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Lands Office - Beechworth Historic Area

Location Ford Street, BEECHWORTH VIC 3747 - Property No B1400 File Number B1400 Level State

[1/1] B1400 Lands Office- Beechworth

Statement of Significance

The District Survey Office was erected in 1858 and served as the Electric Telegraph Station. Early illustrations show it as a single storey stone building, set back from the street in line with its neighbours. The double fronted facade had a central entrance expressed by a tiny two storey tower. Later in the century, probably c. 1880, the tower and projecting front wing were demolished and the present front wing added, verandah is c. 1900.
This is one of Victoria's few surviving early telegraph offices; part of the original 1858 structure survivies at the rear of the present front wing which was erected c. 1880. The building is solidly constructed in distinctive local granite and forms part of the finest group of provincial public buildings in Victoria. The front wing has distinctive arched windows with extrados and import mouldings. The verandah brackets are also noteworthy. There have been few alterations to the building since the present front wing was constructed. Classified: 9/7/1959
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Also part of Group Classification (File Number 2615) with Court House, Forests Office, Police Lock-up & Police Station.

STATEMENT OF SIGNFICANCE (HSITORIC 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.