1960-1999 Timeline – Beechworth History Timeline

Note: This page is a constant work-in-progress, with new information and corrections being made all the time. To search on the “1960-1999 Timeline” for any particular year, person, event, business, shop etc, simply press CTRL+F and type in the thing you are looking for in the small box that will appear on the screen.

1960

*Percy W. Hill’s Beechworth-Stanley Bus Service in Stanley* *(photo: Stanley Athenaeum & Public Room)*

49-year-old Percy W. Hill from Stanley is running his regular Bus Service between Beechworth and Stanley, a road travel distance of 6.2 miles (10 km). Hill had been granted his ‘Carrier’s Licence’ in Beechworth in July 1955.

1960 – Dec 26

On Boxing Day, the first ‘Golden Hills Festival’ is held, organised and promoted by Beechworth Shire engineer Reg Carter, with major support from the newly formed Beechworth Lions Club. From 1966 it becomes known as the ‘Golden Horseshoe Festival’.

1961 – Sep

Despite the agreement of Michaelis Hallenstein and Co and their subsidiary Associated Leathers Ltd to keep the Zwar Bros Tannery operational in Beechworth, they make the announcement that, after 103 years of operation, the tannery is to close. At the time of closure, the output from the Tannery has fallen dramatically with the remaining workers only processing 250 hides per week for women’s fashion, leathers and glue. The loyal staff of 80 men and women are dismissed, with some given the option of transferring to the Footscray Tannery of Michaelis Hallenstein and Co. The buildings and fittings are sold both privately and at auction, with the remnants sold to a wrecker. The land is sold to an adjoining landholder. Today only the eye-catching 100-foot brick chimney remains. Visible from Malakoff Road, heading towards the new Beechworth Correctional Centre.

*The remains of the Zwar Bros. Tannery site today, with the* *still-standing 100 foot chimney* *(photo: Barb Sullivan)*

The closure is devastating for Beechworth, particularly as it comes just four years after the new owners had accepted the ‘moral agreement’ of maintaining the Tannery in Beechworth.

1961 – Sep

Directly following the demise of Zwar’s Tannery, Footrest Shoes also closes its Beechworth factory, letting go of 36 local female employees, leading to more unemployment woes in the local community.

1961 – Sep

Playing in the Ovens & King Football League, the Beechworth Football Club win the Premiership under coach Bill Comensoli. New coach of the Bombers Mick Brenia will lead the team to victory again in 1974, and once more in 1979 under coach Rob ‘Tree’ Forrest.

1961

*The new swimming pool at the northern end of Lake Sambell (photo: Burke Museum)*

The Lake Sambell Swimming Pool is completed, driven largely by Beechworth’s hard-working Shire Engineer Reg Carter, who has advocated for improvements to Lake Sambell and the surrounding area to encourage tourism to Beechworth. The new swimming pool area – which is divided and separated at the northern end of the lake – includes park benches, a water slide, and a fenced area with a diving pontoon for lap-swimming and racing. These improvements are financed largely by grants from the Tourist Development Authority. In 1959 Carter had overseen the establishment of the Beechworth Caravan Park (on the former site of the Beechworth Tip) next to the lake, and will go on to increase the surface of Lake Sambell – and encourage the introduction of water skiing and boating facilities – in 1964.

For many decades, members of the Beechworth community have advocated for the development of a swimming pool at Lake Sambell, including a safe ‘Wading Pool’ area and Olympic standard lanes for laps and races. Throughout the 1940s the ‘Beechworth Swimming Club’ tries to raise awareness and funds to address various structural engineering issues, raise the water levels, and improve swimming facilities at the lake. Although the ‘Beechworth Swimming Club’ host a swimming carnival at the lake in 1948, it is decided – due to several issues at the event – that no further carnivals should be hosted until necessary improvements are made to the area. Beechworth will gain its own separate in-ground concrete ‘Public Swimming Pool’ in December 1978.

*A ‘Swimming Carnival’ underway at the ‘Lake Sambell Swimming Pool’ in the 1960s. (photo: Burke Museum)*

1961

The ‘Ennals Grovery Store’ on High Street as it looked in 1895 as ‘Ladson’s Cash Grocery Store’ when Beatrice Ennals was 14-years-old. Beatrice will begin working at this store just a few years later.

At the age of 80, Beatrice Ennals finally retires from the popular Ennals Grocery Store at 30 High Street and hands the business over to her daughter Margaret and her husband Dick Galbraith. After Dick passes away, it is taken over by Dick and Margaret’s son Bob Galbraith.

*Advertisement in ‘The Ovens and Murray Advertiser’ – September 16, 1953*

Born in 1881, Beatrice Ennals (who will be widowed in 1915) works at the store for many years when it is run by the Ladson family (as ‘Ladson’s Cash Grocery Store’). Established in 1882 by Alfred William Ladson, it is eventually taken over by Alfred’s son Arthur Ladson who employs Beatrice, and eventually sells the entire business to her.

1961

*Dr Mervyn Lincoln returns to the ‘Lincoln Causeway’ later in life.* *From 1945 to 1950 his parents run the ‘Lincoln and Butterworth’ store on High Street in Wodonga.*

35 km from Beechworth, the busy causeway over Wodonga Creek on the border between Wodonga and Albury – originally known as ‘The Wodonga Flats’ – is officially named the ‘Lincoln Causeway’ in honour of 28-year-old Mervyn George ‘Merv’ Lincoln. Raised in Wodonga, in March 1957 the middle-distance Olympic runner had become the third Australian in the world to break the ‘4 Minute Mile’, running the distance in 3 minutes 59 seconds. Merv’s first running coach is well-known Albury identity ‘Chooker’ Elkington and Merv will go on to represent Australia three times … at the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956, the Commonwealth Games in Cardiff in 1958 and the Rome Olympics in 1960.

*The ‘Pollard Arch’ over the newly named ‘Lincoln Causeway’ at Wodonga in the early 1960s*

Following the Rome Olympics in 1960, Merv Lincoln retires from competitive running and takes up an academic career, achieving a ‘Bachelor of Commerce’, a ‘Diploma of Education’ and ‘Master of Business Administration’ degree before receiving a ‘Doctorate of Philosophy’ in 1983 from the University of Melbourne. He will then become a lecturer at the same University. Dr Mervyn Lincoln will pass away on May 1st 2016 aged 82.

1961

*Merv Sinclair in 1977, aged 65* *(photo: courtesy Michael Sinclair)*

After running a successful General Store in the nearby town of Stanley since the late 1940s, Mervyn John Sinclair establishes Beechworth’s first Supermarket on Ford Street. After a few years, the Foodworks Supermarket will outgrow its single shop and Merv and Margaret ‘Meg’ Sinclair will take over an adjoining shop. By 1967 the design department of Foodlands is working on plans to combine the two shops into one modern supermarket … at the same time as the Shire Council and the National Trust are working on plans to preserve and restore the whole historic area of Beechworth. The Sinclair family embrace the idea of the preservation of Ford Street and abandon their plans for a modern façade and agree to create a new ‘1870s-look’ façade which will remain in harmony with the surrounding historic streetscape., while building a modern supermarket inside. It will open – with a grand ceremony – in December 1968. (see further entry below)

*‘Sinclairs Foodland Supermarket’ on Ford Street in the early 1960s*. *Note the vacant land next to the supermarket, which will become, for a short time, a laneway.*

*‘Sinclairs Foodland Supermarket’ (to the right of Stan White’s ‘Beechworth Billiard Saloon’ and Wally Price’s Bike Shop and Taxi Office) on Ford Street in the early 1960s*. *The Supermarket is made up of the two combined shops, but the new “1870s-style façade” is yet to be added.*

1961

Graeme Smart, who has been running his own taxi service in Beechworth since 1954, purchases the taxi licence of Tom Collie and his son Noel Collie, expanding his growing fleet of taxis and private hire cars in the town.

Over the years, many others in Beechworth will own taxi licences including Frank Jarvis, Tom Parkinson, Leo Kavanagh, Harold Colin McIntosh, along with Wally Price and his nephew Laurie Price. Wally Price also runs a popular Beechworth bicycle shop.

1962 – Jan 3

The first ‘Standard Gauge’ freight train travels straight through from Melbourne to Sydney when the railway gauge between the two cities is finally converted to one matching gauge – ‘Standard Gauge’ – saving up to 24 hours per journey! This comes about after years of two different gauges on Victorian and New South Wales railway lines, meaning all trains have to stop at Albury. On April 14th the Spirit of Progress will make its debut on the ‘Standard Gauge’ tracks now linking Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. By June 30^th a weekly service of between 30 to 40 passenger trains – the Spirit of Progress, the Southern Aurora and the Intercaptial Daylight – run on the route, some express, and others stopping at places like Benalla, Wangaratta and Chiltern. The line to Beechworth is, unfortunately, ‘Broad Gauge’.

*D3 667 Class Steam Locomotive at Beechworth Railway Station – January 15, 1962.*

1962 – Mar

*The new Beechworth High School (image from the book* *‘Echoes of History: Beechworth 1853-2003’)*

With 248 students, Beechworth High School moves into new purpose-built classrooms near the Ovens District Hospital on Sydney Road, with an entrance at 85 Balaclava Road. One of the first new staff members hired is Mary Martina as the School Librarian. The school had previously been based at the Beechworth Primary School which had become a Higher Elementary School in 1912, before being raised to Beechworth High School in 1959. Due to increasing secondary school student numbers and lack of space, the new location is found for the secondary students. From 1986 the school will become Beechworth Secondary College.

*A ‘Beechworth High School’ blazer with the motto ‘Vitai Lampada’ on the pocket. and the school’s ‘Torch of Life’ logo between the ‘H’ and the ‘S*‘ *(see box below)*

The Beechworth High School motto is ‘Vitai Lampada” which translates as “The Torch of Life” and symbolizes “the duty to uphold values and pass them on to future generations”. Henry Newbolt’s 1892 poem “Vitai Lampada” (“The Torch of Life”) includes the phrase “Play Up! Play up! And play the game!” often used in schools as a rallying cry for their sporting teams.

1962

The Beechworth Scout Hall is erected in Centennial Park – the grounds of the former Ovens Goldfields Hospital – at 13 Church Street. The Beechworth Scouts had commenced in 1925, holding their scout meetings in various locations throughout Beechworth over the years including the Beechworth Fire Station (the Fire Brigade Hall) on Camp Street (below) and at Walter Joseph Edwards’ Auction Mart on Ford Street. From 1957 their meetings are held to the scouts at the Serviceman’s Memorial Hall. The new hall will become the new permanent home of the 1^st Beechworth Scout Group, and they are still there today.

In the early part of the 20^th century Walter Joseph Edwards is a notable Beechworth undertaker, coach-builder and owner of livery stables and an ‘Auction Mart’ on Ford Street. He builds and provides coffins and hearses for his clients and is respected within the community. He passes away in 1945.

*Beechworth Fire Station – also known as the ‘Fire Station Hall’ – where the Beechworth Scouts hold their meetings from the 1920s.*

1962

Ian Downs and his wife Joan take over Leo Kavanagh’s BP Service Station and his former Beechworth Taxi Service buildings at 34-36 Camp Street. (These two buildings are now the ‘Moments & Memories Tea Room’) They will move their BP Service Station to Ford Street in 1972.

*The Hibernian Hotel and the I.S. Downs BP Service Station in Camp Street in 1971.*

1963

*Bank Manager* *Wally Russell (centre) with Bank Tellers Gary Jarvis (left) and Ron ‘Sandy’ Burridge (right)*

46-year-old Wally Russell is posted to Beechworth as the new manager of the State Savings Bank of Victoria at 97 Ford Street. He and his wife Bette move into the residence above the bank building (constructed in 1876 as the Oriental Bank). Having played 65 VFL games of football in Melbourne for both Richmond and Geelong, Wally now becomes a football fixture in his new hometown – both as a player, coach and administrator for the Beechworth Football Club. He also plays tennis, as well as cricket with the Beechworth First XI. Other staff members at Beechworth’s State Savings Bank branch excel in local sport, with bank teller Gary Jarvis winning the Ovens and Murray Advertiser award for Best Footballer in the local league in 1966. Ron Burridge, who joined the bank in Beechworth in 1960, wins the same Ovens and Murray Advertiser award twice before transferring to the powerful Wangaratta Football Club.

*The* *Beechworth branch of the* ‘*State Savings Bank of Victoria*‘ *at 97 Ford Street when it was the ‘Oriental Bank*‘ *with bank manager Norman Lawrence and his family in front of the building on 1865*

Bank Manager Wally Russell will become vice-president of the Beechworth Lions Club and serves as Treasurer of the Beechworth RSL as well as the Lake Sambell Committee of Management.

1963

*The renamed ‘Delany College*‘ *at 8 Priory Lane*

The Brigidine Convent of Mt St Joseph at 8 Priory Lane in Beechworth is renamed Delany College (after Irish Bishop Daniel Delany, founder of the Ireland’s Brigidine Sisters). The Beechworth convent, originally a boarding school for girls, the renamed Delany College will now accept both female and male ‘day students’. Student numbers will slowly decline and it will eventually close in 1978.

*Bishop Daniel Delany (1747-1814)*. *He establishes the Congregation of St. Brigid – ‘The Brigidine Sisters’ – in Kildare, Ireland* *in 1907 and ‘The Brothers of St. Patrick’ in Tullow, County Carlow in 1908.*

1963 – Oct 13

*The musical Crossman family – Joan on tenor saxophone, Greg on violin, Geoff on trumpet and Herb on saxophone*. *Herb and Joan had a backgroud with the Salavation Army.*

Following the gradual demise of the much-loved Beechworth Brass Band – founded by Henry Vandenberg in 1887 – Herb and Joan Crossman establish the Beechworth Music Group. Their first concert is held in front of a packed house at the Ovens and Murray Home (below). Beginning life as part of Beechworth Adult Education Group (BAEG), it is led by Beechworth police office Herb (who plays tuba and saxophone) and Joan (who plays tenor saxophone) and their two sons Greg and Geoff, along with other musicians, and noted violinist George Rucins as conductor.

*Beechworth’s ‘Ovens and Murray Home’ at 9 Warner Road, location of the Beechworth Music Group’s first performance.*

Eventually growing to become the ‘Beechworth Concert Band’ in the mid-1970s, the idea behind the ‘Beechworth Music Group’ is to bring in other instruments and broaden the town’s orchestra to be either a ‘Marching Band’ or a ‘Concert Band’.

1963

In 1935, Sid Evans takes a tumble from the wheelbarrow being pushed by Tom Parkinson – the same wheelbarrow that Parkinson’s nephew Allen Parkinson will use in his 1963 recreation of the marathon event.

Allan Parkinson (nephew of Tom Parkinson) and Ronnie Evans (a relation of Tony ‘Sid’ Evans) recreate the famous 1935 Tom Parkinson-Sid Evans “Wheelbarrow Challenge”, this time doing the eight-day journey in summer (as opposed to winter) and doing it in reverse, starting at Mt Buffalo and returning to Beechworth using the same wooden wheelbarrow that had been used in 1935 (below) which now resides at Beechworth’s Burke Museum.

1963 – Dec 26

*Graeme Smart drives his decorated Model T Ford down Ford Street as part of the 1963 ‘Golden Hills Festival’ parade.*

Crowds turn out along Ford Street for the third annual ‘Golden Hills Festival’ Boxing Day Parade. Established in 1961, the festival draws thousands of people to Beechworth for a range of events just after Christmas. Originally organised and promoted by Beechworth Shire engineer Reg Carter, with major support from the newly formed Beechworth Lions Club, from 1966 it becomes known as the ‘Golden Horseshoe Festival’.

1964

*The (former) ‘Beechworth Girl Guide Hall’ at Queen Victoria Park. Now the ‘Rotary* *Hall’*

Former Australian Army mechanic Mal Davidson suggests the Lions Club of Beechworth purchase a former army hut from Bandiana for the Beechworth Girls Guides to use as their meeting hall. The purchase proceeds and the Lions Club transport the building to Beechworth, relocating it to Queen Victoria Park where it still stands today, facing Ford Street. From 2010 the Beechworth Rotary Club will take possession of the building, to be known as ‘Rotary Hall’.

Today, the ‘Rotary Hall’ continues to be used for regular ‘Rotary’ meetings (above), along with the ‘Red Cross’, the ‘Beechworth Country Women’s Association’ (founded in 1942). Even the board of the ‘Bendigo Bank’ use the hall for their annual meetings.

1964 – Apr 12

*Beechworth’s War Memorial (photo: Tony Ledger)*

Major-General Sir Kingsley Norris is on hand at Beechworth to unveil the Centotaph War Memorial at the Town Hall Gardens, on the corner of Williams and Ford Streets. The plaque on the memorial states: “This memorial is dedicated to all the men and women from the Beechworth District who gave their lives in the service of their country in all the conflicts in which we have been involved”.

*Closer detail of* *Beechworth’s War Memorial (photo: Tony Ledger)*

1964

*The Petrol Station just over the Newtown Bridge at 4-6 High Street when it is selling Ampol petrol in the 1990s.*

John Breen and his sons Robert and Michael establish the Mayday Hills Service Station at 2-4 High Street – a vacant block of land just across Newtown Bridge – the original site of the first gold diggings on Spring Creek. Originally selling the new Amoco brand of petrol, the business quickly changes its name to Breen Brothers Service Centre after confusion with the Mayday Hills Mental Hospital! It later sells Esso petrol then Ampol. It is now a Shell Service Station operated run by Indigo Fuels.

1965

*Aerial image of the Beechworth Water Treatment Plant on McFeeters Road.*

A sewerage system for Beechworth is finally approved! First proposed in 1925, funding is withdrawn due to the decline in mining activities. Once approval is finally granted in 1967, a wastewater collection system is constructed between 1967 and 1970 using vitrified clay pipes. The ‘full gravity system’ includes conveyance to the Beechworth Wastewater Treatment Plant on McFeeters Road near Woolshed.

1965

*The ‘Golden Hills Festival’ street parade* – *Greg Crossman out front on the ‘Beechworth Music Group’ “Cabaret” float dressed as a little orchestra conductor, with Carolyn Wyatt behind him holding a violin.*

The Beechworth Music Group continues to grow, giving a number of concerts and featuring in local events, as well as entering ‘floats’ in the annual Golden Hills Festival. The group wins first prize for their floats with orchestral and music themes in 1964 and 1965.

1965

Beechworth’s iconic 1859-built Powder Magazine continues to stand neglected on the Gorge Road, not helped by the removal of the building’s roof to discourage “rough sleepers” during the depression of the 1930s. Inspired by the historic conservation work of the late John ‘Jack’ Skidmore, local residents and the Progress Association begin to raise funds for urgent restoration work. They are supported by the North Eastern Historical Society and enthusiastic staff members from Melbourne University. The restoration and preservation project will soon be formally adopted by the National Trust.

Skidmore Road will be named after Jack Skidmore in recognition of his efforts in conservation. Skidmore Road links the bottom of Camp Street to the ‘Powder Magazine’. Jack’s home at the bottom of Camp Street had been destroyed in the Christmas bushfires of 1899. Skidmore dies aged 91 in Beechworth on 9 March 1925 and is buried in the Presbyterian section of Beechworth Cemetery..

1965

*The new Beechworth Kindergarten (image from the book* *‘Echoes of History: Beechworth 1853-2003’)*

The new purpose-built Beechworth Kindergarten opens at 2 Albert Road, on the corner of Albert Road and Harper Avenue, the former site of the Beechworth Gas Works. The Beechworth Kindergarten is now located in the beautiful parks and gardens of Mayday Hills.

*An aerial view of the site of the new ‘Beechworth Kindergarten’ (highlighted by red arrow). On the left, on the other side of Harper Avenue, are the green lawns of the ‘Beechworth Bowls Club’.*

1965 – Oct 15

The ‘Steam Age’ is over as the two K-Class locomotives from Beechworth and Wangaratta leave the North-East line for the final time, replaced by T-Class Diesel Locomotives (above).

1966 – Jan 17

*Cawthray’s Empire Hotel on Camp Street in the 1960s* *(photo: Burke Museum)*

Thelma Josephine Cawthray (née Porritt) the 56-year-old (second) wife of Claude Rolland Cawthray – the licensee of the Empire Hotel – falls from the hotel’s balcony and dies shortly afterwards. Although the coroner finds it an ‘accidental death’, rumours spread that Thelma had been pushed to her death.

*The ‘Empire Hotel’ on the corner of Camp and High Streets as it look in the early 1970s*

Stories persist to this day that the ‘Empire Hotel’ is haunted by the ghost of Thelma’s husband Claude Cawthray, who passes away at the ‘Empire’ in 1972.

1966

The Golden Hills Festival – which originated on Boxing Day in 1960 – is replaced by the Golden Horseshoes Festival, held over the Easter long weekend. A few days before the big event, Ford Street is decorated with display shapes – depicting stylised picks and shovels – attached to light poles. (close up detail below) The Easter Horseshoes Festival continues in Beechworth to this day and is a big draw card for the town at Easter.

1966 – Apr 9

Closed and unused since 1918, the 1859-built Beechworth Powder Magazine is finally restored with funds raised by local residents and the Progress Association. On Easter Sunday, on behalf of the National Trust, Rupert ‘Dick’ Hamer, the Victorian Minister for Local Government is on hand to officially open the Powder Magazine to the public as a new tourist destination for Beechworth. Work will then commence on building a replica of an early settler’s slab hut a few metres away. It will be completed in 1968 (see entry below in 1968 section).

*A colourful pennant, manufactured in Australia, to promote Beechworth’s restored Powder Magazine (courtesy: Burke Museum)*

‘The National Trust’ is established in 1956 and is quickly invited to identify and help preserve many of Beechworth’s important historic buildings, with many of them eventually given ‘National Trust Classifications’. The ‘Beechworth Powder Magazine’ is the first ‘National Trust’ property to be opened to the public outside the Melbourne metropolitan area.

1966

The Lions Club of Beechworth complete preservation and painting work on the 1863-built façade of the ‘The Ovens Goldfields Hospital’ in Church Street, and erect a sign (above) outside the remains of the former hospital which – apart from the Grand Façade – had been demolished in 1940.

*The 1863-built ‘Grand Façade’ of the ‘The Ovens Goldfields Hospital’ as it looks today*

1966 – Jul 15

*Beechworth Railway Station during the snowfall of 15 July 1966 (Photo: John Harvey)*

In the midst of one of the coldest winters on record, snow blankets Beechworth and surrounds as a mass of cold air descends on the area, with snow falling as far north as the centre of Albury (below).

1966

The ‘WM Meldrum’ imitation steam locomotive on the ‘Golden Pioneer Railway’ track near the ‘Beechworth Caravan Park’. Note the ‘Mayday Hills’ railway sign to the left of the train and the ‘Golden Horseshoe’ logo on the front of the engine *(photo: Mike McCarthy)*

After a number of years work, The Golden Pioneer Railway is finally open as a tourist attraction around the Beechworth Caravan Park at Lake Sambell. A pre-war Willys-Overland 4-cylinder petrol engine (similar to a wartime Jeep) is used as the engine for the little imitation steam locomotive built by Don Hayes and Rex Norman, with assistance from Beechworth motor mechanic Frank Perryman. The engine is named the ‘WM Meldrum’ after Beechworth gold pioneer, James Meldrum, the former shepherd and overseer to the Reid Brothers. The little engine pulls three 4-wheel railway trucks – open air carriages – on railway tracks that Don and Rex have recovered from the now disused 1947-built tramline at the Mayday Hills Asylum and the tracks that once ran around Zwar’s Tannery. Operated by volunteers (including members of Beechworth’s Apex Club) on Saturdays and Public Holidays, the two-foot gauge railway carries children and their parents on a return journey around Lake Sambell’s picnic areas and through a forest grove beside Silver Creek (see map below).

The ‘WM Meldrum’ imitation steam locomotive travels along the ‘Golden Pioneer Railway’ track near the ‘Beechworth Caravan Park’ – Easter Saturday 1972 *(photo: Mike McCarthy from ‘Light Railways’ magazine Number 202, August 2008)*

*Sometimes the imitation steam locomotive needs a little help to keep going on the track* *(photo: Mike McCarthy from ‘Light Railways’ magazine Number 202, August 2008)*

*‘The Golden Pioneer Railway’ map courtesy of the Light Railway Research Society of Australia*

1967

The National Trust is instrumental in having a Melbourne-based company, Beechworth Developments Pty Ltd, purchase Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel and announce a $150,000 plan to restore the 1873-built hotel to its former glory, under the supervision of the National Trust. The company will lease the coach-house and stables at the rear of the hotel to the National Trust for conversion into the Beechworth Carriage and Harness Museum.

Officially opened on November 28, 1969, the ‘Beechworth Carriage and Harness Museum’ will feature Beechworth’s grand horse-drawn hearse; the massive Beechworth-Stanley ‘Omnibus’ which was built in Beechworth by ‘Crawford and Connolly’; a ‘Sociable’ said to have used by Governor Bligh; and a saddle which once belonged to Daniel Morgan the bushranger.

1967 – Oct

*‘Mayday Hills Hospital Beechworth’ booklet (image courtesy Museums Victoria Collections)*

To celebrate the centenary of the Mayday Hills Hospital, a special centenary booklet is produced by the Mental Health Authority Victoria and published by T & H Hunter Pty. Ltd. It contains a brief history of the hospital with the centre pages featuring a programme of events for the upcoming centenary celebrations.

1967 – Oct 24

*Sir Rohan ‘Jumbo’ Delacombe and Lady Eleanor Delacombe.*

On the centenary of the opening of the Mayday Hills Mental Asylum in 1867, a public holiday is declared in Beechworth as the town welcomes the Governor of Victoria, Major-General Sir Rohan ‘Jumbo’ Delacombe and Lady Eleanor Delacombe. A ‘re-opening ceremony’ is held, a plaque is unveiled and a buffet dinner is held on this fine Tuesday evening. An open-air theatre is established on the grounds of the Asylum and a pageant entitled “Fight Against Affliction” is performed to a crowded audience. Two days later, the annual “Patient’s Picnic” is held, and a “Cabaret Staff Ball” takes place on Friday evening. Before the occasion, almost $500,000 has been spent restoring the cement facing of the Administration Office building.

Coinciding with the Centenary celebrations, the government accepts a recommendation to officially change the name of the Asylum (again!) from the ‘Beechworth Mental Hospital’ to the ‘Mayday Hills Mental Hospital’, specifically noting that the name ‘May Day’ (an earlier name for Beechworth) be written as one word – ‘Mayday’ on the basis that the word ‘Mayday’ comes from the French derivative of ‘Please Help Us’.

1967 – Nov

*The newly installed St. Kilda Road street lamp at the Hospital’s entrance.*

Alan McDonald, the manager of the newly re-named Mayday Hills Mental Hospital, uses his connections in Melbourne to acquire an ornate street lamp post – topped by two lamps – that had once graced St. Kilda Road, to be installed at the Hospital’s entrance gate. It still stands proudly at the entrance today (below).

1967 – Dec 26

*The Boxing Day burial of the Beechworth Time Capsule (photo: Keith Borschmann)*

With much excitement, a ‘Time Capsule’ is buried in the Beechworth Town Hall Gardens. Organised by the Beechworth Lions Club and its President Brian Cousins as part of the annual Beechworth Boxing Day Golden Horseshoes Festival, the concrete capsule includes a personally signed copy of Prime Minister Harold Holt’s Federal Election Speech dated November 9^th 1967. Holt will tragically drown on December 17^th in Portsea, just 9 days before the ‘Time Capsule’ is buried in Beechworth.

*Beechworth Lions Club charter member Ian McGuffie uses a trench digger to create a 6 foot pit for the Time Capsule*

The concrete and plastic-sealed ‘Beechworth Time Capsule’ is manufactured at the ‘Rocla’ factory in Wodonga. ‘Rocla’ was founded in 1922 by Walter Robertson and Heaton Clarke (who combined the initial letters of their surnames to create the company name ‘Rocla’).

The ‘1967 Time Capsule’ will be opened 33 years later on Boxing Day 2000 by members of the ‘Beechworth Lions Club’ who are saddened to discover that many items in the capsule have been damaged or destroyed by moisture. A new ‘Time Capsule’ is buried on the same day in 2000 containing around 280 local items, as well as a personal letter from the (then) current Prime Minister John Howard in which he sends his “best wishes for the future of Beechworth” and a ‘a tip’ that by 2050 Australia could well be a Republic. The ‘2000 Capsule’ is due to be exhumed and opened on Boxing Day 2050.

1968 – Feb 1

Beechworth records its hottest day when the mercury hits a whopping peak of 114 degrees fahrenheit (45.6°)!

1968

A former shearer’s slab hut from the Corryong area is relocated (in pieces) to Beechworth where it is reassembled on Skidmore Road adjacent to the Beechworth Powder Magazine. The old building is preserved for tourists, while also (initially) providing a functional use as a Caretaker’s Cottage. It will later be rented out to a few individuals before the building experiences issues with mould and other problems, before being essentially abandoned and falling into disrepair. Over the years there is talk of it being repaired and restored by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) with a number of locals pushing to save it – including Elizabeth Mason and the Beechworth History and Heritage Society in the 2000s – but it seems no one wants to claim responsibility for it.

*Over the years the cottage is allowed to fall into a gradual state of disrepair (photo: Leanne Cole)*

*The Shearer’s slab hut in its original location near Corryong before it is moved to Beechworth.*

1968 – Apr

Doris Schmitt is named both the ‘Queen’ and ‘Charity Queen’ of Beechworth’s Golden Horseshoes Festival. The Beechworth Music Group Junior Concert Band who sponsor Miss Schmitt’s entry, raise $1,000 which will go towards new uniforms for members of the band, along with three new instruments – mellophones (similar to French Horns) at a cost of $600 each – which will be shipped from England especially for the group. The Beechworth Music Group, formed in 1963, now has 39 playing members (below).

1968

*Beechworth’s first motel – the ‘Beechworth Motor Inn’ (photo courtesy: John Young Collection)*

Jim and Gwenda Francis build and open The Golden Horseshoe Motel – Beechworth’s first purpose-built motel – at 54 Sydney Road, on 1.5 acres of land previously owned by the Le Couteur family, dating back to 1853. Quickly renamed the Beechworth Motor Inn, the property – constructed by local builder Graham Aherns – features 10 motel rooms (below) and still operates today.

*The* ‘*Beechworth Motor Inn’ covered in snow in 1969*

1968

The Apex Club of Beechworth is established. They hold regular meetings at Regency House on Loch Street (below).

*The 1871-built ‘Oddfellows Hall’ later becomes the ‘Federal Theatre” then the ‘Regent Theatre’ and, in the late 1960s, ‘Regency House’.*

1968 – Jun

The Beechworth Music Group complete a successful three-day tour to perform in Adelaide over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

1968

Automatic telephones begin installation throughout Beechworth, with the need to make calls through an operator no longer required.

1968

Graeme Smart’s ‘Esso Service Station and Taxi Office’ at 31 Ford Street – the prime corner position of Ford and Church Streets – opposite The ‘*Golden Era BP Service Station*‘. A new building – constructed in the early 1980s – now stands on the site at 31 Ford Street – the home of ‘The Beechworth Honey Shop’

Graeme and Lesley Smart take over the Esso Petrol Station on the corner of Ford and Church Streets and move into the house next door on Church Street. Previously run by Peter Boyd Snr and his wife Kath Boyd, Kath leases the business to the Smarts following the death of her husband, who had started his career working for Tom Parkinson. The Smarts will also run their rapidly growing Beechworth taxi business from the service station.

1968

With a growing interest in promoting tourism for Beechworth’s heritage, the National Trust (established in 1956) and the Beechworth Council devise an environmental area for the preservation of selected buildings and the encouragement of sympathetic design for all new buildings. Most of the town is a conservation area under the Register of the National Estate. In addition to Beechworth’s lack of twentieth century progress having caused little danger to most of the buildings, their durable granite and fine stonemasonry also ensures their longevity.

The United Shire of Beechworth engages the firm of Perrott, Lyon, Timbrock and Kesa to complete a town plan to allow “development without destruction” of the town’s 19^th century character. In keeping with this town plan, during the remodelling of ‘Sinclair’s Self-Service Store’ on Ford Street in 1968, a new shop front is built, but in the style of the 1870s.

1968

Dewar Wilson Goode purchases the run-down old Black Springs Bakery – 5 km from Beechworth on the road to Wangaratta – and donates the property and surrounding buildings to the National Trust who begin work on restoring the bakery as a house. The beautiful and historic 1870s-built stone and brick bakery buildings will later be sold to Rob Carr who will develop the gardens on the 10-acre property (below) and restore the buildings for use as B&B accommodation.

In 1875. the ‘Black Springs Bakery’ became the centrepiece of the small goldrush town of Black Springs, established in the 1850s. At its peak, the township of Black Springs includes a State School, three hotels, a butcher, three blacksmiths, a racecourse, a rifle range, three sawmills, several vineyards and orchards, a collection of dairies, with the ‘Black Springs Bakery’ becoming the settlement’s official Post Office. Ned Kelly is reputed to have bought bread at the ‘Black Springs Bakery’ The Bakery closes in 1942 and becomes the last remnant of a once thriving community.

1968 – Sep

Local policeman and ‘Beechworth Music Group’ founder Herb Crossman dressed as a Chinese Mandarin, sits in the rickshaw that will be pulled all the way to Melbourne by Neil McBain who bows down beside “his master”

The Beechworth Music Group announce plans for a major fundraising event – a ‘Beechworth Derby’. Local policeman Herb Crossman will be pulled in a rickshaw by Neil McBain on an eight-day journey on foot from Beechworth to Melbourne. They hope to raise $3,000 in the sponsored event to equip local children with instruments to form a Junior Concert Band. However, after much publicity, they hit a snag when the Victorian Road Traffic Regulation Act of 1962 reveals that while a rickshaw is considered a ‘vehicle’ and can travel on the left-hand side of the road with cars, the person pulling the rickshaw is considered a ‘pedestrian’ and therefore must travel on the right-hand side of the road! Beechworth schoolchildren stage a protest march (below) and there is much debate and pleas to the government, but the law stands firm.

In the end, the walk will proceed – without Herb Crossman and the much publicised rickshaw. Instead, Neil McBain will walk (on the right hand side of the road) on his own all the way to Melbourne – in the “Invisible Rickshaw Marathon” – ending at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds. McBain, an education officer at the Beechworth Training Prison, had previously paddled a kayak from Yarrawonga to Mildura to help raise funds for the Manangatang Ambulance Service.

1968 – Dec 12

*Beechworth Supermarket – note the laneway on the right. There is now a building filling the laneway, most recently operating as ‘The Beechworth Pantry*‘ *and the ‘Chinese Village Restaurant’.*

After remodelling of its façade to better reflect a shopfront of the 1870s, Sinclair’s Self-Service Supermarket has a grand re-opening ceremony at 73-77 Ford Street, with the Shire President holding a reception for special guest Dame Mabel Brookes (below).

*Authouress* *Dame Mabel Brookes* is *appointed C.B.E. in 1933 and D.B.E. in 1955 for her service to hospitals and charity,* and *appointed* *Chevalier de la Legion D’Honneur in 1960. She is the wife of (Sir) Norman Brookes, famous as the first non-Briton to win Wimbledon.*

Merv Sinclair also owns and operates the General Store and Supermarket in the nearby town of Stanley

1969

The Silver Creek Holiday Park opens at 151 Stanley Road, 1.5 km from the centre of Beechworth. Backing onto Silver Creek, the holiday park features cottages and cabins along with powered and unpowered camping sites. It will later be renamed the Beechworth Holiday Park and now also features villas and ‘glamping pods’ (below) along with a solar powered swimming pool.

1969

Bernard and Elly Valkenburg begin running the Beechworth Milk Bar. They will operate the popular milk bar at 16 Camp Street until 1988. In the early 1900s the building had been home to Alfred Ladson’s Furniture Store and, since 1990, it has been the home of Elizabeth Mason’s The Finer Things of Life.

1969

Reginald Brine and his wife Margaret purchase 11 acres of farmland beside Silver Creek and set to work building water races from Spring Creek to encourage fish (particularly the abundant trout) into specially built breeding ponds. Within a short time, they are able to open the Golden Hills Trout Farm at 121 Stanley Road, just a couple of minutes’ drive from Beechworth, and it will remain a popular tourist attraction for the next 22 years.

*The ‘Golden Hills Trout Farm’ at 121 Stanley Road*

1969 – Nov 28

*The Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan ‘Jumbo’ Delacombe, reveals the plaque to commemorate the restoration of* ‘*Tanswells Commercial Hotel*‘ *on Ford Street.*

After almost 2 years and at a cost of over $100,000, Beechworth Developments Pty Ltd – under the supervision of the National Trust – complete renovation and restoration work, and the refreshed 1873-built Tanswells Commercial Hotel is officially re-opened by His Excellency Major-General Sir Rohan ‘Jumbo’ Delacombe, the Governor of Victoria. At the same time, at the rear of the restored hotel, he officially opens the National Trust Carriage Museum – in the buildings that had been the ‘Crawford and Connolly’ coach house and stables – displaying a collection of horse-drawn vehicles.

The National Trust carries out a nationwide search for to locate authentic Victorian hotel furniture and fittings and have remarkable success, often from unexpected sources. The antique brass chandelier in the public bar is located in Adelaide – coated in many layers of pink paint! Carefully stripping back the paint to reveal the original fine brass beneath takes many weeks (above). Wallpapers are specially imported, and new carpets (to match the originals) are specially manufactured and finally the main room is restored to its Victorian opulence.

*Although parts of ‘Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel’ are upgraded, some things stay the same – like the ornate gas lamp at the hotel’s entrance on Ford Street* *and the leadlight windows*

1969 – Nov 28

*A sketch by Graham Hawley of the new Beechworth Carriage Museum (from* ‘The *Beechworth Sketchbook’ published in 1972)*

The new National Trust Carriage Museum – in the former ‘Crawford and Connolly’ buildings at the rear of Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel on Ford Street – contains a fascinating array of over 30 historic carriages. Over the last two years they have been collected by Beechworth’s Catholic priest Father John Peregrine Stockdale and actor Andrew Gilmour after scouring Australia for the carriages and assorted historic vehicles and harnesses of interest, under the auspices of the National Trust Carriage Committee, chaired by Jack Murphy.

*A sketch by Graham Hawley of an ‘Omnibus’ – one of the numerous historic vehicles in the Beechworth Carriage Museum (from* ‘The *Beechworth Sketchbook’ published in 1972)*

1970

There is growing concern in Beechworth that the railway line to the town might be closed, after the ever-increasing use of cars and trucks (and freight) on the Hume Highway.

1970

Gwyn Morris, who qualified as a pharmacist in 1965, takes over the Beechworth Pharmacy at 54 Ford Street. She will run the successful business for the next 17 years, selling it in 1987.

1970

*The ‘London Tavern’ looking rather sad and forlorn*. It was Beechworth’s first brick-built hotel and one of its most popular from 1859 until it is delicensed in 1920 (when it was known as the ‘Federal Hotel’)

After being classified by the National Trust, the now rather dilapidated 1859-built London Tavern (used as a private home since 1920) is purchased by Frank Strahan and a syndicate of fellow Melbourne academics – from Monash and Melbourne Universities – and friends linked to the National Trust, who slowly begin restoring and conserving the various buildings – sitting on a quarter-acre block on the corner of Camp and Finch Streets – with the aim of using it as a holiday home (below).

*The former ‘London Tavern’ restored and looking more respectable*

1970

*The 1856-57-built Beechworth branch of the ‘Bank of New South Wales’ in its prime position in the centre of town – on the corner of Ford and Camp Streets.*

The Beechworth branch of the Bank of New South Wales is under threat. With changes in banking operations and the need for better, and more modern, accommodation for the Bank Manager and staff, the head office of the bank considers demolishing the imposing 1856-57 built branch and replacing it with a more modern and functional bank, although they say the replacement building would be built with a ‘colonial design’ in mind. After protests about the historical importance of the old bank from the Beechworth Shire Council and the National Trust, the Bank of New South Wales agrees and announce plans to build new bank staff accommodation elsewhere in town and retain the old building without external alteration and with minimum internal changes.

