. Less than 100m from the car park, a viewpoint gives a full vista of the falls. A path in the opposite direction allows visitors to carefully view the upper area of the falls.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
Culture Trip Spring Sale
Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.
