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Court House - Beechworth Historic Area

Location Ford Street,, BEECHWORTH VIC 3747 - Property No B0385 File Number B0385 Level State

[1/1] B0385 Beechworth Courthouse

Statement of Significance

The granite courthouse built in 1858 with double height gabled courtroom, flanked in 1857 by lower parapeted wings, and entered through a central projecting porch. The building is a very important element in the Classified Group embracing the smaller adjoining government offices. Also part of Group Classification (B2615)with Forests Office, Lands Office, Police Lock-up & Police Station.
Classified: 09/04/1959

Historic Area Statement of Significance: Beechworth is a picturesque nineteenth Century provincial town. It is a well preserved example of Government and private building which resulted from the town's important historical role as the administrative and commercial centre of Victoria's north-eastern goldfields. Beechworth was once significant for its position on an early overland route from Melbourne to Sydney.
The town is located sympathetically to the topography, in an area of considerable landscape interest. Set amidst forested undulating country, there remain many relics of the mining era in and about Beechworh. It is a rich field for the industrial archaeology.
There are within the town a large number of historical and architecturally significant buildings. These display a quality of form and richness of material and detail, which make Beechworth one of the most significant of Austraila's goldfield towns. Of particular interest is the common usage of local granite in construction. Its honey colour imparts a quality distinctive to Beechworth.
The highlights of Beechworth are the grid of wide streets flanked with granite kerbing; the streetscapes of considerable integrity with groups of homogeneous buildings set off by mature elms and other exotic trees; and the remnants of historic Victorian gardens. About the town there are many examples of nineteenth century street furniture, signs and fences. Beechworth's historical wealth is of national significance.
Classified: April, 1983