*Beechworth’s ‘Bank of New South Wales’ building as it looks in 2022 (photo courtesy Beechworth Honey)*

The Beechworth branch of the ‘Bank of New South Wales’ will continue to operate from the old building until 1982 when it will become a branch of the ‘Westpac Banking Corporation’, then become the ‘Bank of Melbourne’ (a subsidiary of Westpac) in 1997, before closing and passing into private ownership in 2001.

1970

68-year-old James Thomas Dillon ‘Diamond Jim’ Mosbey and his wife Jean Mosbey take over the recently restored Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel on Ford Street.

*John Robinson Snr (left) and James ‘Diamond Jim’ Mosbey behind the bar of the newly restored ‘Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel’ in the early 1970s* *(courtesy Barbara Pilkington)*

*James Thomas Dillon Mosbey (1902-1978) behind the bar of ‘Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel’* *(photo: Burke Museum)*

1970 – Sep

*Wagga driver Brad Stevens (Car 58) roars past another competitor while on his way to a lap record at the new Beechworth Stockcar Track.*

Founded in 1968, The Beechworth Motor Club finally holds its inaugural race meeting on the newly completed “Beechworth Track” built in the disused gold mine quarry along Madman’s Gully. The club’s first president is Ian Downs from the Golden Era Service Station. Regular race meetings are held, known as “Victorian Country Hot Rod Championships”.

By 1972 it is estimated that over 16,000 gallons of sump oil have been used on the track, and within a couple of years the use of waste oil on the track’s surface has come to the notice of the ‘Victorian Environmental Protection Authority’ as the oil is leeching into Silver Creek which runs into Beechworth’s Lake Sambell. In 1976, the E.P.A tells the ‘Beechworth Motor Club’ to stop using oil on the track or they will be fined $2,000. The track is closed and the club is disbanded.

1971

The former Bank of Victoria building on the corner of Ford and Camp Streets is taken over by Joan and Herb Crossman as their new Gem Shop and Information Centre. (The Crossmans had been running their Gem Shop for the previous three years at 48 Ford Street.) From the 1980s until the mid-1990s it operates as The Rock Cavern. Since 1997 it has been the home of the Beechworth Gold precious gems and jewellery store.

1971 – Oct 20

*The Bank WAW building- built in the the late 1970s – as it looks in 2022 at 17 Camp Street in Beechworth*

Beechworth Credit Co-Operative Ltd is founded for the male nurses and domestic staff at the Mayday Hills Hospital. In June 1977 its name is changed to the Beechworth and Ovens Credit Union Co-Operative Ltd to reflect the Credit Unions bond covering the Shires of Beechworth, Yackandandah, Myrtleford and Bright.

On July 1^st 1998 the ‘Beechworth and Ovens Credit Union Co-Operative Ltd’ becomes part of the ‘WAW Credit Union Co-Operative Ltd’. In March 2022 the ‘WAW Credit Union Co-Operative Ltd’ rebrands as ‘Bank WAW’. W.A.W stands for Wangaratta, Albury and Wodonga.

1971

After over 50 years in business, Parkinson Motors and Shell Petrol Station (below) is still busy serving Beechworth customers on Ford Street as well as running its regular bus service from Beechworth to Wangaratta with their ‘Leyland Royal Tiger’ bus (above at left). The late Tom Parkinson had established the first Wangaratta to Beechworth Motor Car Service from his Ford Street Garage in December 1930, followed by the commencement of Parkinson’s regular daily Beechworth Bus Service at the end of 1939.

*‘Parkinson Motors’ in the 1960s with the ‘Beechworth-Wangaratta Bus Booking Office’ on the left of the building, and the bus parked at the extreme left of the photograph.*

1972 – Jan

The Beechworth Sketchbook is released. Researched and written by 39-year-old lawyer Rodney Davidson (below), the 62-page hardback book is an illustrated history and background to the key buildings of Beechworth and features sketches by 35-year-old Graham Hawley. The book is part of the historic Australian towns ‘Sketchbook’ series by South Australian publishing firm Rigby.

*Portrait of Rodney Davidson A.O. O.B.E. LLB* *painted later in his life*

Rodney Disney Davidson A.O. & O.B.E., is one of the key players in the preservation of Victoria’s heritage during the latter part of the 20th century. He will play a crucial part in building the ‘National Trust’ movement in Victoria after it is established in 1956. His work as Chairman (from 1965 to 1982) and then President of the ‘National Trust’ in Victoria, and his subsequent contribution to the ‘Australian Council of National Trusts’ makes an enormous impact on the preservation of numerous heritage buildings, including those in Beechworth, as he calls for legislation to ensure the preservation of historic buildings. He also has one of the finest collections of books of Australia’s history in the world!

1972

*The Victorian Premier Rupert ‘Dick’ Hamer talking to the media in the 1970s*

Rupert ‘Dick’ Hamer, the Premier of Victoria, establishes the Government Buildings Advisory Council and will then pass the Historic Buildings Act in 1974, demonstrating that Victoria is leading the way in preserving historic buildings in Australia. Rodney Davidson – author of the Beechworth Sketchbook (see entry above) – will be appointed the first chairperson of the Historic Buildings Preservation Council (1974-1977). This will all be very significant for the continued preservation of many buildings in Beechworth.

*Rodney Davidson – the first chairperson of the ‘Historic Buildings Preservation Council’ with some of his vast collection of Australian books*

When Rodney Davidson dies in Parkville on his 83rd birthday, his massive collection of Australian books is considered one of the finest privately owned collections of historical Australian books ever assembled. His collection includes unique items which are eagerly sought by both private and institutional collections.

1972

*The ‘Star Hotel’ on Ford Street, next door to Ronald ‘Ron’ Adolph Rosen’s Hairdresser & Tobacconist* *shop*

Upon the death of 76-year-old Bertha Pemberton in August 1971, her will directs that the National Trust should have the first option to buy the former Star Hotel on Ford Street at its current valuation. Bertha and her late husband William Joseph Pemberton had purchased the 1864-built hotel building in 1935 for £500 to run their popular grocery, furniture and drapery business and the Pembertons, and later, their two sons Maxwell and Robert, will serve Beechworth for many years. The National Trust will negotiate a sale price of $10,000 and purchase the large two-storey building in 1972. After restoration, the building will be opened as the Beechworth Youth Hostel in December 1973.

Although ‘Youth Hostels’ have become common in old buildings in Europe, this is the first time it has ever been attempted in Australia. To raise the $50,000 for restoration and conservation, a partnership is formed between the ‘National Trust’, the ‘Youth Hostel Association’ and the ‘United Shie of Beechworth’.

1972

65km from Beechworth, Lake Benalla is created by damming the flood-prone Broken River.

1972

After running the Esso Petrol Station on the corner of Ford and Church Streets for almost five years, Graeme and Lesley Smart sell the popular business to builder Kurt Gotsalks and his wife.

1972 – Oct 1

*Bowser Railway Station – formerly ‘Beechworth Junction’ – in the 1960s*

The Bowser Railway Station – formerly known as Beechworth Junction – ceases operating as a stop for passengers and parcels, however, the platform is not removed until July 1976. The station will be completely closed in April 1987 and in September 1987 it is disestablished as a staff station, with the Signal Box, Points and Signals all being abolished, along with the former grain storage facility.

*Bowser Railway Station today on the Rail Trail.*

On January 13th 1987, the line to Peechelba East will be closed, and in February, the standard gauge crossing is dismantled. Three months later the line to Myrtleford – the last remnant of the Beechworth and Bright lines – is officially closed on April 21.

1972

*Ford Street in the 1960s with Warden’s Hotel* *(at right) and the buildings to its left (marked by arrows) that will be demolished to make way for the ‘Golden Era Service Station*‘ *(below)*

Ian and Joan Downs purchase three old buildings in Ford Street (between Warden’s Hotel and Cameron McBean’s Reliance Garage), demolish them, and build a new service station opposite Graeme Smart’s Esso station across the street. They move their BP petrol station from 36 Camp Street and open the Golden Era BP Service Station at 34 Ford Street. In the mid 1980’s the service station switches from BP to Caltex. The site of the Golden Era Service Station at 34 Ford Street had, from 1861, been the location of Cabinet makers and furniture dealers Sengelmann & Reidle, who will trade there for 45 years until selling it in the 1920s, whereupon the building is converted into an Ice Skating Rink, a popular entertainment at the time. It is later the home of Well’s Bakery.

*Looking south up Ford Street in 1973 with Ian Downs new ‘Golden Era’ BP petrol station and Cameron McBean’s ‘Reliance Garage’ next door selling Mobil petrol.*

Another view looking south up Ford Street in the mid-1970s, with the ‘Toys, Gifts and Cycles’ shop on the left run by Leslie ‘Sandy’ Powell and his wife Shirley Powell. (image courtesy: Unique Cars magazine)

From 1965 Ian Downs and his family have also operated Beechworth’s RACV. The iconic yellow RACV vehicles continue to be a feature of the town.

1973

William ‘Leonard’ Collier and Nancy Collier open their Seagull Cycle Works at 17 Camp Street. Seagull Bicyles have been a popular Australian bicycle since the 1920s when William Leonard’s father started designing and building them in Williamstown. Later, William (known to all as Leonard) moves the business to 142 Station Street in Fairfield. A few years after re-establishing Seagull Cycles in Beechworth, Leonard and Nancy retire and the popular Beechworth shop will be taken over by one of the Collier’s sons, Peter and his wife Lauris and they will run the business until Peter’s death (at the age of 42) from cancer in 1998.

*David Collier at ‘Seagull Cycle Works’ in Beechworth in 1984 (photo Stephen Henderson)*

The shop at 17 Camp Street has been the home of many business over the years including ‘Paul’s Tea Merchants’, Joey Harper’s Shoe Shop and Graeme Smart’s taxi business, before becoming a bicycle shop established by Ebenezer ‘Eb’ Barnes.

1973 – Oct

The Rotary Club of Beechworth is chartered, with Jim Francis as the first president, followed by Charles Mason. The Rotary Club of Beechworth is a part of a worldwide organisation founded by Paul Harris, a Chicago attorney, who created the Rotary Club of Chicago on February 23^rd 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Rotary Clubs are non-political, non-religious, and open to all cultures, races and creeds. For more one than hundred years, ordinary people around the world have been giving to humanity through Rotary International.

1974

Tom O’Toole – along with his sister and brother-in-law Betty and Allan Friar – purchases Beechworth’s Ideal Café & Milk Bar on Camp Street (above) which they run for the next three years, turning into a very successful bakery. In 1977 they sell the business and Tom heads to Western Australia where he becomes a successful baker in Augusta … but Tom will return to Beechworth six years later! (see 1984 entry)

*An adverisement for Beechworth’s popular ‘Ideal Cafe’ from ‘The Ovens and Murray Advertiser’ – August 1953*

Dropping out of school at the age of 14, Tom O’Toole first comes to Beechworth as an apprentice baker at the age of 16. When he is 21-years-old, Tom purchases his first bakery in Yarrawonga … which is not a success.

1974

Jean and Gerry Horne and their sons Jamie and David establish the Beechworth Gallery at 8 Albert Road and it will trade in Beechworth for the next four decades. Constructed in 1857 as a ‘wine and spirit merchant and general store’ by Samuel Shaw and his brother, the historic building has been home to several businesses over the years including Robinson’s Store (below).

*A promotional sticker for the ‘Beechworth Galleries’*

1974

*Geoff Crossman (far left) playing with the ‘Beechworth Concert Band’* *at Mayday Hills.* *The conductor is John Green.*

After Herb Crossman heads towards retirement from the Beechworth Police – and from his leadership of the popular Beechworth Music Group – his son Geoff takes over the orchestra – founded by his parents in 1963 – renaming it the Beechworth Concert Band, along with changing their style of play and music list. With a membership of up to 40 local musicians at any given time, the Beechworth Concert Band play at events like the annual Golden Horseshoes Festival held over the Easter long weekend.

1974 – Jul

*“Little Canton” in the 1860s – home to Beechworth’s Chinese community and Joss Houses* *(photo: Burke Museum)*

The Beechworth Council proposes naming a street ‘Joss House Lane’ as it stands in the area that was once home to Beechworth’s Chinese community – dubbed ‘Little Canton” – and featured four ‘Joss Houses’ (Chinese Temples). When community objections to the name arise, Darryl Higgins – who lives opposite the end of the small street – suggests “China Street”, “Temple Street” or “Harvey Street” (after Burke Museum curator Roy Collington Harvey who had passed away in 1971). Of these suggestions, “Temple Street” is chosen and the name is applied to the street, which runs between Hodge Street and Lower Stanley Road near Lake Sambell.

1974

*The 1856-built ‘Bank of Australasia’ on Ford Street – serving Beechworth’s banking needs for 98 years.* *(photo courtesy: The University of Melbourne Archives)*

The ANZ Bank – which is formed in 1951 following the merger of the Bank of Australasia and the Union Bank of Australia – finally sells the building that houses the Beechworth branch of the Bank of Australasia, ending 98 years of occupancy. The historic 1856-built bank building at 86 Ford Street will go on to become Ross Parkinson’s Silversmith Gallery, followed by the first home of Beechworth’s Buckland Gallery in 1977, then the Australasian Tea-Rooms and Antiques Store, and then Wayne McLaughlin’s The Bank Restaurant & Mews in 1989. Since 2009 it has been the home of Michael Ryan’s award-winning Provenance Restaurant.

1974

*Beechworth Football Club star player – Beechworth Gaol inmate Kevin Rhodes*

The Beechworth Football Club – the ‘Bombers’ – win another premiership, this time beating reigning premiers North Wangaratta by 44 points in the Grand Final at Chiltern. One of the star players on the Beechworth team is Kevin Rhodes who is an inmate at Beechworth Gaol at the time, but is “let out” on game days to play with the Bombers!

*Kevin Rhodes will become a popular and respected man around Beechworth.*

When he completes his sentence at the Gaol, Rhodes stays on in Beechworth and becomes one of the Bombers most dependable players in what is a successful era for the club. They win another flag in 1979 (defeating Whorouly) and contest Grand Finals in 1975, 1976, 1978 and 1983.

1974 – Dec

The episode “Dying Deposition” of the popular Crawford Productions television series “Division 4” is filmed in and around the Beechworth Gaol. Written by Ned Kelly expert Ian Jones, and directed by John Barningham, “Dying Deposition” is episode #3 of the popular Channel Nine police drama series’ 7th and final season. The plot description is: “Two attempts on the life of a youth and the subsequent murder of his girlfriend force Det. Snr. Sgt. Vickers (Chuck Faulkner) into visiting Beechworth Gaol in an attempt to get some information from one of the inmates”.

*“Division 4” cast members Chuck Faulkner (Det. Snr. Sgt. Keith Vickers), Frank Smith (Sgt. Scotty McLeod) and Gerard Kennedy (Sen. Det. Sgt. Frank Banner)*

1974 – Dec 13

The Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Winneke (above) travels to Beechworth to officially open the Beechworth Youth Hostel, which is housed in the former 1864-built Star Hotel in the centre of town on Ford Street. The restoration work to the former hotel – purchased in 1972 by the National Trust – has cost around $50,000, with both the United Shire of Beechworth and the Youth Hostels Association making substantial contributions. The building is leased by the National Trust to the Youth Hostels Association.

1975

*Heather Sparks with some of her artwork (photo: Coral Cooksley, The Ovens and Murray Advertiser)*

Heather Sparks – who had been an art teacher at The Scots School in Albury – moves to Beechworth with her husband Max and establishes the Settlers Art Store which they will run for the next 22 years before selling the business in 1997. Returning to Beechworth a number of years later, Heather continues to paint and has exhibited some of her works – including paintings of Beechworth’s interesting old houses (below), the town, the Gorge, and Beechworth’s fascinating landscapes.

‘*Cottage at Allans Flat*‘ *by Heather Sparks, Oil on Canvas 100 x 75 cm.*

1975

*Warden’s Midland Counties Private Hotel in the 1960s*

After 106 years in business, Warden’s Hotel on Ford Street closes. The building – trading as Warden’s Midland Counties Private Hotel – will be purchased by Paul Conroy (Senior) who will run the former private hotel on the corner of Ford and Church Streets as accommodation for school camps, before it is taken over and refreshed by Paul Conroy Jnr in 1994.

1975 – Jul 2

Beechworth Primary School celebrates its Centenary, having officially opened as Beechworth State School on Friday July 2^nd 1875.

1975

Beechworth’s popular and dedicated GP, Dr Edmund Bryant ‘EB’ Collins purchases land – owned by members of the Vandenberg family – on the corner of Camp and Loch Streets (above) and builds the small Beechworth Surgery, directly across the road from his long-serving medical practice and residence. ‘EB’ Collins will soon be joined at the new surgery at 39 Camp Street by colleague Dr Cyrus James Sharpe. Initially with just one consulting room, additions and alterations will be made to enlarge the Beechworth Surgery over the coming years and others to join the surgery partnership include Dr Ross Jenner and Dr Richard Mark Smith. The Beechworth Surgery (below) remains the town’s central medical centre to this day.

1975

*New owner of ‘Murray Breweries’ – Ron Potter with members of staff*. *(Photo features James (Bill) Potter, Bruce Norman, Neil Perryman, Lorraine Beattie, Phyllis Kirkhan, Jeffery Lagoon, Fred Wyatt and Ron Potter.)*

The Murray Breweries is sold to Ron Potter who refurbishes the buildings and reopens the ‘Historic Murray Breweries Cellars’ to the public. Visitors can taste M.B’s range of drinks at the ‘Cedar Bar’ and view the impressive ‘Beer Label Collection’ (below) and ‘Soda Syphon Collection’. Ron, his wife Barbara and their sons Danny and twins Tom and Bill relocate from Bendigo to Beechworth and the family will operate Murray Breweries on Last Street for the next 14 years before selling the business in 1989.

*Part of the ‘Murray Breweries’ vast ‘Beer Label Collection’ on display to the public*

*A range of ‘Murray Breweries’ cordials*

*The ‘Billson’s Brewery’ building on Last Street with the distinctive ‘M-B’ (Murray Breweries) logos on the exterior.* *Billson’s had been renamed ‘Murray Breweries’ by Albert Michael Zwar in August 1915.*

*A rare souvenir patch for the *‘Historic Murray Breweries Cellars’* in Beechworth*

1975

A gem fossicker from Wangaratta uncovers a ‘Yellow Sapphire’ (also known as a ‘Golden Sapphire’) in Reid’s Creek at Beechworth. Once it is cut and polished, it weighs five carats and is valued at $2,000!

To Beechworth’s early goldminers, gemstones are a nuisance, getting in the way of their ultimate goal of gold. But, with the introduction of electronic metal detectors – and the renewed interest of determined gem fossickers – a number of discoveries are made around the former gold mining areas in Beechworth, the Woolshed and El Dorado. Among those found are rock crystals, agates, sapphires and rubies.

1975

*Beechworths gains a 2nd motel – the ‘Golden Heritage Motor Inn’*

The Golden Heritage Motel opens at 51 Sydney Road, 1.5 km from the centre of Beechworth. Featuring an ‘Executive King Suite’, an ‘Executive King Twin Suite’, a ‘Deluxe Queen Twin Room’ and ‘Deluxe Queen Rooms’, it will be in direct opposition with Beechworth’s only other motel – almost directly across the road – the Beechworth Motor Inn which opened in 1968. The Golden Heritage Motel will later add separate self-contained ‘Spa Cottages’ and change its name to Golden Heritage Accommodation (below).

1975 – Aug 31

On the former site of the Beechworth Gas Works at 1A Harper Avenue, Beechworth’s Senior Citizens Club building is officially opened by Lions Club Charter Member, 50-year-old Ian Desmond McGuffie. Built with the assistance of The United Shire of Beechworth, the Beechworth Lions Club and inmates from the Beechworth Training Prison, the club rooms will be further extended during 1992, with the extension officially opened on February 24, 1993.

Four years after the ‘Senior Citizen’s Club’ is opened, the ‘Beechworth Senior Citizen’s Croquet Club’ will be initiated on vacant land two doors along from the ‘Senior Citizen’s Club’ building on Harper Avenue.

1975 – Nov-Dec

*Jack Thompson as Detective William Henry Manwaring in front of Beechworth’s distinctive granite walls.*

*Daniel ‘Mad Dog’ Morgan on trial, filmed inside the old Beechworth Courthouse*

Filming takes place in and around Beechworth for the Australian feature film “Mad Dog Morgan”. Starring Oscar-nominated American actor Dennis Hopper as bushranger Daniel Morgan along with Jack Thompson, Frank Thring, David Gulpilil, Bill Hunter and many others, locations used for the film include the Woolshed Falls, the old Stone Police Lock-Up on the Police Reserve, Ingram’s Rock, the Gunpowder Magazine and the 1858-built Beechworth Courthouse. The conclusion of the film – the shooting of Daniel ‘Mad Dog’ Morgan – is done at Peechelba Station, 45 km from Beechworth, where Morgan bailed up the MacPherson family at their Peechelba Homestead on the evening of April 8th 1865, before being shot dead the following morning.

*Stuntman Grant Page’s famous ‘fire fall’ from the top of the Woolshed Falls in ‘Mad Dog Morgan’* – see the stunt at **www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXRU4pJd5Io**

1976

Australia has begun a major growth in the spread of ‘motels’ and ‘motor inns’ in country towns (to compete with ageing country hotels) and the quick expansion will last from 1975 to 1985. Beechworth follows the trend and gets its third motel when the Carriage Motor Inn opens for business close to the centre of town at 44 Camp Street, right opposite the once thriving 1859-built London Tavern hotel (which is now closed and rather dilapidated). With 27 rooms – including an ‘Executive Twin Room’, a ‘Family Suite’ and standard ‘Queen Rooms’ – plus a swimming pool, the Carriage Motor Inn follows the opening of the Beechworth Motor Inn (1968) and the Golden Heritage Motel (1975), both located on Sydney Road almost opposite each other.

The ‘Carriage Motor Inn’ is built on the large corner block that for many years had served as Beechworth’s wood yard. The ‘Carriage Motor Inn’ soon takes over adjoining shops next door – formerly the ‘Taylor & Skidmore” Grocery, Bakery and Sweet Shop – and convert them into the motel’s restaurant and breakfast room (below).

1976

Solicitor Graeme J. Bailey joins David McKenzie-McHarg O.B.E. at his legal practice at 22 Camp Street, with the firm renamed McKenzie-McHarg & Bailey Solicitors. The historic building has been operating continuously as a Solicitor’s Office since 1861.

1976

*The Psychiatrist Superintendent’s Residence as demolition begins, to make way for the new ‘Kerferd Clinic’ (photo: Don Hayes)*

The 1907-built Psychiatrist Superintendent’s Residence at the Mayday Hills Asylum is demolished to make way for a new building – the Kerferd Clinic. Standing at 22 Oak Avenue on the Asylum grounds, it will function as a psychiatric treatment centre. The 1976 Kerferd Clinic building later houses the George Kerferd Hotel (below) before becoming the Grand Oaks Resort in 2023.

*The former ‘Kerferd Clinic’ building later becomes the ‘George Kerferd Hotel’.*

1976

Wal Larsen releases his book ‘The Mayday Hills Railway’. The 75-page paperback book details the history of the Victorian Railway’s branch line from Wangaratta to Beechworth and Yackandandah. Larsen will follow this with the books ‘The Ovens Valley Railway’ (1983), ‘Change Here’ (1985) and ‘Watching Trains’ (1987).

1976 – Dec 30

*T Class Locomotive No. 333 Goods Train towards Beechworth – 4th September 1973*.

After rail traffic between Wangaratta and Beechworth is reduced to just two trains a day in the mid-70s, the Victorian Government undertakes a program of regional branch line closures across the state. The Beechworth branch line is officially closed at the end of 1976, however one last train trip – an enthusiasts’ special – runs on January 3^rd, 1977 (pictured below).

*Michael Elkins, one the last Station Masters at* *Beechworth Railway Station*

*The final ‘Enthusiasts Special’ train departs Beechworth Railway Station on January 3^rd, 1977* *(photo: *Geelong & South Western Rail Heritage Society* Collection)*

The ‘Railway Enthusiasts Association’ organise a ‘special’ train to mark the closure of the line. The final rail trip runs from Everton to Beechworth and then back to Everton, where the enthusiasts hold a final ceremony and celebration. After 101 years of service, the rails are almost immediately pulled up after the special train clears the points at Beechworth.

1977 – Jan 29

In the midst of six-month long drought, in a blistering summer, a series of bushfires break out around Beechworth, destroying over 1,000 hectares of land. 40 fire units arrive from around the district to fight the fires, along with personnel from the Forestry Commission and inmates from the Beechworth Training Prison. Fortunately, the fires do not result in any loss of life or serious destruction of homes or major buildings.

1977 – Jan

A Public Swimming Pool for Beechworth! After first being proposed by the Beechworth and District Progress Association and its President Roy Collington in 1953, construction finally begins on a heated ‘half-size’ Olympic Swimming Pool at the Wallace Park Reserve. The work is carried out by members of the Beechworth Community, members of the combined Beechworth Social Clubs and inmates from the Beechworth Training Prison. It will be completed by the beginning of December 1978.

1977

*The 1856-built ‘Bank of Australasia’ on Ford Street*

Susan and Allan Fox open the Buckland Gallery at the old 1856-built Bank of Australasia at 86 Ford Street. A destination for art and craft connoisseurs, the gallery sits in the grand building which features 6 metre ceilings, ornate rosettes, arched windows, and a large bank vault, built with thick granite blocks. Susan and Allan Fox have taken over the former bank building from Ross Parkinson who has been running his silversmith business from the historic property.

When the ‘Buckland Gallery’ moves to 31 Ford Street in 1983, the historic building is converted to the ‘Australasian Tea-Rooms and Antiques Store’, followed by Wayne McLaughlin’s The Bank Restaurant & Mews’ in 1989. Since 2009 it has been the home of the ‘Provenance Restaurant’ (above).

1977

*The newly completed ‘Rosa Vardon Library’ at Beechworth High Schoo*l *(image from the book* *‘Echoes of History: Beechworth 1853-2003’)*

A Library is completed at Beechworth High School. The Rosa Vardon Library (above) is named in honour of popular teacher Rosa Vardon who will go on to become Principal of the school from 1993 to 1999. Beechworth High School will officially be renamed Beechworth Secondary College in 1986.

*The building as it looks in the 2000s – now known as ‘The Hub’*

1977 – Jun 22

After more than 20 years of negotiations, Australia’s Methodist Congregational and (the majority of) Presbyterian churches merge, and the ‘Uniting Church of Australia’ is officially formed as a national body. The now united congregations of Beechworth’s Methodist and Congregational Churches agree to meet at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church – a Uniting Church- at 115 Ford Street, on the corner of Ford and Williams Streets. With the closure of these two Beechworth churches, the Beechworth Shire Council will eventually purchase the two disused and now empty churches.

*Beechworth’s new ‘Uniting Church’* – *St Andrew Presbyterian Church (built in 1857)*

1977 – Jul 9

*Fire at St. Joseph’s Church. The Parish Priest is Father Leo Lane*.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church is badly damaged in a Saturday morning fire, with the Lady Chapel being the worst affected. Father Leo Lane temporarily moves his church services to the Anglican Christ Church next door. An appeal is quickly launched, and restoration work begins. St. Joseph’s finally re-opens on 19 November 1978 and is blessed by Bishop Bernard Stewart from Bendigo.

*Father Leo Lane salvages the ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Succour’ painting – the only item undamged in the ‘Lady Chapel’ after the fire at St. Joseph’s Church.*

Around the same time, a separate fire also causes damage at the Beechworth Training Prison, but the repairs to fire damage will lead to several improvements.

1977

With almost 40 years experience in the ‘shoe trade’, Jim and Veronica Matassoni (above) establish their Matassoni Footwear shop at 20 Camp Street. They will run the popular shop for almost two decades and, when they decide to retire in 1995, Elaine Stevens (one of their longtime employees) takes over the business and, in partnership with her husband Rob, begins trading as ‘Elaine & Rob’s Beechworth Shoes’.

The shopfront at 20 Camp Street is unusual in that – unlike nearly all of Beechworth’s other shopfronts – it features a modern glass front. This came about when previous owners John Maher and David McCarg replaced the original, traditional wooden framed windows with the modern look when the shop was being run as a pharmacy. John Maher later sells the pharmacy to Gwynn Morris who, after a short time, moves to new premises on Ford Street, leaving the shop at 20 Camp Street empty for 18 months.

1977

*The Administration Building at May Day Hills with rose bushes as it looks in 1980*

Beechworth’s Mayday Hills Mental Hospital is proclaimed under the ‘Mental Health Act 1959’ and the Kerferd Clinic – for the short-term psychiatric care of distressed people – will be added the following year at the same time as the hospital is renamed the Mayday Hills Psychiatric Hospital. However, by the late 1980s and early 1990s the development of other residential options – day placements, education, employment, and recreational opportunities – mean the Asylum now has fewer clients/patients. By 1992, all intellectual disability patients have been removed from the Asylum and placed in other forms of accommodation, and by 1993 the Mayday Hills Psychiatric Hospital has a capacity for 130 beds, with only 20 available of acute adult patients and more than 70 geriatric patients.

At its peak 100 years earlier, the Beechworth Lunatic Asylum had been home to over 1,500 patients and 750 staff.

1978

*69 Ford Street as it looks in 2024 – ‘White Star Dry Cleaners’ stood where ‘Beechworth Pizza’ operates today.*

Douglas Brockfield takes over the long-running White Star Dry Cleaners shop at 69 Ford Street from Betty Hornsey (nee Borschman). The business had been established by Jimmy and Grace Wells.

1978 – Jun 13

Michael ‘Micky’ Isaac Freeman passes away aged 83. Born Michael Friejman in Poland in 1894, Freeman made a big impact on Beechworth after establishing his original Freeman’s Bargain Draper store on Ford Street in 1938. Over the years the Freeman’s Store (below) becomes one of Beechworth’s biggest and most reliable retail shops.

*Micky Freeman’s large retail store* *on Ford Street, with the State Electricity Commission of Victoria’s shop next door on the right (image from the book* *‘Echoes of History: Beechworth 1853-2003’)*

1978

Designed for the short-term psychiatric care of distressed people from North-East Victoria, and at a cost of over $1 million, the Kerferd Clinic becomes part of the newly renamed Mayday Hills Psychiatric Hospital.

1978

Anthony McNeil purchases the building at 55 Ford Street which has been operating as a café. He converts the ground floor of the two-storey building – built in 1865 as Gammon’s Medical Hall – into the Beechworth Laundromatt (above).

*The building at 55 Ford Street in 1897 when William Johnston Bowen is running his Chemist Store from the former ‘Gammon’s Medical Hall’*

1978

With the encouragement of John Brown Jr of Brown Brothers, Pete and Di Smith establish a new 3.3 hectare vineyard in Beechworth, planting Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Smiths Beechworth Winery and Vineyard is at 27 Croom Lane, off Diffey Road.

In 2003 the winery and vineyard is taken over by their daughter Sarah and her husband Will Flamsteed. Will and Sarah make their first Beechworth Shiraz in 2006, while their Heathcote Shiraz is a response to the smoke taint and frost damage of 2007. Smith’s
Vineyard will be acclaimed for its chardonnay as well as cabernet, merlot and shiraz. The vineyard is predominantly chardonnay (1.8ha), with some cabernet sauvignon (1ha) and merlot (0.5ha), which make the estate wines.

1978

*Cover of the well researched 580-page book by Beechworth’s Catholic Priest, Father Leo Lane*

56-year-old Father Leo Lane – Parish Priest of Beechworth’s St. Joseph’s Church – releases the book ‘The History of the Parish of Beechworth 1854-1978’. Published by the Parish of Beechworth, the 580-page hardcover book details the story of the Catholic church’s background on the Ovens Goldfields and delves into the history of Beechworth, as well as genealogical material and numerous photographs and reproductions of historic documents.

*Father Patrick Leo Lane (born in 1922 – died in 2016)*

Born on a farm at the small settlement of Yangery near Warrnambool in 1922, Patrick Leo Lane is ordained to the Priesthood at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Ballarat in 1948. He will be sent to Bendigo to serve as Assistant Priest, followed by Shepparton, Wangaratta, Numurkah, Cohuna, Elmore, Euroa, Yarrawonga and Beechworth. In February 1966 he is appointed Parish Priest of Corryong. Seven years later he will return to Beechworth when he is appointed Parish Priest of St. Josephs Church in February 1972. With a keen interest in history, Father Lanes dedicates himself to researching the history of each parish in which he serves, leading him to write his history of the Parish of Beechworth, which contains many details not found anywhere else. He will move to Rushworth in June 1979, followed by Chiltern in 1982 and then his last parochial appointment to Pyramid Hill in January 1986. Upon his retirement Father Lane lives at ‘St Catherine’s Home’ in Wangaratta and then privately in Wangaratta before returning to his home territory of Warrnambool in 2006 to be amongst his family and friends.

1978 – Dec 2

At a final cost of $160,000, the Beechworth Public Swimming Pool is completed and officially opened by Brian Dixon M.P. the Victorian Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation in the Wallace Park Reserve.

1978 – Dec 17

The Chapel of the Resurrection is officially dedicated at the Mayday Hills Asylum. The building had originally been built as the Asylum’s Morgue! (below)

*The interior of the Chapel today, a popular place to hold small weddings.*

*The building in its original form as the Morgue, before being restored and adapted into the ‘Chapel of the Resurrection’.*

1979

*A range of John Harvey’s detailed* *‘Brigadier’* *toy soldiers*.

After purchasing centrifugal casting machinery, schoolteacher John Harvey and his business partner Marshall Clark begin making their ‘Brigadier’ range of 54mm traditional military figures and toy soldiers (above) in Wagga Wagga. John will eventually buy out his partner and move into making the soldiers and other metal castings full-time. His wife, Maria, joins the business in 1988 and then John and Maria move to Beechworth, opening their ‘Brigadier’ shop on Camp Street in 1991. By May 1994 their ‘Brigadier’ toy soldier range has grown to include at least 83 individual military figures and 20 boxed sets, each of which contains five figures.

*The 1984-5 catalogue of the ‘Brigadier’ toy soldier range.*

American-born John Harvey has a life-long involvement in pipe bands (as a drummer and drum major). For several years he makes badges, buckles and buttons for Australian civilian and military bands, including a lot of work for the pipe bands of the Australian Army at the time of the Bicentennial Tattoo in 1988.

1979

*The ‘WAW Credit Union Co-Operative Ltd*‘ building at 19 Camp Street *as it looks in 2022. Under a range of different names, the credit union has been serving North East Victoiria since 1956*, *hence the sign at the top of the building says ‘established 1956’)*

Having been operating at a shop on Ford Street, the new purpose-built Beechworth and Ovens Credit Union Co-Operative Ltd is completed at a cost of $250.000 and opened at 19 Camp Street (above).

‘Beechworth Credit Co-Operative Ltd‘ is founded in October 1971 for the male nurses and domestic staff at the ‘Mayday Hills Hospital‘. On July 1^st 1998 the ‘Beechworth and Ovens Credit Union Co-Operative Ltd’ will become part of the ‘WAW Credit Union Co-Operative Ltd’. In March 2022 the ‘WAW Credit Union Co-Operative Ltd’ rebrands as ‘Bank WAW’. W.A.W stands for Wangaratta, Albury and Wodonga.

1979

*The ‘Beechworth Singers’ leader for many years – David Carolane in 2014 upon his retirement aged 84 (photo: Tara Goonan)*

The Beechworth Singers is established by Father John Stockdale of Beechworth’s St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, with the reins soon handed over to Ian Hyndman (below) who will direct the Beechworth Singers for the next few years before Albury pharmacist David Carolane (above) takes over the baton. Carolane – who will receive an Order of Australia Medal for his service to music (particularly choral music) – leads many choirs in the district over the years, including the Murray Conservatorium Vocal Consort, Murray Conservatorium Choir, the Wangaratta Choristers, the choir of St Matthew’s in Albury, as well as establishing the Tudor Choristers (in 1962) and Three Choirs Festival Australia. The Beechworth Singers continue to perform concerts and recitals to this day.

*Beechworth’s Ian Hyndman, the second director of ‘The Beechworth Singers’*

David Carolane OAM dies peacefully at home on Friday 28 January 2022 at the age of 91.

1979 – May 1

*A view of the Burke Museum’s ‘Street of Shops’*

Rupert ‘Dick’ Hamer, the Premier of Victoria, arrives in Beechworth to officially open the “Street of Shops”, a new permanent exhibit at the rear of the Burke Museum that has been funded by over $300,00 in grants from the State and Federal Governments. The vision and creation of late curator Roy Collington Harvey, the 16 recreated shopfronts and the authentic products and artifacts displayed in their windows, many donated by the Beechworth community, “reflect another period in museology”. It continues to be one of the most popular attractions for visitors to the museum.

*Some of the 16 shopfronts in the ‘Street of Shops’ exhibit.*

*Roy Harvey with his youngest daughter Nola on her wedding day – January 9 1971 at Beechworth’s Christ Church*

Curator Roy Collington Harvey passes away in 1971, never getting to see the completion of his “Street of Shops” concept. A true lover of Beechworth’s history, Harvey had complied the book ‘Background to Beechworth from 1852‘ for the celebration of 100 years of European settlement in Beechworth in 1952. The book has since been reprinted numerous times.

1979

*The* *former* ‘*Brigidine Convent of Mt St. Joseph’* *becomes ‘Th*e *Old Priory Guest House’*

Having been run since 1887 as a convent, girls’ boarding and day school, and later as the co-educational Delaney College secondary school, the Brigidine Convent of Mt St Joseph at 8 Priory Lane closes in 1978 and is now renamed The Old Priory and begins operating as a guest house and reception centre.

1979

*One of ‘Taylor’s Transport’ trucks at the Diffey Road depot (photo: Shaun Taylor)*

Starting with one truck, Evan Russell Taylor establishes Taylor’s Transport at 5 Loch Street. As the business expands and he adds to his fleet of trucks, in 1989 Taylor will move his trucking company depot to a large area at 1617 Diffey Road. At the same site he will later add additional businesses – Beechworth Concrete and Beechworth Sand & Soil, supplying the town with gravels, rocks, stones, pebbles and soils.

*The ‘Taylors Transport’ and ‘Beechworth Sand & Soil’ depot at 1617 Diffey Road*

1979

The original ‘Beechworth Theatre Group‘ plaque that sits above the stage at the Beechworth Servicemen’s Memorial Hall on Ford Street

The Beechworth Theatre Group is established. In 1984 it will be incorporated and become known as the Beechworth Theatre Company. The amateur ‘BTC’ will put on a number of productions over the next two decades but support will eventually dwindle and the company ceases operations in 1991 (before a ‘re-birth’ in November 1996 – see entry further below).

The first ‘Beechworth Dramatic Society’ is founded in May 1866 with their inaugural production being John Maddison Morton’s “All That Glitters is Not Gold” followed by the one-act farce “Ici on Parle Français, or Lodgings to Let” by Thomas John Williams. It is staged at the ‘Star Theatre’ on Ford Street on Thursday June 28th with all funds raised donated to the ‘Ovens District Hospital’.

1979

*Valerie Mason (left) Beechworth’s first female Shire President.*

Valerie (Val) Mason becomes the first female President of the United Shire of Beechworth and will serve two terms in the position. A local sheep farmer and businesswoman, Val became concerned with improving infrastructure and developing economic opportunities in the region and stood for local council, winning her seat of South Riding in the United Shire of Beechworth, becoming one of the first women to broach the traditionally all-male Beechworth Council Chambers. She will serve as a councillor for nine years before being elected President.

With her husband, Charles Mason, Valerie developed and manages the Big Valley farm estate at Everton and is instrumental in introducing a ‘paddock to plate’ philosophy and business model, opening a butcher shop on the farm in 1973. Val is a member of the local Business and Professional Women’s Club for 37 years.

Alan J. Dunlop (older brother of Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop) presents Shire President Valerie Mason with a 2.86-gram solid gold nugget found in the Beechworth area more than 100 years ago. (photo taken on May 14th 1979)

1979 – Jun 3

*Official opening of the Beechworth Ambulance Station at 73 Finch Street.*

The new Beechworth Ambulance Station is officially opened by Dr John F. Wiseman, Chief Medical Officer (Hospitals Division) of the Health Commission of Victoria. Standing on the corner of Finch and Fredrick Streets, its official title is North Eastern Ambulance Service – Beechworth Branch.

The ‘Victorian Civil Ambulance Service’ (VCAS) is established in 1916 after ‘St John Ambulance’ separates its roles. The VCAS relies on public donations and municipal councils for funding, as the state government does not provide financial support like it does for police and fire services.The Victorian Civil Ambulance Service (VCAS) is now known as Ambulance Victoria (AV).

*The Beechworth ‘Dodge’ ambulance outside the ‘*Victorian Civil Ambulance Service*‘ headquarters on Lonsdale Street in Melbourne in 1935 (photo: Michael Taylor)*

1979

‘*Warner’s Hardware Store’ (orange verandah at left) on Camp Street in the 1970s*

After 24 years running Warner’s Hardware Store at 24 Camp Street (in the 1870 building that began as The Post Office Hotel), 58-year-old Ernie Warner retires following the sudden death of his wife Eileen and sells the business to John and Margaret Brunken. Under the Brunken’s ownership, the large store will continue to trade, initially as ‘Beechworth Hardware’, before reverting to its original name – ‘Ovens Hardware’ – in 1983. It will finally close in early 1991 and the Beechworth Emporium will then establish itself in the former hotel building in September 1991 and still trades at 24 Camp Street today.

*Ernest Wellington Warner’s Hardware Store, two doors down from the Post Office (photo from 1964)*

In 1992, Jim McCormack will construct a new hardware store on land at 4-6 Camp Street. The ‘True Value Hardware’ store will be operated by Simon Turnbull. It remains Beechworth’s central hardware, timber and garden centre today.

1979 – Nov 18

After attending, as guests, a meeting of the North Eastern District Croquet Association (NEDCA) earlier in the year, the Beechworth Senior Citizen’s Croquet Club is officially formed, with Marjorie Fagan as President and 17 foundation members. Annual Membership Fee is 50c, with a Green Fee of 30c. The new club’s first social opening will be held on January 20^th 1980 on a newly created green on former railway land (leased to the local Council) two doors down from the Beechworth Senior Citizen’s Club building on Harper Avenue and across the road from the recently opened Beechworth Swimming Pool.

The former railway land is leased to the new club for a period of 45 years for a yearly rental of around $120 for the first 3 years. The croquet club will use the rear of the Senior Citizen’s building as their clubhouse.

1980

*All aboard ‘The Golden Pioneer Railway’ at the ‘Beechworth Caravan Park’ in the 1970s (photo: Sue Humphris).*

Although The Golden Pioneer Railway line around the Beechworth Caravan Park at Lake Sambell has been maintained for a number of years by Beechworth’s Apex Club, the railway’s little imitation steam locomotive – the WM Meldrum (built in the 1960s by Don Hayes and Rex Norman) – becomes less reliable and, as the railway’s mainstays – Don Hayes, Rex Norman, Ernie Hawking and Billy Rogers – become less available, the tourist attraction eventually runs out of steam and sadly closes.

After the railway tracks are dismantled, they are stacked in a corner of the Beechworth Council Depot at the south end of town. The whereabouts the little engine ‘WM Meldrum’ and the trucks (open air carriages) are unknown. Holiday cabins now occupy the land at the ‘Beechworth Caravan Park’ where the little railway station once stood (see below).

*The west end of ‘The Golden Pioneer Railway’ featuring the little station platform and signals. (photo: Mike McCarthy)*

1980 – Apr 25

The Beechworth Historic Park is declared a State Park, with the boundary redefined. This redefinition is part of the National Parks (Amendment) Bill in Victoria. Covering much of the public land around the townsship, the 1,130 hecatre Beechworth Historic Park features interpretive walks, old mine sites and native flora and fauna including wombats and koalas. Featured walking tracks include the 5km Gorge Scenic Walk (or drive) which provides wonderful views of waterfalls and cascades through the rugged countryside west of the town. Other walking tracks within the park are tracks that connect Lake Sambell to Lake Kerferd (above), and a network of tracks link points of interest in the Gorge area including Ingram’s Rock, One Tree Hill , Fiddes Quarry (below), the Precipice and the Woolshed Falls.

1980 – Oct

*Wangaratta’s ‘Orana Cinema’ as it looks in 1970 just after it is purchsed by ‘Village Cinemas’ (image courtesy Cinema Record)*

33km from Beechworth, the Orana Cinema in Wangaratta closes after 31 year of screening films. Opened at 21 Reid Street in September 1949, the movie house featured 1,308 seats. (The word ‘Orana’ means ‘Welcome’ in a number of Aboriginal languages). After closing, the cinema interior is gutted and converted into the Skatescene skating rink, followed by an indoor cricket pavilion from 1984. In 2010, the interior of the art-deco cinema is converted into an arcade with shops and offices and renamed Strand Arcade (below).

The interior of Wangaratta’s ‘Orana Cinema’ just before it closes – with a special ‘Ladies Luncheon’ and final film screening – in October 1980 (photo: John Medlin from ‘Lost Wangaratta’)

*The ‘Orana Cinema’ on Reid Street, Wangaratta as it looks today … as ‘The Strand Arcade’*

1980 – Dec

*The Gallery at the ‘Out of Town Nursery*‘

Tina Fraser and Gavin Doherty purchase 22 acres of land 15km from Beechworth at 980 Beechworth-Chiltern Road on which stands a simple relocated army hut, with no plumbing or electricity. The property looks out to a wooded escarpment of rock formations and rock shelters and is within walking distance of the famous ‘Yeddonba Rock Paintings’. Over the next 10 years Tina and Gavin renovate, add and extend the old army building, turning it into a lovely home. Surrounded by the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park (between Beechworth and Chiltern), they begin to plant and develop 5-acres of land around the house into a beautiful and lush garden, which quickly attracts lots of birdlife. In 1990 Tina and Gavin will open their property to the public as the Out of Town Nursery and Humming Garden.

*Tina* *Fraser surrounded by Red-Browed Finches* *at the ‘Humming Garden’*

The location of the garden is at Gidley’s Gap, where ‘The Gap Inn’ once stood. Run by Thomas and Winifred Gidley, ‘The Gap Inn’ (which was burnt down three times with some loss of life) had a rather shady past (and was often referred to by locals as ‘Inn of the Forty Thieves’!) as Gidley was an infamous cattle rustler and was well known to the Ned Kelly gang. Both Thomas Gidley and Ned Kelly spent time in Beechworth Gaol and in 1873 Gidley was sentenced to two years hard labour for perjury.

1981

The population of Beechworth is recorded as 3,154. Over 900 are employed in Beechworth as follows – the Beechworth Gaol (H.M. Prison Beechworth) employs 30 full-time staff to supervise over 100 prisoners; the Forests Commission and the local forestry industry employs 39 workers; The Ovens District Hospital employs 18 full-time and 12 part-time staff to care for (an average of) 17 patients at a time; the Ovens and Murray Hospital for the Aged has 183 full-time and 124 part-time staff for (a daily average of) 134 patients; and the Mayday Hills Mental Hospital has just over 500 patients cared for for by 525 employees of whom 284 are nursing staff.

The Beechworth District Office of ‘Forests Commission Victoria’ is one of the many important Beechworth employers.

1981

*One of the many old buildings on the ‘Golden Ball’ property*

Paul McLaurin purchases 53 acres of the Golden Ball property – established by Isaac Phillips in 1857 – at 1175 Beechworth-Wangaratta Road, Everton Upper. Located beside Hodgson’s Creek, it was the home of Isaac’s famous Golden Ball Hotel. A few metres away stands the Golden Ball Bridge, named in honour of the property and the hotel.

1981 – Mar

After being established at the end of 1979, the Beechworth Senior Citizen’s Croquet Club on Harper Avenue now acquires a large lawn mower (with a generous donation from the Lions Club of Beechworth) and electric lights are installed on pylons that have been made and donated by inmates from the Beechworth Reformatory Prison. Two new sets of balls are donated by the recently closed Echuca Croquet Club.

In 1982 a second plot of former railway land will be leased to the croquet club allowing them to establish a second green. The two greens become casually known as the ‘Top’ (on Railway Avenue) and the ‘Bottom’ (on Harper Avenue). In 1986 the second croquet green – on Railway Avenue – will be be officially named for, and opened by, Marjorie Fagan, the club’s 1979 founder and first president. Marjorie will pass away at the age of 91 on January 28th 1996.

1982

The former Brigidine Convent & Boarding School at 8 Priory Lane – which had been converted into The Old Priory Guest House in 1979 – is sold to Terry and Wendy Barnett who convert it into an environmental, educational and conference centre, specialising in school camps.

1982

*Rick Kinzbrunner at his Giaconda Vineyard and Winery (photo: Jason Lowe)*

After purchasing land in 1980 on McClay Road at Everton Upper – 13 km from Beechworth between Everton Hills and Beechworth – Rick Kinzbrunner begins planting Cabernet and Chardonnay vines and creates the Giaconda Vineyard and Winery. By 1985 he has produced his first vintage. Rick had previously spent four years under Warren Winiarski at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in California’s Napa Valley and had also made wine in Sonoma, Bordeaux and New Zealand before returning to Australia in 1980 to take up a position as assistant winemaker at Brown Brothers in Milawa.

1982

Beechworth Gaol is registered as a ‘heritage place’.

1982

Elizabeth and Stephen Newton Morris establish the Pennyweight Winery just south of Beechworth at 13 Pennyweight Lane. They will produce a range of solely estate grown table and fortified wines including apera (sherry). Pennyweight is named after the rich Pennyweight Flat gold field discovered in 1852, which the winery overlooks.

*‘Fairfield House’ at Brown’s Plains, home of George Francis Morris.*

Stephen’s great-grandfather George Francis Morris is a successful baker and general merchant in Camp Street, Beechworth (as well as Woolshed and Sebastopol Flat). By the age of 25, having made his fortune, George purchases property at Brown’s Plains just east of Rutherglen in 1859 and builds a beautiful home named ‘Fairfield House’ after the suburb in Liverpool, England where he had studied. By 1860 he has established the Morris name in the wine industry. His son Charles Hughes Morris establishes ‘Morris Wines’ at ‘Mia Mia’ vineyard in Rutherglen at the turn of the century and his son Frederick Hughes Morris is a partner in ‘Morris Wines’ at ‘Mia Mia’ until the winery is sold in 1969.

1982 – Oct

‘Beechworth Music Group’ Chairman Geoff Crossman (left) accepts the generous $2,000 cheque from Eric Borschmann of the ‘Beechworth Town Band’, in the presence of Fred Davenport and Alec Webster

The End of an Era – Five of the remaining members of the Beechworth Town Band hand over a cheque to the Beechworth Music Group’s Concert Band, marking the official end of the Beechworth Town Band after over 100 years. The $2,000 payment is made up of the remaining funds in the old band’s account and they are entertained during the ceremony by the new Concert Band in fine style. Held in the Bandroom upstairs at Herb and Joan Crossman’s Rock Cavern, the new band plays a wide variety of music, including one of the Beechworth Town Band’s old favourites, the ‘Colonel Bogey March’.

*The ‘Beechworth Town Band’ in 1939 – Bill Pritchard (centre) with Eric Borschmann on his right and Allan Borschmann on his left* *(image courtesy Mark A. Webster)*

1982

*Beechworth Police Station on Ford Street (from the book ‘An Australian Country Town And Its Past’ by Tom Griffiths)*

Beechworth’s Police Station is still housed in the 1858-built former ‘Gold Office and Sub-Treasury’ building on Ford Street, where it has been the centre of the town’s police force for almost 100 years. A new and modern Beechworth Police Station will not be constructed and opened until 1997.

*Sgt Bob Weir-Smith and Snr Cnst Bob McWaters in 1982 at the entrance to the 124 year old building that is home to the Beechworth Police Station (photo: Sharryn Ryan)*

1983

The Beechworth Concert Band, under the direction of conductor John Green (who has taken over from Bob Charlton), continues to perform in Beechworth and beyond, participating in the innovative ‘Band Spectacular’ at the Wangaratta Town Hall on the last day of July.

The ‘Concert Band’ is part of the ‘Beechworth Music Group’ founded by Herb and Joan Crossman in 1963. From the early 1970s until the mid 1990s band members practice every Monday evening in an upstairs ‘music room’ at the Crossman’s ‘Rock Cavern’ building on the corner of Ford and Camp Street.

1983

Razor wire is added all around the outer walls of Beechworth Gaol to discourage and minimise escape.

1983

Susan and Allan Fox move their Buckland Gallery from 86 Ford Street to its new home at 31 Ford Street. Sitting on the prime corner position of Ford and Church Streets, it had been constructed a few years earlier by Alan Mountney, an experienced woodturner who had opened his own small gallery on the premises.

*A souvenir patch of Beechworth’s ‘Buckland Gallery’*

1983

*Graeme Smart hands over the keys to his Subaru – and his successful ‘Beechworth Security Express’ business – to Neil Breen.*

Graeme Smart establishes Beechworth Security Express to meet the daily flights at Wangaratta Airport and collect overnight bank data and posts. Sub-contracted to Mayne Nickless, Graeme will transport the information from the head offices of the various banks in Melbourne, every day, to Beechworth, Chiltern and Yackandandah. He will eventually sell the business to Neil Breen (above) and the company – which grows and expands – still operates today, as Breen’s Courier Service, now managed by Trevor Dighton.

1983 – Aug 14

Respected filmmaker Alexander Roy ‘Dick’ Harwood dies in Beechworth at the age of 85. One of Australia’s pioneer film exhibitors, producers and directors (as A.R. Harwood), he introduced “talkies” to the nation, including “The Man Who Forgot” (1927), “Isle of Intrigue” and “Spur of the Moment” (both released in 1931) filmed in and around Melbourne. He is buried in the Beechworth Cemetery (below).

1983

The National Trust declares the entire Beechworth township an ‘Urban Conservation Area’.

1983

The Beechworth Arts Council commissions a large pictorial tapestry of ‘early scenes and buildings of Beechworth’ with funds raised by the community and from state and federal government grants and private donors. Designed by Leonie Bessant from the Victorian Tapestry Workshop, it is woven in wool and produced sideways on a loom.

Completed for Australia’s Bicentennial celebrations of European settlement, the tapestry is officially unveiled on December 2, 1988, by the project’s patron, ABC-TV presenter Bill Peach and now hangs as a feature in the Beechworth Town Hall.

1983

Following a request from local parish priest Father John Peregrine Stockdale, four new Brigidine nuns arrive in Beechworth and re-establish a convent and ‘House of Prayer’ in Ford Street.

1984

*The empty and unused Engine Shed and Turntable (in foreground) at the Beechworth Railway Statio*n.

After being closed for 8 years, the Beechworth Railway Station and its assorted buildings are falling into disrepair. There is lots of talk about what should be done with the once popular and bustling site, but nothing eventuates. Eventually, the large Engine Shed, the turntable and the top part of the heavy steel crane will be removed.

Tom Murray stands in front of Beechworth Railway Station’s unusually small steel crane used to load heavy objects onto the trains. It is quite different from the standard tall white wooden cranes, like the one still standing at Yackandandah Railway Station today. *All that remains of the crane at Beechworth now is its solid brick base.*

1984

Author M. Rosalyn Shennan releases her book “Silver Threads and Golden Needles: The Early History of Silver Creek, Beechworth”. Published by The Cleveland Printing Group, in 1990 Shennan will follow it with another publication – “A Biographical Dictionary of the Pioneers of Ovens and Townsmen of Beechworth” (see further entry in 1990).

M. Rosalyn Shennan will also write books including ‘Personal Information from the Victorian Government Gazette 1851-1855′ in 1987 and ‘The 1855 Ovens Election and the Golden Horseshoes’ in 1995.

1984 – Apr

The Beechworth Concert Band have a busy program over Easter, playing as they march in the Saturday parade (above), as well a giving seperate concerts and performances, including one in the middle of Beechworth (below).

1984

The National Trust classifies thirty-four buildings in the Beechworth Shire

1984

The beautiful Victorian-style 1867-built Rose Cottage at 42 Camp Street is sold for $95,000. Standing next door to Beechworth’s 1869-built Congregational Church, the home and gardens will be restored, renovated and improved by new owners Tony and Lyn who will soon open the property to the public as The Rose Cottage, Beechworth’s “premiere 4-bedroom Bed & Breakfast”.

*The ‘Cameo Rose Room’ at ‘The Rose Cottage’*

1984

*Tom O’Toole (at left) with his brother-in-law Allan Friar and some of their staff at the ‘Beechworth Bakery’*

Tom O’Toole – who had purchased the Ideal Café & Milk Bar on Camp Street with his sister and brother-in-law Betty and Allan Friar in 1974 and successfully run it for three years before selling up and moving to Western Australia – returns to Beechworth and purchases business back from John Gorkham. He then buys the drapery store next door, knocks down the wall between them, renovates, and opens the combined buildings as the ‘Beechworth Bakery’. In 1987 O’Toole will purchase the former ‘Manchester House’ building next door (below) and the bakery extends even further.

*The ‘Ideal Cafe’ building in the 1880s when it is trading as Henry Thomas Littlewood’s ‘Manchester House’*

One of the original logos for the ‘Beechworth Bakery’

O’Toole’s immensely popular ‘Beechworth Bakery’ eventually expands to outlets in eight other regional towns – Ballarat, Bendigo, Echuca, Healesville, Albury, Yackandandah and Bright, serving over one million customers each year, with an annual net intake of more than $12 million. The Beechworth Bakery business is awarded “The Most Significant Regional Attraction” in the ‘Victorian Tourism Awards’ in 1994, 1995 and 1998, and in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of 2018, Tom O’Toole is awarded a “Medal of the Order of Australia” (OAM) for his services to the baking industry and the Beechworth community.

1984

*Mal Davidson with his Black Worms* *(photo: John Russell)*

Former Australian Army mechanic Mal Davidson and his wife Beth purchase the Golden Hill Trout Farm on Stanley Road from Reg and Margaret Brine, who had established the popular business in 1969. The Davidsons continue the business of egg collecting, fry starting, growing and harvesting and so on, until a local aquarium owner contacts him in 1986 asking to purchase some of the small black worms which colonise the edge of the trout farm’s ponds. After he receives more requests, Mal does some research and realises the worms are in big demand as live food for ornamental fish at aquariums, commanding prices up to $20 per kilo. Realising that carefully raised trout from the farm sell for just $5 to $7 a kilo, by 1988 he begins to start harvesting worms on a commercial scale. In 1991 The Australian Blackworm Co. is officially established, soon selling an average of 170kg of live worms each week, and by 1999 the new business completely replaces the Golden Hill Trout Farm.

*The ‘Australian Blackworm Company’ at 121 Stanley Road*

1984

Ian and Joan Downs continue to run their Golden Era BP Service Station they they had established at 34 Ford Street in 1972.

*84-year-old Ian Downs with his RACV truck outside his ‘Golden Era Service Station’ in 2022 (photo: Mark Jesser)*

1984

Barry and Jan Morey plant the Sorrenberg Vineyard at 49 Alma Road, Beechworth. The site has 3 hectares of vines – made up of chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, semillon, gamay, cabernet sauvignon, and small amounts of cabernet franc, pinot noir and merlot, with three rows of sauvignon gris planted in 2015 as a trial. Sorrenberg also produce their own fuel, with 35,000 litres made from “locally sourced fish and chip oil” since 2007. The biofuel is used on all tractors and utes on the property.

*Barry and Jan Morey at their* ‘*Sorrenberg Vineyard’ after a dump of snow*.

Beechworth now has about the same area under vine as the Rhȏne Valley’s famed ‘Hermitage’.

1984

*The ‘Newtown Park Motel’ – the fourth motel to open in Beechworth since 1968.*

John and Helen Kraus build and open the Newtown Park Motel at 38 Bridge Road. Well located on the approach to the Newtown Bridge into Beechworth, and opposite Newtown Park, it offers 14 motel units as well as a ‘Grand Suite’. The Newtown Park Motel will be renamed the Beechworth on Bridge Motel in 2012 and is now run by Steph and Dan Mannix.

*‘Newtown Park Motel’ covered in snow (now the ‘Beechworth on Bridge Motel’)*

1984 – Dec 1-9

As part of Victoria’s 150th Birthday Celebrations the ‘Great Victorian Bike Ride’ is organised as a one-off event, the first ever event organised by the Bicycle Institute of Victoria. Described as “the biggest mass migration across Victoria since the Gold Rush”, the ride’s nine-day route runs from Wodonga to Melbourne (without a rest day) with a first night stopover in Beechworth on Friday evening at the Beechworth Caravan Park. Sponsored by Caltex and Melbourne’s Sun News-Pictorial newspaper, it runs for 850 km and initially attracts over 3,100 cyclists, including 700 children from 70 Victorian schools. From Beechworth the ride travels to Benalla, Rushworth, Bendigo, Maryborough, Ballarat, Sunbury – covering an average of 80 each day – before reaching the outskirts of Melbourne on Sunday December 9^th, by which time the number of cycling participants has grown to more than 5,000! At noon, police close off the Tullamarine Freeway to cars so that the cyclists can make their make their final push into the city … and when the cavalcade pours into the centre of Melbourne they are greeted by John Cain, the Premier of Victoria, also on a bicycle! The Great Victorian Bike Ride is such a success that it becomes an annual event.

Before the ride, five special trains depart Melbourne’s Spencer Street Station to carry 2,000 cyclists, of all ages, to Wodonga to join the start of the ‘Great Victorian Bike Ride’.

*A cartoon by Jeff Hook that appears in ‘The Sun News-Pictorial’ during the ride*.

1984 – Dec 5

After repairs and renovations (costing $124,000) are completed, the 1858-built Beechworth Courthouse is officially reopened by Victoria’s Attorney General, 38-year-old Jim Kennan (below) and will continue to hear cases until the end of the decade. Although the usage of the Courthouse in Beechworth is considered low (just 32 hours of sitting time is recorded in the whole of 1981), and most of the cases heard are traffic offences, the decision to retain the Beechworth Courthouse (and to renovate and upgrade it) is influenced by its historical relevance and importance.

*James* ‘*Jim’ Harley Kennan – Victoria’s Attonery General 1983-1987*

Although some Victorian country courthouses had been decommissioned in the 1960s and 70s (including nearby Chiltern), a number of courts within a 50km radius of Beechworth continue to operate in the mid-1980s, including Wangaratta, Rutherglen, Wodonga, Tallangatta, Myrtleford and Bright.

1985

Joe and Patricia Woo purchase the Edelweiss Inn restaurant – spread over the three Clements Buildings – at 11-15 Camp Street and establish the Chinese Village restaurant.

*The interior of Joe and Cynthia’s popular ‘Chinese Village’ restaurant*

The popular Chinese restaurant will serve Beechworth at this location for 38 years until it moves to new premises at 77 Ford Street in November 2023.

1985

*The ‘Armour Motor Inn’ will be built on the land – with the trees in front – on the left.*

Creswell Nominees Pty Ltd begin construction on Beechworth’s 5th motel. Registered as the Armour Motor Inn, it will open on May 21st 1986. Leased to the Saunders family in March 1988, the freehold will be sold the Patane and Pistone families in December 1989 before the lease is transferred to Russell and Merrill Gronow in March 1994. The two-storey building features 20 motel rooms – six of which are ‘family units’ – and features an outdoor swimming pool and an indoor spa and sauna. Located at 1 Camp Street (next to the Hotel Nicholas), it is the closest motel to the centre of town.

*Beechworth’s ‘Armour Motor Inn’ opens in May 1986*

The ‘Armour Motor Inn’ gets its name from the fact that it is (supposedly) built on the site of the blacksmith’s shop where part of Joe Byrne’s armour was made in the lead up to the Kelly Gang’s siege at Glenrowan.

*A Beechworth souvenir patch that celebrates ‘Kelly Country’*

1985

David and Lana Chitty continue running their popular Chitty’s Beechworth Bazaar at 58-60 Ford Street. Selling a range of antiques, gifts and souvenirs, David Chitty specialises in gold prospecting equipment and offers historic mine tours. Over the years, the large Ford Street building has been the home of the W. Andrews & Son store, Clement’s Store, Arthur A. Niemann‘s Store, Foy & Gibson and, from 1952, Freeman’s Store.

1985

*The cover of Carole Woods fascinating book “Beechworth: A Titan’s Field”*

The 224-page book “Beechworth: A Titan’s Field” – researched and written by Carole Woods – is released by the Hargreen Publishing Company. A librarian at the State Library of Victoria and later the Borchardt Library at La Trobe Univiersity, Woods will complete a Master of Arts (MA) in History at Monash University. She is the author of six books and fifteen biographical entries in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. From 2000 she will be a judge and panel chair of the Victorian Community History Awards for seven years, and from 2008 the Honorary Secretary of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria. In 2020 Woods will be awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for ‘service to community history’ and the same year she will publish the book ‘Vera Deakin and the Red Cross’, about the daughter of Prime Minister Alfred Deakin.

*Author Carol Woods* *OAM (also known by her married name Carole Beamont)* *with copies of her 2020 book* ‘*Vera Deakin and the Red Cross’*

Before his death in 1971, Roy Collington Harvey – curator of the Burke Museum and author of the popular 1952 book “Background to Beechworth” – had been Carole’s research companion and guide in the township and its history

1985

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the white settlement of Melbourne in 1835, the Beechworth Lions Club install new picnic facilities and benches at the Lake Sambell Reserve.

1985 – Dec

*After closing at the end of 1976, the disused Beechworth Railway Station (briefly) becomes the home of the* ‘*Beechworth Neighbourhood Centre*‘.

A group of interested citizens hold a meeting to discuss the concept of a Neighbourhood Centre for Beechworth, as they feel the town needs a facility that provides a venue/meeting place/hub for individuals and community to gather, learn and support each other in times of both celebration and need. It results in the formation of the Community Services Beechworth Group. In February 1986 the Community Services Beechworth Group is successful in receiving funding from the State Government’s Neighbourhood House program to establish the Beechworth Neighbourhood Centre. With the support of the Beechworth Rotary Club, the Beechworth Shire Council agrees to renovate the former Beechworth Railway Station, with the doors to open in April 1986 with Shirley Bartsh as the first coordinator.

1986

Beechworth High School is officially renamed Beechworth Secondary College. The school had opened (with 248 students) at its new purpose-built classrooms in March 1962 on Sydney Road (near the Ovens District Hospital) with its main entrance at 85 Balaclava Road.

*Beechworth Secondary College – Reception and Adminstration building*

The school had previously been based at the ‘Beechworth Primary School’ which had become a ‘Higher Elementary School’ in 1912, before being raised to ‘Beechworth High School’ in 1959. Due to increasing secondary school student numbers and lack of space, the new location on Sydney Road is selected for the construction of a seperate ‘Beechworth High School’ for the town’s secondary students.

1986 – Jul 4

*The former ‘Brigidine Convent & Boarding School’ at 8 Priory Lane*

On the Centennial of the Brigidine Sisters’ arrival in Beechworth in 1886, Graeme and Pam Bell (below) purchase the former Brigidine Convent & Boarding School property at 8 Priory Lane – renamed The Old Priory in 1979 – and make the grand 1904 three-storey building their home. They slowly begin renovating the buildings and will eventually reopen The Old Priory offering self-contained heritage accommodation for up to 200 guests. It will become a popular Beechworth venue for wedding receptions and functions, concerts and events, as well as continuing its popular accommodation for school groups and ‘school camps’.

*Graeme and Pam Bell – happy new owners of the former ‘Brigidine Convent & Boarding School’*

1986

*Brian Smith, founder of Beechworth Engineering.*

Beechworth Engineering is established by Brian Smith in a large shed on his property, repairing farm and industrial equipment as well as making replacement components for farm equipment. Smith also manufactures small components for a company in Dandenong.

1986

*The former Beechworth Railway Station becomes the new home of* *the* ‘*Beechworth Community Childcare Centre’.*

A group of locals are successful in their lobbying for funding for a Community Childcare Centre. However, it is conditional on running the centre from the former Beechworth Railway Station, which the Community Services Beechworth Group has just called home. Eventually, an agreement is reached for the Beechworth Neighbourhood Centre to relocate to the Methodist Sunday School Hall building on the corner of Ford & Church Streets and it opens in 1987 with Joy Mason the new coordinator.

1986

*Looking north down Ford Street in 1982, with Cameron McBean’s Mobil ‘Reliance Service Station’ at right (photo: Tim Fitzgerald)*

A fire breaks out at Cameron McBean’s Reliance Garage and Service Station at 38 Ford Street following an explosion caused by leaking fuel from a refuelling Mobil petrol tanker. The building and the business are destroyed. It will be replaced by a building set back from the street that will later house ‘Bouchon at Botanicals’ a French-style cafe set among a collection of rare maple trees, and, from 2023, ‘Walter Beechworth Hair Salon‘.

*Cameron William McBean’s Reliance Garage – far right – in the 1940s*

*The building that replaces ‘McBean’s Garage’ at 38 Ford Street*

1986

Restoration work starts on the 89-year-old iconic Baarmutha Park Grandstand which is suffering from lack of maintenance since its construction in 1897.

*The brick* ‘*Baarmutha Park Grandstand’*, *built in 1897 at a cost of £800, replacing the original wooden Grandstand constructed in 1858 (image from the book* *‘Echoes of History: Beechworth 1853-2003’)*

*View of a football match in progress from the historic ‘Baarmutha Park Grandstand’ in 2025*

1987

*Robert Barnes’ 1859 home – fully restored as ‘Barnsley House’*

Kelvin Clark – having grown up next door to the elderly Mary Fredericia ‘Freda’ Barnes in the house her father Robert Barnes built in 1859 – purchases the old Barnes home at 5 John Street. Fortuitously, Kel (a landscape gardener) meets Terese Adams (skilled in interior design) and together they resolve to renovate and restore the historic old building, which has fallen into disrepair. They transform the house and gardens into the beautiful Barnsley House which they open to paying guests and it quickly becomes a popular Beechworth Bed and Breakfast destination.

*Interior of the restored ‘Barnsley House’*

1987 – Mar

On the Hume Highway, the ‘Benalla Bypass’ is officially opened. At a cost of $70 million, the 36.5km new section of the Hume Freeway – which bypasses the town of Benalla – is the longest stretch of highway duplication opened in Victoria and extends from south of Baddaginnie to Chivers Road south of Glenrowan.

1987

*Tom Griffiths launches* *‘Beechworth: An Australian Country Town and Its Past’* *with a book signing at Jim and Patricia McCormack’s ‘Beechworth Newsagency’.*

After detailed research, 30-year-old Tom Griffiths – an historian at the State Library of Victoria – releases his 128-page book ‘Beechworth: An Australian Country Town and Its Past’ through Greenhouse Publications. Griffiths will go on to research and write a number of other books, including a history of Antarctica. He will eventually become Professor of History in the Research School of Social Sciences at The Australian National University in Canberra and Director of the ‘Centre for Environmental History‘ at ANU.

Tom Griffith’s books and essays will win prizes in history, science, literature, politics and journalism including the ‘Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction’, the ‘Ernest Scott Prize for History’, the ‘Eureka Science Book Prize’, the ‘Alfred Deakin Prize’ for an essay advancing Public Debate, and the ‘Prime Minister’s Prize for Australian History’. In 2014 Griffiths is appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for ‘distinguished service to tertiary education, particularly social, cultural and environmental history, and through popular and academic contributions to Australian literature’.

1988

*The Beechworth Railways Goods Shed (at left) becomes the new home of the* National Trust Carriage *and Harness* *Museum*

After being on show at the National Trust Carriage and Harness Museum – in the former ‘Crawford and Connolly’ buildings at the rear of Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel on Ford Street – since November 1969, the disused Beechworth Railway Goods Shed becomes the new home of the historic carriage collection after the National Trust has to vacate the former ‘Crawford and Connolly‘ buildings.

1988

Dennis Raos opens the Beechworth Pizza and Take Away at 57 Ford Street. The business will be taken over by Graham Fisher in May 1990.

1988

Alison J. Williams and her husband establish Beechworth Glass and Leadlight at 91 Ford Street (originally built as the booking office of the old Parkinson’s Garage next door). Beechworth Glass and Leadlight will operate from the shop until 1991 before they move the business to their home on Old Chiltern Road.

1988

*The former ‘Oriental Bank’ building on Ford Street that has been home to the* ‘*State Savings Bank of Victoria’ since 1906.*

After 82 years of serving local customers, the State Savings Bank of Victoria closes its Beechworth branch at 97 Ford Street (above). It had taken over the former Oriental Bank building in 1906. (In 1980 the State Savings Bank of Victoria became known as the State Bank of Victoria before collapsing due to the weight of its massive and irresponsible lending in the mid-to-late 1980s. In 1990 it is sold and becomes part of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.)

A private home from 1991 to 2002, the solid two-storey building on Ford Street is purchased from the private owners in February 2002 by Heidi Freeman of the famous Beechworth Freeman family and lovingly restored, opening 2003 as ‘Freeman on Ford’, luxury accommodation.

1988 – Oct 8

Work is completed on the reconstruction of the Administration and Staff Area of 1875-built Beechworth Primary School.

1988

*The ‘Milawa Cheese Factory’ in 2025 – still going strong* *at 17 Factory Road, Milawa*

29km from Beechworth, David and Annie Brown (below) take over the former Milawa Butter Factory and establish the Milawa Cheese Company. Motivated by the lack of being able to find a good Australian-made creamy soft blue cheese, they decide to start the company and learn how to make it themselves! With a desire to create Australian ‘farmhouse cheeses’ inspired by European methods, they will soon develop an amazing array of cheeses, from creamy bries to stinky washed rinds to the freshest chèvre.

At the start of the 1880s there are nearly 500,000 dairy cows in Victoria and the butter making industry prospers. By the end of 1890 there are 70 butter factories throughout the state, the same year that the ‘Milawa Co-operative Dairy’ is established, and by 1896 it is one of the biggest dairy companies in Australia. It will later become the ‘Milawa Butter Factory’ and operate until 1962 when it becomes the ‘Milford Dairy Company’.

*David and Annie Brown, creators of the ‘Milawa Cheese Company’*

1989

After 14 years at the helm, Ron and Barbara Potter – who had purchased Beechworth’s Murray Breweries on Last Street in 1975 – now sell the historic 1865 brewery to Alan Storer and John Ryan who will run the business for the next seven years.

1989

*Pennyweight Engineering at 23 Crawford Street.*

Brian Smith moves his Beechworth Engineering to new larger premises on an industrial block at 23 Crawford Street, which is the nominated ‘Industrial Area’ of Beechworth. The successful business is renamed Pennyweight Engineering. In 1998 Smith adds a large factory at the rear of the property and starts a second business – Turn Over Plastics, manufacturing rotational moulds for plastic products. As business grows, in 2005 he purchases a block of land directly across the road and builds a third workshop space.

1989

*Ian Hynman’s fascinating book about Thomas Taylor Ladson (1832 – 1913) and his family*

Beechworth author Ian Hyndman – who wrote ‘Beechworth Cemetery: A Stroll Through History’ in 1988 – releases his second book ‘Thomas Ladson of Ladson’s Store, Tarrawingee’. Published by Bethel Publications, the detailed and well researched book looks at the fascinating life of the Ladson family in Beechworth and Tarrawingee. Hyndman will go on to publish a number of other books about Beechworth including ‘Out of the Goldfields: A History of Ovens and Murray Hospital For The Aged’ in 1993 and ‘History of Beechworth’ in 1995.

21-year-old Thomas Taylor Ladson, a jeweller like his father, arrives from England in Beechworth in 1855 with his 15-year old brother Alfred William Ladson. Thomas sets up a small jewellery business on Ford Street before moving to the small township of nearby Tarrawingee 3 years later, opening Tarrawingee’s first Post Office in October 1858 and then establishes ‘Ladson’s Store’. Thomas and his wife Mary Ann Crawford will have 13 children but, tragically, 12 of them will pass away – mostly from tuberculosis – between 1864 and 1913. Only a daughter, named Miniam, survives.

*Beechworth author Ian Hyndman in 1993.*

1989

*A 57-seater coach owned and operated by ‘Beechworth Bus Lines’ (image from the book* *‘Echoes of History: Beechworth 1853-2003’)*

Beechworth Bus Lines is established, with school and route bus sevices being combined into one company that services the six local schools in the Beechworth area. In 2002 Beechworth Bus Lines is purchased by Graham and Gabrielle Lade and by 2003 they are running two 57-seat coaches, four large school buses and two mini buses. Peter ‘Cuppy’ Collie is the company’s main charter, tour and school bus driver, while Glenda Marshall and Ian Evans are kept busy as school bus drivers and local bus charter drivers. Operating from a depot in Beechworth, the compmapy also employs a pool of casual drivers including David Collier, Peter Clark and Geoff Savy.

*A ‘Beechworth Bus Lines’ coach outside the Old Melbourne Gaol in 2006 (photo: Steven Haby)*

1989

*The former Beechworth branch of the ‘Bank of Australasia’ which had ceased trading as a bank in 1974.*

After operating for a few years as the Australasian Tea-Rooms and Antiques Store, Wayne McLaughlin purchases the former 1856-built Bank of Australasia building at 86 Ford Street (above) for $347,050, completes a full renovation (repainting the front facade in pink!) and establishes The Bank Restaurant and Mews, a regional, fine dining farm-to-table licensed establishment. The former bank’s Carriage House and Stables are refurbished into four luxury suites around a leafy courtyard (below).

In 2002 up-and-coming young chef Rhy Waddington joins ‘The Bank Restaurant’ where he meets his future wife Samantha Whitford and they will go on to open their own restaurant ‘Waddingons at Kergunyah’. Having reached success in Australia, Rhy travels to America where he becomes Head Chef at the critically acclaimed Australian venue “Bondi Bar & Kitchen” in San Diego’s famous Gaslamp Quarter and is soon voted one of the ‘Top Five Chefs in Southern California’.

1989

Bowman’s Run Winery is established by Dick and Jill Whitford at 1305 Beechworth-Wodonga Road in Wooragee. The small vineyard is taken over by Struan and Fran Robertson in 1999. The winery produces a range of varieties including Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Shiraz and Rosé, producing around 200 cases a year.

‘Bowman’s Run Winery’ sits on a small section of the vast lands once owned and occupied Dr William Bowman, the first white settler (squatter) in the area back in the 1830s, long before the establishment of Beechworth. Bowman’s ‘Heifer Run’ spanned over 41,000 acres – running all the way from to Wodonga in the north to Bowmans Forest in the south. Dr Bowman builds a fine home called ‘The Grange’ at Everton near Tarrawingee.

1989

*A 1990 advertisement for ‘Kate’s Country Kitchen’ featuring an illustration of Kate Kelly (from ‘The Ovens and Murray Advertiser’)*

Don Sullivan is running Kate’s Country Kitchen at 78 Ford Street. The café is named after Ned Kelly’s sister Kate. Since September 2011, 78 Ford Street has been home to the Beechworth branch of Bendigo Bank

1990 – Jan 1

After hearing thousands of cases over 132 years, the Beechworth Courthouse – which opened in 1858 – finally closes and will no longer be used for legal proceedings, with all the Beechworth records directed to be moved to the Myrtleford Courts. The last case heard at the Beechworth Courthouse, in 1989, is a Children’s Court matter. However, after restoration work is completed, it will re-open as a museum in 1991. Built of granite by Scottish stonemasons in 1858, it features a central block with gabled ends containing the main courtroom, flanked by office wings, and surrounded by verandahs and a public vestibule. The original furniture and fittings remain.

