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Forests Office (Former Chinese Protector) - Beechworth Historic Area

Location Ford Street, BEECHWORTH VIC 3747 - Property No B1399 File Number B1399 Level State

[1/1] B1399 Forests Office (former)

Statement of Significance

Beechworth Forests Offices were erected to designs of the Public Works Department. They originally comprised public offices for the Chinese Protector and the Warden of the Goldfields. The Chinese Protector's Office dates from 1858. It is a simple stone structure with a hipped roof and a verandah to the street facade. The Warden's Office was erected 1859-60. It is similar to the Protector's Office but has a gabled roof.
These public offices are rare surviving examples of provicnial public offices erected thorughout Victoria during the gold rush period. They are solidly constructed in the distinctive local granite and together with their neighbouring structures form the finest group of provincial public buildings in Victoria. The verandahs have been reconstructed and their present appearance is not as shown in the original drawings or early photographs.
The original slate roof of the Warden's Office has been replaced by corrugated metal decking. The verandahs of both buildings have been rebuilt; not in accordance with original details. A walkway has been erected between the two buildings. Classified 29.8.63.
Also part of Group Classification (File Number 2615) comprising two old Government buildings similar to Court House, Police Station, Lands Office and all forming a compact group.

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.