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Christ Church & Organ - Beechworth Historic Area

Location 25 - 27 Ford Street,, BEECHWORTH VIC 3747 - Property No B0618 File Number B0618 Level State

[1/5] B0618 Beechworth Christ Church [2/5] B0618 Beechworth Christ Church [3/5] B0618 Beechworth Christ Church [4/5] B0618 Beechworth Christ Church [5/5] B0618 Christ Church Beechworth

Statement of Significance

Church Statement of Significance: A sturdy church designed by Leonard Terry and built in two stages with a distinctive character which derives from its use of the attractive local granite, and from its castellated tower. The buttressed nave with lancet windows in the Early English manner dates form 1858 and the tower and polygonal chancel from 1864. The Carpenter Gothic vestry off the chancel, possibly of the 1870s contributes to the charm of the building. The pipe organ built by William Anderson, was installed in 1887.
Church Classified: 'Regional' 21/05/1959
Revised: 03/08/1988

Organ Statement of Significance: A single manual organ of 8 speaking stops built by the Melbourne organbuilder William Anderson. The instrument is believed to have been installed in 1882 at St George Roman Catholic Church, Carlton, and was moved to Beechworth in 1887. It retains its original action, console, pipework and case containing dummy wooden pipes. It is the sole pipe organ in the town and the only example of Anderson's work in northern Victoria. Of regional significance.
Organ Classified: 'State' 13/05/1992.

STATEMENT OF SIGNFICANCE (HISTORIC AREA)
DATE CLASSIFIED APRIL 1983
Beechworth is a picturesque nineteenth Century provincial town. It is a well preserved example of a 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 admist forested undulating country, there remain many relics of the mining era in and about Beechworh. It is a rich field for the industrial archaelogy.

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.