13 people are sentenced to death from the dock of the Beechworth Courthouse, including Elizabeth Scott, the first woman executed in Victoria, who murdered her husband. Three executioners/public floggers (all prisoners seeking remissions of sentence through their service) are active at Beechworth, including Elijah Upjohn, the man who hanged Ned Kelly.

1990

Beechworth Gaol is reconfigured as an ‘integration prison’. This assists inmates to adjust to community-based orders to maintain community safety as well as pre-release activities for inmates to reintegrate to the community and desist from crime.

1990

After suffering a major financial collapse in 1988, the State Bank of Victoria is sold and merges to become part of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia who now build and open a branch of the Commonwealth Bank in Beechworth, on land that had been vacant at 65 Ford Street. Beechworth’s Commonwealth Bank still operates on Ford Street today (below).

*The Beechworth branch of the ‘Commonwealth Bank’ as it looks, at night, in 2025*

The ‘State Savings Bank of Victoria’ had a branch in Beechworth for 82 years after taking over the former ‘Oriental Bank’ building at 97 Ford Street in 1906. In 1980 the ‘State Savings Bank of Victoria’ became known as the ‘State Bank of Victoria’ before collapsing due to the weight of its massive and irresponsible lending in the mid-to-late 1980s and the Beechworth branch closes in 1988.

1990

*The roofed section of ‘Marion Arcade’ which features three new shops*

52-year-old real estate agent Graeme Gallus creates the Marion Arcade in Warren Lane (above), which runs beside his Beechworth Real Estate office at 74 Ford Street in the centre of town. He names the arcade – which features three small shops – in honour of his late wife Marion Gallus. Grame and Marion had settled in Beechworth in 1981.

*The entrance to ‘Marion Arcade’ on Ford Street*

Warren Lane runs between Ford Street and High Street. Originally named ‘Criterion Lane’ (after the ‘Criterion Hotel’ which stood at the other end of the lane on High Street), it will later be renamed ‘Warren Lane’ after Richard ‘Little Dick’ Warren, who had taken over Alf Foster’s tobacconist store at 74 Ford Street in 1871. Today the laneway is partly roofed and known as the ‘Marion Arcade’.

1990

Karen and Ken Dosser are busy running their popular The Parlour & Pantry at 69 Ford Street, serving some of the finest food in the district. Chef Karen Dosser (below) has a particular skill for baking a range of mouth-watering cakes, as well as a fascination with fino (dry) sherry, so the The Parlour & Pantry wine list features many of the local regions finest finos. The Dossers even stock the highly regarded ‘Lustau’ fino from Spain, a dry and pale sherry that is aged under a layer of flor (yeast) in oak barrels which gives ‘Lustau’ fino its characteristic yeasty, saline, and almond notes.

1990

After releasing her first book – ‘Silver Threads and Golden Needles: The Early History of Silver Creek, Beechworth’ in 1985 – author M. Rosalyn Shennan now releases her second book “A Biographical Dictionary of the Pioneers of Ovens and Townsmen of Beechworth”. The limited edition publication – just 500 copies – features a list of 495 notable residents of the Ovens and Beechworth district – including 495 photographic portraits compiled by Henry Hansen in 1899 (below) – with biographical details for each name, culled from the local press and informants.

1990 – Apr 14

*‘The Finer Things of Life’ opens on Easter Saturday during Beechworth’s ‘Golden Horseshoes Festival’ and does booming business.*

Steven and Elizabeth Mason open ‘The Finer Things Of Life’, a shop with a ‘vintage Victorian’ theme, selling classic jewellery, homewares and antiques. It has become one of Beechworth’s “must see” destinations. The shop at 16 Camp Street had been the home of Bernard and Elly Valkenburg’s Milk Bar from 1969 to 1988 and, before that in the early 1900s, Alfred Ladson’s Furniture Store.

*Steven and Elizabeth Mason, owners of the delightful new shop ‘The Finer Things Of Life’* *on Camp Street*

Both Steven and Elizabeth have strong connections with Beechworth. Steven grew up on a property in nearby Everton and in 1979 his mother, Val Mason, became the first female President of the ‘United Shire of Beechworth’ and served two terms in the role. Elizabeth’s great-great-grandfather ran two seperate Beechworth produce stores on Ford Street in the 1870s. Elizabeth will become the president of the ‘Beechworth History and Heritage Society’ and a driving force in keeping the town’s fascinating past alive. She will also be named president of the ‘Beechworth Chamber of Commerce’.

1990

*Staff outside the ‘Ennals Store’ (formerly ‘Ladson’s Grocery Store’) on High Street in 1984 (hand tinted photo by Stephen Henderson)*

George Fendyk takes over the 1882-built Ennal’s Store (formerly the Ladson’s Grocery Store) at 30 High Street (above) and relaunches it as Beechworth Machinery.

*30 High Street when it is operating as the Ennals and Galbraith family’s ‘Goodfellows Grocery Store’*

Established in 1882, ‘Ladson’s Grocery Store’ essentially remained in the Ladson family for over 100 years. Established by Arthur Ladson, Alfred’s son Arthur Ladson takes over, then Beatrice Ennals (mother-in-law of Dick Galbraith, Alfred’s grandson), then Dick Galbraith and his wife Margaret Ennals after Beatrice relinquishes the business at the age of 80. After Dick passes away, it is taken over by his son Bob Galbraith who will operate the shop, before it finally closes, as a ‘Goofdfellows Local Food Store’ (above).

1990 – Jul

*Peter Foa, President of the ‘Beechworth Promotions Council,’ with Norman White from ‘Advance Tourism Marketing’.*

The recently formed Beechworth Promotion Council completes their ‘Tourism Development Strategy’ with the aim of making Beechworth a major destination for tourists. Working with ‘Advance Tourism Marketing’ and the Victorian Tourism Commission, a colourful ‘Destination Beechworth’ brochure is printed, along with a holiday accommodation package and special offers to all RACV members. Beechworth is the first town in the region to have a specific plan for tourist devbelopment.

1990

After 10 years of planting, building and landscaping, artists Tina Fraser and Gavin Doherty finally open their Out of Town Nursery and Humming Garden to the public. Located 15km from Beechworth at 980 Beechworth-Chiltern Road, the 5-acre garden features a Japanesque-style art gallery, an ornamental greenhouse, a succulent roofed shop and a propagating shed. Among the hundreds of plants are ornamental grasses, succulents, perennials, water features and plants, and stunning garden art. It also includes plants of Mexican and South African origin which provide the backbone of the garden and micro-climates for unusual plants from all around the globe. Humming with wildlife, many native birds find sanctuary in the leafy garden including Honeyeaters, King Parrots, Red-Browed Finches, White Winged Choughs and Satin Bowerbirds.

*Tina Fraser’s Art Gallery at the ‘Humming Garden’*

*A small section of the ‘Humming Garden’*

1991

*Jane and Greg White with their children Emma and Eiran at ‘The Beechworth Garden Nursery’ in 1994 (photo: Richard Williams)*

Greg and Jane White are running The Beechworth Garden Nursery in the centre of town at 43 Ford Street.

1991

*Lucy Tozer with her client Rachel Kerkvliet at ‘Hair Construction’ (Photo: James Wiltshire)*

Lucy Tozer opens Hair Construction at 6B Camp Street. She operates in Camp Street for many years before moving to 45 Ford Street, eventually relocating to where the Fairy Shop had been operating, at the rear of 71 Ford Street (the Ivy Phillips shop) in 2001 (below).

*Lucy Tozer’s ‘Hair Construction’ at the rear of 71 Ford Street.*

1991 – Apr 1

*The ‘Beechworth Supermarket’ on Ford Street – note the laneway on the far right. There is now a building filling the laneway, most recently operating as ‘The Beechworth Pantry*‘ *and the ‘Chinese Village Restaurant’*

Don Alchin and David Box purchase Sinclair’s SSW Supermarket at 73-77 Ford Street from Mervyn John Sinclair who is retiring from the business in his late 70s. It will later be re-branded as Foodtown SSW, then just Foodtown and finally to IGA (Independent Grocers Alliance). Longer trading hours are introduced and, in 1994, a full scanning system is added throughout the supermarket.

1991 – Apr

After detailed restoration work, Jennifer Wilkinson opens the 1880-built house at 3 Finch Street as the gourmet retreat Finches of Beechworth Country Guesthouse. Over the years the beautiful and historic property has been home to many owners including the Zwar family, George Billson and renowned author, poet and playwright David Martin.

*Jennifer Wilkinson at ‘Finches of Beechworth’* *(photo: The Ovens and Murray Advertiser)*

After 12 rewarding years at ‘Finches of Beechworth’, Jennifer will sell the business and establish ‘EPIcURIOUS Travel’, which combines her love for active travel with her expertise in providing great food, wine and hospitality.

1991

Ray Pond establishes the Beechworth Provender at 18 Camp Street, next door to Bridie Maree’s Shoe Shop. The café promotes itself as a ‘purveyor of fine foods’ including local wines, cheese, jams and chutneys.

*Ray Pond, the founder of ‘Beechworth Provender’, behind the counter of his popular café and fine food store* *in 1994 (photo: Richard Williams)*

1991 – Aug 30

*Maria and John Harvey outside their* ‘*Brigadier’ shop on Camp Street in 1994 (photo: Richard Williams)*

Having moved to Beechworth from Wagga Wagga, John and Maria Harvey open their Brigadier Highland Supply shop at 14 Camp Street. Specialising in their ‘Brigadier’ brand of traditional toy soldiers (established by John Harvey in Wagga Wagga in 1979) it also sells a range of imported pipe band equipment, clan and and tartan products, made-to-measure kilts, Celtic jewellery and imported Scottish confectionery and biscuits. The name of the popular Beechworth business will soon become the Brigadier Scottish Shop. John Harvey will establish the popular Beechworth Celtic Festival in 1995. The Harvey’s will run their Brigadier Scottish Shop in Beechworth for the next 17 years before retiring in 2008. Since 2021, this building has been the home of Beechworth Dental.

*John Harvey in 2021 (photo: Coral Cooksley)*

Born in Akron, Ohio in the USA, John Harvey emigrates to Australia in 1972, becoming an Australian citizen in 1976. He works as a high school teacher in Wagga Wagga and starts his ‘Brigadier’ toy soldier business, then moves to Beechworth with wife Maria to establish their ‘Brigadier’ shop. As well as co-founding and coordinating the ‘Beechworth Celtic Festival’ he also serves for many years on the ‘Beechworth Servicemen’s Hall’ committee, assisting in its refurbishment. Along with his passion for Scottish Pipes and Drums and Scottish culture, John is also interested in railways – particularly model railways – and will help establish the permanent Beechworth model railway display at the Telegraph Station in 2012.

1992

Josef (Joe) and Elizabeth Kraus take over the lease of the 1864-built Star Hotel on Ford Street and continue to run the former hotel as the Beechworth Youth Hostel which had been established in 1974.

Joe and Elizabeth’s son Ben Kraus will go on to establish Beechworth’s famous ‘Bridge Road Brewers’ in 2005, opening his first microbrewery in Joe’s shed on Bridge Road in Beechworth.

1992 – May 6

Michael ‘Mick’ Breen establishes Beechworth Gas in the new ‘industrial estate’ at 11 Crawford Street. It supplies Beechworth with Propane and LPG. The business is later taken over and expanded by Origin Energy.

1992

*The replacement balcony goes up at the ‘Beechworth Bakery’. Note the video store next door.*

Tom O’Toole removes the old balcony from his historic Beechworth Bakery building on Camp Street and replaces it with a new, stronger balcony (above) to add more upstairs seating. (The original 1857 single storey building had added a second storey and balcony in 1900.) O’Toole also obtains a liquor licence meaning customers can enjoy wine with their bakery items after 12 noon.

1992

Following the closure of the long-running hardware store at 24 Camp Street, Jim McCormack – owner of the Beechworth Newsagency – engages renowned architect 65-year-old Wilford ‘Bill’ Wheatland (below) to design a new, modern hardware store on land at 4-6 Camp Street. Built by Josef ‘Joe’ Kraus, the completed True Value Hardware store will be operated by Simon Turnbull. It remains Beechworth’s central hardware, timber and garden centre today.

*Architect Wilford ‘Bill’ Wheatland in 2007*

Architect Wilford ‘Bill’ Wheatland (above) works as one of Danish architect Jorn Utzon’s close associates on the design of the Sydney Opera House between 1963 and 1966, when, under political and financial pressures, Utzon is forced to quit his task. In 1976, Wheatland is offered a job as architect for the ‘Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation’ and moves with his wife and their children to Yackandandah where he will live until his death in 2013.

1992

After 15 years in Beechworth, Susan and Allan Fox sell their successful Buckland Gallery, on the corner of Ford and Church Streets, to Ian and Gwenyth Smith, who will grow the business into a popular outlet for fine art and craft. The majority of items on exhibition at the gallery are for sale and are created by local artists and crafts people including local seamstresses Cath McLeish, Kathy Templeton and Judy Shennan.

Some of the new team at Beechworth’s ‘Buckland Gallery – (back row) Fiona Dillon, Kathy Templeton, co-owner Gwenyth Smith, Jenny Bennett. (middle row) Brylee Howe and Marara Schier, (front row) Amie Meads, co-owner Ian Smith and Luella Schier. (image from the book *‘Echoes of History: Beechworth 1853-2003’)*

1992

Barrie John Hodges takes over Regency House (above) on Loch Street and renovates the 1871 building back to its 19th century glory and then establishes it as Beechworth Part and Present antiques (below). Also known as Loch Street Antiques, it will trade until 2017.

Opened in 1871 as ‘Oddfellows Hall’ by ‘The Independent Order of Oddfellows‘, the building is originally used a meeting hall, live theatre and dance hall. After Australia becomes a Federation – the Commonwealth of Australia – on January 1^st 1901, ‘Oddfellows Hall’ will be renamed ‘Federal Hall’ and soon begins screening silent movies. Later called the ‘Federal Theatre’ it will change its name again to the ‘Regent Theatre’ and then, in the late 1960s, it becomes ‘Regency House’, a reception centre and restaurant.

1992 – Aug 17

The 1940-built Ovens District Hospital at 52 Sydney Road (above) is renamed the Beechworth Hospital as a result of the amalgamation of the Ovens District Hospital and The Ovens and Murray Hospital for the Aged on Warner Road. In 1995 the Beechworth Hospital will tender for, and win, two Psychiatric Programs from the soon-to-close Mayday Hills Hospital. In 2002 The Beechworth Hospital will change its name again, this time to Beechworth Health Service (below) with the amalgamated organisation operating on two sites: extended care at the former Ovens and Murray Hospital for the Aged on the hill overlooking the township, and acute care services at its Sydney Road campus.

*The front of the newly renamed ‘Beechworth Health Service’ facing Sydney Road in 2002.*

1992

Having lived on their 12 acre property near the Woolshed Falls since the 1970s, Barry and Lillian Ridgeway decide to build four cabins on the site. The Woolshed Cabins are a hit and are still popular with holiday renters. Just under 8km from Beechworth at the corner of Chiltern and McFeeter Roads, the 2-bedroom self-contained pet-friendly cabins are surrounded by secluded bushland and an easy 1km walk to the spectacular Woolshed Falls.

1992 – Sep

Judi Borschman establishes The Beechworth Sweet Company at 7 Camp Street. With the concept of an “olde world” sweet shop, she begins with just two staff, but the business thrives, and the following year Judi expands to the shop next door (calling it the Mr. Ted E. Bear shop) and in 2000, when Beechworth’s Fairy Store closes, Judi decides to combine sweets, fairies, teddy bears and golliwogs all in one large shop to deliver her vision for a fun store which revives childhood memories. With the expansion to three shops, the number of staff grows to 12. Today it employs over 20 staff and has become a ‘must visit’ tourist destination in Beechworth.

For many years the building at 7 Camp Street had been home to an undertakers and the ‘Beechworth Morgue’!

*The delightful and colorful interior of ‘The Beechworth Sweet Company’*

1992 – Nov 18

‘*Chitty’s Beechworth Bazaar’ becomes* ‘*Mike’s Beechworth Bazaar*‘

Mike and Joanne Molyneux take over the building at 58-60 Ford Street where David and Lana Chitty had run their popular Chitty’s Beechworth Bazaar for many years. They establish a similar business and – rather than coming up with a completely new name – simply replace the word “Chitty’s” with “Mike’s” in front of the large existing signs on the building, and Mike’s Beechworth Bazaar continues the tradition of selling a large selection of gifts, homeware, hardware, specialty items and convenience store products. The building had formerly been the home of Freeman’s Store / Clement’s Store. Mike’s Beechworth Bazaar still trades today and in 2006 Mike Molyneux will also establish the Myrtleford Star Bazaar.

*Mike Molyneux at ‘Mike’s Beechworth Bazaar’.*

1993

*Tapsell’s Book Shed – opens to the public* *(photo: Stephen Tapsell)*

Stephen Tapsell, a sub-editor for the Border Mail newspaper, loves collecting books and decides to open his vast collection of books – stored in the rear shed of his Beechworth home at 17 Williams Street – to the public. Tapsell’s Book Shed continues to grow and in 1995 Stephen will leave his job at the newspaper and move all his books to Ford Street and open Tapsell’s Books.

1993

Ian Hyndman releases his latest book “Out of the Goldfields: A History of Ovens and Murray Hospital For The Aged”. The well researched 193-page hardback book is published by the Beechworth Hospital and features dozens of black and white photographs and detailed reproductions of documents and information.

Well qualified to write this book, Ian Hyndman is the Administrator of Beechworth’s ‘Ovens and Murray District Hospital’ from 1970 to 1984 and helps steer its transformation from a ‘Benevolent Home’ to Beechworth’s modern aged care facility, where he will serve as a chief executive officer.

1993

Major plumbing works take place at Beechworth Gaol with toilets and basins finally installed in all the gaol’s cells!

1993

*George and Vicki Katssevas, owners of* ‘*The Dolphin Café*” (photo: Richard Williams)

The popular Dolphin Café continues to serve Beechworth on the corner of Ford and Camp Streets.

*The view of the ‘Beechworth Post Office’ from under the verandah of the ‘Dolphin *Café* ‘ in 1970 (photo: National Library of Australia)*

This highly desirable location in the centre of Beechworth begins as a single-storey building, home of the ‘Argus’ newspaper branch office (as a base for reporters writing about the goldfields) before a second storey is added in the early 1860s and it becomes Henry Thomas Littlewood’s ‘Manchester House’ (below). In 1869 Frederick ‘Fritz’ Dreyer purchases the building and refurbishes it into ‘Dreyer’s Corner Hotel’. It will be renamed in 1892 as ‘The Central Hotel’. It ceases business as a hotel in 1912 and goes on to trade as a clothing store then a tobacconist. Between the 1940s and the 1960s the two-storey building is run as the popular ‘Astor Café’ (below), before becoming the ‘Dolphin Café’.

*Henry Thomas Littlewood’s* *two-storey* *‘Manchester House’ in 1862 on the corner of Ford and Camp Streets. Now the home of the *‘Dolphin Café*‘ (courtesty: Burke Museum)*

1993 – May

Massage Therapist Alison J. Willams establishes her Beechworth Massage business. Working from her home on Old Chiltern Road, she offers a range of treatments, from Deep Tissue to Relaxation. Alison will continue to provide her popular services to the community for the next three decades (below).

*Alison J. Williams in 2025* *(photo courtesy ‘Beechworth to Bridge’)*

1993 – Sep

70-year-old Russell Graham Stevenson from Tumbarumba in NSW arrives in Beechworth and establishes Russell Stevenson’s Beechworth Emporium at 24 Camp Street in the recently vacated Ovens Hardware Store. 50-year-old Ian Geoffrey Newberry is appointed the new store’s manager and Newberry, along with Katrina Witherow, will eventually take over the clothing store when Stevenson retires, and the store is renamed simply The Beechworth Emporium. The large building had been built in 1870 as the single-storey Post Office Hotel as a replacement for the two-storey Empire Hotel which had been destroyed in the ‘Great Beechworth Fire’ of 1867. The Beechworth Emporium, which sells men’s and women’s clothing, and accessories and footwear, will be run by Ian Newberry for the next 20 years before being taken over by Sue Ryan who still runs the Beechworth Emporium today.

*Felix O’Connor’s ‘Post Office Hotel’ at 24 Camp Street in 1886. The same building has the home of the ‘Beechworth Emporium’ since 1993.*

After its closure in 1941, the old ‘Post Office Hotel’ building becomes ‘Oven’s Hardware’ then later ‘Warner’s Hardware’. From 1979 it is known simply as ‘Beechworth Hardware’, reverting to ‘Ovens Hardware’ in 1983 before closing in 1992 when Jim McCormack begins constructing a larger purpose-built hardware store on land at 4-6 Camp Street.

1994 – Feb 26-27

The first ‘Drive Back In Time’ event is held at Queen Victoria Park in Beechworth and will become an annual feature in town. The idea is launched by Beechworth dentist Dr Ewan Paterson and taken up by the Shire of Beechworth, the Beechworth & District Chamber of Commerce and local businessman Andrew Roseby. The big weekend attracts over 100 classic car owners to Beechworth, with their vehicles having to be at least more than 25 years old. Entertainment is held on Saturday night at the Beechworth Courthouse. Over the years the two-day weekend event will grow – being taken over by the Beechworth Old Cranks Motor Club – and will features a drive around the streets of Beechworth – ‘The Saturday Cruise’ – and a ‘Show & Shine’ on Sunday, when (since 2003) a section of Ford Street is closed to traffic and hundreds come to view all the cars gathered along the street and on the Police Paddocks (below) as well as enjoying street food stalls and other attractions including a display of vintage engines in the Town Hall Gardens adjacent to Ford Street display and a separate ‘tractor trek’.

Although the annual ‘Drive Back in Time’ event is initially held in February at ‘Queen Victoria Park’, in 2003 it will be moved to the centre of Beechworth on the first weekend in May, as the weather in February proves to be too hot for some of the old cars travelling from Melbourne and other parts of Australia.

Once the annual ‘Drive Back in Time’ event is moved from ‘Queen Victoria Park’ in 2003 to the centre of Beechworth, cars gather *along Ford Street* and *at the Police Paddocks as crowds flock to enjoy the* *Sunday ‘Show & Shine’.*

1994

Professor Paul Conroy purchases Warden’s Hotel on Ford Street from his father, also called Paul, who had owned the hotel since the 1970s and had been running it as accommodation for school camps. Paul Jnr completes some restoration work on the building – built in 1869 as the Midland Counties Hotel – and it is later re-opened as Wardens Food and Wine.

*The interior of* ‘*Wardens Food and Wine*‘ *at 32 Ford Street.*

1994

Twenty years after it was established by Jean and Gerry Horne in 1974, the Beechworth Gallery at 8 Albert Road is now being run by Andrew and Jan Roseby. Featuring a vast range of art, sculptures, ornaments and collectables spread over three levels (which includes a large cellar space), the historic 1857 building was constructed as a ‘wine and spirit merchant and general store’ by the Shaw brothers and has been home to several businesses over the years including Robinson’s Store (below).

*Beechworth Gallery – Helen Jensen with Andrew and Jan Roseby and their young son Nicholas in 1984 (photo: Stephen Henderson)*

1994 – Apr

On the Hume Highway, the ‘Wangaratta Bypass’ is completed. At a final cost of $80 million (eight months ahead of schedule and almost $30 million under budget!), this will be the final section of the Hume Highway within Victoria to be duplicated.

1994

*Alan and Jan Robinson at their ‘Jarobee Angus Stud’ property in Beechworth with Greg White* *who joins the ‘Jarobee’ team in 2015 as farm mamager.*

Alan and Jan Robinson establish Jarobee Angus Stud on Robinson Road in Beechworth, initially sourcing female cattle from Willow Fields Stud at Rochester. The Robinson’s interest in genetics grows and eventually their use of embryo transfer and artificial insemination – coupled with sourcing semen – will lead to a highly valuable stud and respected farm business. With expertise in the field of genetics within the cattle industry, Greg White will join Jarobee Angus Stud (below) as farm manager in 2015.

1994 – May 8

The inaugural Beechworth Harvest Celebration festival is held on Mother’s Day. Celebrating food and wine producers of the North-East Victoria region who bring their range of products – from chestnuts to venison, boutique beers to wine – to Beechworth for people to sip, try and buy. Held in Beechworth’s Historic Precinct, the event also features live entertainment and kid’s games. Eventually expanding to a two-day weekend festival, it will be held in Beechworth in early May for the next 20 years and will eventually feature a Saturday night Harvest Celebration gala dinner in a massive marquee.

1994

Artist and author David Williams releases his book “Gold and Granite Grandeur”. Printed by Collett, Bain & Gaspars, the 80-page publication features a range of beautiful illustrations of Beechworth and the surrounding area. It is the seventh such book by Williams who has also published titles including “Ramblings in the Dandenongs” (1991), “Valleys of Gold: Mt Alexander Goldfields at Castlemaine” (1992) and “Mighty Mansfield Muster” (1992).

1994 – Jul

Dr Edmund Bryant (‘EB’) Collins retires and sells his historic 1892 doctor’s residence and former surgery at 41 Camp Street – on the corner of Camp and Loch Streets – to Roger and Sue Thomas, who turn Beechworth’s long-serving medical practice into a private home.

Dr ‘EB’ Collins established the small ‘Beechworth Surgery’ at 39 Camp Street in 1975, directly across the road from the long-serving medical practice and it has since been expanded and grown substantially (above).

1994

A new edition of the 68-page book ‘Background To Beechworth‘ is published by the Beechworth & District Progress Association printed by Wilkinson Printers of Albury. Compiled by Roy C. Harvey, it had originally been published as ‘Background to Beechworth 1852-1952’ in March 1952 as part of Beechworth’s centenary celebrations.

*‘Background to Beechworth’ – 4th Reprint Cover, April 1970*

This marks the seventh reprinting of the popular 1952 book, with previous editions being reprinted in 1964, 1970, 1978, 1981 and 1991.

1994 – Nov 7

The Beechworth Servicemen’s Memorial Hall re-opens after extensive renovations. The work, carried out by Turner Ginnivan, a Melbourne-based architectural firm, includes the erection of a new wing to house the Shire Offices and the complete re-modelling of the Ford Street frontage (see image below).

The *Beechworth Servicemen’s Memorial Hall* *as it looks in the 1970s* *before renovations*

1994 – Nov 18

*Map of Victoria, with the newly created ‘Indigo Shire’ area highlighted in orange.*

Following the amalgamation of the Shire of Rutherglen, Shire of Chiltern, Shire of Yackandandah and theUnited Shire of Beechworth, the new Shire of Indigo is created as an official local government area. Covering an area of 2,040 square kilometres and taking in a population of around 17,000 people, it includes the towns of Beechworth, Chiltern, Rutherglen and Yackandandah. The first elected Mayor of the new Shire of Indigo is Yackandandah’s Janice ‘Jenny’ Marget Dale.

Also referred to as ‘Municipalities’, there are now 79 Victorian ‘Local Government Areas’ – 34 classified as ‘Cities’, 38 as ‘Shires’, 6 as ‘Rural Cities’ and 1 as a ‘Borough’.

1995 – Jan 1

*Poster for the 1987 ‘Stanley New Year’s Day Sports’* *(image: Liam Cuffley)*

After 145 continuous years, the Stanley New Year’s Day Sports holds its final event at the Stanley Recreation Reserve.

1995 – Jan 1

Author Ian Hyndman releases ‘History of Beechworth’. Published by Bethel Publications, the 20-page book is just one of a number of fascinating books about the Beechworth district researched and written by Hyndman. The others include ‘A Lightstand at Beechworth 1872-1972’ (1986), ‘Out of the Goldfields: A History Of Ovens and Murray Hospital For The Aged’ (1993), ‘Thomas Ladson of Ladson’s Store, Tarrawingee’ (1989), ‘Alfred and Jane Ladson and Family’ (2006), ‘Andrew and Sarah Galbraith and Family: Pioneers of Beechworth and Tyers’ (1997) and ‘Beechworth Cemetery: A Stroll Through History’ (1988), along with the brochure ‘A Tour of Historic Graves at Beechworth Cemetery’.

Ian Hyndman is descended from one of Beechworth’s pioneering families – his great-grandfather arrived in 1855 – and is well known as a Beechworth historian. An experienced senior health service administrator, Hyndman will be the Administrator of Beechworth’s ‘Ovens and Murray District Hospital’ from 1970 to 1984 and will help steer its transformation from a ‘Benevolent Home’ to Beechworth’s modern aged care facility, where he will serve as a chief executive officer.

Beechworth author and *health service administrator* *Ian Hyndman in 2023 (photo: Coral Cooksley, The Ovens & Murray Advertiser)*

1995 – Feb 15

Ronald ‘Ron’ Adolph Rosen, popular Beechworth barber and tobacconist, dies at the age of 75. For many years he ran his business on Ford Street, next door to the Star Hotel (above and below) and lived at 34 Finch Street.

1995

*Stephen Tapsell and his mother Annette in front of the newly opened ‘Tapsell’s Books at 91 Ford Street* *(photo: Stephen Tapsell)*

Stephen Tapsell moves his vast second-hand book collection from his Book Shed in Williams Street to his new store – Tapsell’s Books – at 91 Ford Street, originally built as the booking office of the old Parkinson’s Garage next door. Stephen’s book shop specialises in Australiana, including books on the local goldrush and bushrangers, particularly Ned Kelly.

*A short time after opening, Stephen Tapsell, along with the building’s owner Paul Conroy Snr, add a verandah to historic building*. *(photo: Stephen Tapsell)*

1995

*Beechworth Vet Dr. Andrew Colson in 1997 with Jean Papillon and puppy Dodi*

Dr. Andrew Colson purchases The Ovens and Kiewa Animal Health Centre at 6a Camp Street. The practice also has a veterinary clinic in Myrtleford. Dr. Colson – who graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1984 – will look after Beechworth’s pets and animals for many years before selling the Beechworth practice to Dr. Helen Robinson in 2011.

1995

The Beechworth Visitor Information Centre is established within the Shire Town Hall with Anne Wilson as one of the first volunteers to run the centre – booking accommodation, selling festival tickets, managing tourism information, sending out information packs, maintaining records and statistics, selling souvenirs, updating the newly established website, training new volunteers and dealing with telephone enquiries. Between 1995 and 2010 the number of visitors to the centre increases from about 15,000 to over 100,000!

1995 – Sep

*‘The Finer Things of Life’ (marked at left) and ‘House in the Country’ a few doors down Camp Street (marked at right)*

After establishing The Finer Things of Life shop at 16 Camp Street in 1990, Steven and Elizabeth Mason now open a second store, House in the Country, at 12 Camp Street. The two shops trade in tandem, with The Finer Things of Life specialising in antique items with a ‘vintage Victorian’ theme, while House in the Country stocks more contemporary items for the home.

*Snow along Camp Street outside ‘The Finer Things of Life’ (left) and ‘House in the Country” (right)* in May 2000

*Steven and Elizabeth Mason – owners of two Beechworth stores in Camp Street – ‘The Finer Things of Life’ and ‘House in the Country’ (photo: Ken Brass)*

1995

*The Asylum in ‘happier times’ – featured on a 1930 Beechworth tourism postcard.*

The vast Mayday Hills Psychiatric Hospital is finally decommissioned and closed after operating for 128 years and its psychiatric patient services moved to Beechworth Hospital. The large asylum is surrounded by almost 106 acres of farmland, making the hospital self-sufficient with its own piggery, orchards, kitchen gardens, fields, stables and barn. At the time of its closure the Asylum consists of two psycho-geriatric wards (‘Emerald’ and ‘Amethyst’), the Kerferd Acute Clinic, the property known as ‘Willow’, and external housing at Gilchrest Avenue and Mayday Court. The site is added to the Register of Historic Buildings.

Since its establishment, the title of the institution at Beechworth has been altered several times to reflect both the community’s changing attitude towards mental illness and the Victorian Government’s approach to the treatment of mentally disturbed persons – Beechworth Asylum 1867-1905; Beechworth Hospital for the Insane 1905-1934; Beechworth Mental Hospital 1934-1967; Mayday Hills Mental Hospital 1967-1991; Mayday Hills Psychiatric Hospital 1978-1995.

1995

Julie and Andrew Banks are running the Budget-Rite Foodmarket on Junction Road opposite Beechworth Primary School.

1995

Luigi ‘Gigi’ Cipolato establishes Gigi’s of Beechworth Bar and Bistro at 69 Ford Street and it quickly becomes one of the town’s busiest and best-loved eateries. Joined by chef Alan Robertson (below), Gigi’s of Beechworth are well known for their Italian regional dishes, beautiful home-made cakes & coffee, and their great range of north-east Victorian wines – including a comprehensive cellar of the local Giaconda label – as well as a good range of Italian wines. Gigi’s will trade in Beechworth for the next 20 years.

*The staff at ‘Gigi’s of Beechworth’ – (back row) Maria Saunders, chef Alan Robertson, Katherine Sullivan, (front row) Jan Yeomans, Luigi ‘Gigi’ Cipolato, and Rosiland Tasca.* *(image from the book* *‘Echoes of History: Beechworth 1853-2003’)*

Born in Venice, Italy in 1941, Luigi arrives in Australia in 1959 as an 18-year-old and eventually finds work at his uncle’s Melbourne restaurant ‘Marchetti’s’ on Lonsdale Street, before going to work at some of Melbourne’s most well-known restaurants like ‘Pellegrini’s’, ‘Florentino’s’ and ‘Brunetti’s’. After holidaying in Beechworth over many years, he decides to move to the town, purchasing Karen and Ken Dosser’s ‘The Parlour & Pantry’ business at 69 Ford Street and turning it into his own bistro and bar – ‘Gigi’s of Beechworth’.

1995 – Oct

Beginning life in 1981 as the Beechworth Co-Op – a showcase for the creative work of artists and potters including Ric and Judy Pierce of One Tree Hill Pottery – their shop Beechworth Designer Gifts is established at 56 Ford Street in the middle shop of the three shops that made up the former Freeman’s Store. The Pierce’s have been potters for over 30 years and have exhibited the work in countries including Australia, France, India and the USA.

*‘The Potters’ sign above ‘Beechworth Designer Gifts’* *store on Ford Street*

1995 – Nov 17-19

The inaugural ‘Celtic Festival’ receives financial assistance from ‘BARA’ (‘Business Advice to Rural Areas’) the ‘Beechworth Arts Council’ and ‘The Beechworth & District Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc’

The inaugural Beechworth and North East Celtic Festival is held. Conceived in the back of John Harvey’s Brigadier Scottish Shop at 14 Camp Street, it begins with a Friday night six-course ‘Celtic Banquet’ at the Chiltern Memorial Hall followed by a weekend of events in both Beechworth and Chiltern including Celtic music, pipe bands and Celtic dancing along with a food court and Celtic markets and displays & exhibitions, seminars, and historical re-enactments in the main streets of Beechworth, and a Saturday night screening of the film “Rob Roy” at the Star Theatre in Chiltern.

Over the years, the annual festival will grow to include popular events like a Friday Night Celtic Concert, Celtic Themed Dinner (with an ‘Ode to the Haggis’) and, in November 2017, a Sunday Night Tattoo featuring massed pipes and Celtic dancing in the courtyard of the Old Beechworth Gaol.

*The ‘Beechworth Celtic Festival’ on Camp Street a number of years after the inaugural event in 1995.*

1996 – Jan 28

*Beechworth’s Emma George prepares for the pole vault at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: Nick Wilson, Allsport)*

21-year-old Emma George from Beechworth breaks the world record for the women’s pole-vault by clearing 4.41 metres at Perth. Over her sporting career, George achieves a total of 17 world records, most famously setting a mark of 4.60 metres in Sydney in 1999, and a gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. During the 1990s alone she set twelve records in a row. Her achievements increased the popularity of the sport of pole-vaulting. George suffers a fall while training for the 1999 Seville Championships and undergoes a number of operations on her back before finally announcing her retirement at the age of 29 in 2003.

As a youngster, Emma George had been a trapeze artist with ‘The Flying Fruit Fly Circus’ (established by the ‘Murray River Performing Group’ in 1979) and competed in – and won – the 1996 season of the popular Australia television series ‘Gladiator’ in the ‘Individual Sports Athletes Challenge’ specials.

*The town celebrates its pride in Emma George with signs at both main road entrances to Beechworth.*

Emma George’s grandfather Ernie George is the head nurse at the Mayday Hills Asylum for many years, and her great uncle, Harold ‘Hop’ George, ran a popular Barber Shop on Camp Street.

1996

Wendy and Mark ‘Lazy Harry’ Stephens design build the magnificent Beechworth House at 24 Dingle Road. Set on over 2 acres of gardens with a rotunda, a large pond and an extensive rose garden, it overlooks the historic grounds of Mayday Hills. It operates as premier guest accommodation and features four separate guest rooms, all with private entrances. A few years later it will be sold to chef and wine connoisseur Allan Parker who runs the popular Gigi’s of Beechworth Bar and Bistro at 69 Ford Street.

*An aerial view of the grounds of ‘Beechworth House’*

Mark Stephens begins performing as popular singer and guitarist ‘Lazy Harry’ in 1981, launching his first album at Kate’s Cottage in Glenrowan and has since recorded over a dozen albums and toured all over the world. (The name comes from the traditional bush ballad “We Camped at Lazy Harry’s on the Road to Gundagai”). Wendy and Mark create the popular ‘Farmer’s Market’ – which becomes a Beechworth Saturday staple – in order to raise funds to restore the organ at Beechworth’s Christ Church.

1996

La Trobe University purchases the Mayday Hills Hospital and Lunatic Asylum to use as its new Beechworth Campus. This includes over 100 hectares of land, heritage gardens and numerous buildings.

The ‘La Trobe University Campus’ is closed in 2011 and sold. Now two hotels operate on the site – the ‘Grand Oaks Resort’ and the ‘Linaker Art Deco Hotel’ (formally the Mayday Hills Nurses Hostel). The ‘Mayday Hills Art Society’ and ‘Asylum Ghost Tours’ also operate on the site.

1996

*The Mt. Stanley Telecommunications Towers (photo: Graeme Swinton)*

11km from Beechworth, additional Telecommunication Towers are added to the top of Mt. Stanley next to the original tower constructed in 1931 (below). On a clear day, the views from the Mt Stanley Tower can be spectacular, including Australia’s highest peak Mt. Kosciusko to the east, Mt. Macedon to the west, Mt. Buller and the Strathbogie Ranges to the south, and Victoria’s highest peak Mt. Bogong in the middle distance, flanked on the right by Mt. Buffalo with the picturesque Ovens Valley below.

*The new Telecommunication Towers next to the smaller original tower (at right) on top of Mt. Stanley (photo: Jim Browning)*

1996 – Mar 1

After selling the lease for his Beechworth Newsagency (which he had owned and run since 1985), Jim McCormack, his sister Margaret and her husband George Cousins, purchase the historic Murray Breweries (the former Billson’s Breweries) at 29 Last Street from Alan Storer and John Ryan. Jim McCormack and his family will run Murray Breweries for over a decade before selling it at the start of 2007 to brothers Aris and Valdis Berzins (and their company Riga Properties).

Under their ownership of ‘Murray Breweries’, Jim McCormack and his family will introduce a range of new cordial flavours including Spiced Apple, Mint Julep and Chilli Punch (above).

1996 – Mar 12

Fire! After celebrating 10 years of service, the Beechworth Neighbourhood Centre at the former 1869-built Wesleyan Hall and Schoolroom is partially destroyed by fire in the early hours of the morning. Following a strong commitment from the community and the Beechworth Shire Council it is agreed that the fire damaged building will be rebuilt, and the Beechworth Neighbourhood Centre moves back into the restored Wesleyan Hall and Schoolroom on August 30th 1997, officially opened by Janice ‘Jenny’ Dale, the Mayor of the newly created Shire of Indigo. As insurance money also allows for the renovation of the original 1867-built Wesleyan Church next door, the Historic Buildings Council agrees to renovate and restore the church – which will become known as the ‘Oregon Hall’ – thus providing both buildings for use by the community. