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C Beckingsale & Sons - Castlemaine Historic Area

Location 49 Templeton Street,, CASTLEMAINE VIC 3450 - Property No B5269 File Number B5269 Level State

[1/1] B5269 Shop & Residence

Statement of Significance

G. Beckingsale & Sons Shop and Residence, built c. 1859 for Caleb Anderson, is of historical singificance at a State level.
It is historically significant as the earliest shop building extant in the town of Castlemaine and for its connections with Caleb Anderson, one of the earliest residents of Castlemaine and also the establishment of the Salvation Army of the Victorian goldfields.
Classified: 17/11/1983
Revised: 03/08/1998
Part of Castlemaine Historic Area B4894
Castlemaine grew as a result of the discovery of gold along Forest Creek in July, 1851. By December of that year the population on the field was greater than that of Melbourne. In 1852 Mr Templeton surveyed the township of Castlemaine and in 1853 the first auction of the town site was held.
The Castlemaine goldfield was allegedly the richest alluvial goldfield in the world. Such was the prosperity of the diggers that the townsfolk were optimistically expectant of Castlemaine becoming Victoria's second city. The prosperity of the diggers and the optimistic townsfolk is reflected in the high number of imposing buildings erected in the first few years of the town's life. However, the rich alluvial diggings were worked out within 15-20 years. From the 1870's the town's population began to drift away, but they left behind a rich legacy of the town's former prosperity in the form of its buildings.
Within the Castlemaine Historic Area may be found many items of significance. These range from intact nineteenth century streetscapes composed of imposing public buildings to simple miner's cottages. Within the historic area there are a number of identifiable component areas, each telling an important part of the history of Castlemaine. In addition, there are many other items of significance outside of these areas, but still within the historic area. These include the former steam flourmill, the Church of England, the Congregational Church and Forest and Barkers Creeks.
Despite the town's topographical confinements to the valley of the two creeks, the wide streets and large buildings convey an atmosphere of grand spaciousness in this central Victorian goldfields town.
Historic Area Classified: 01/12/1982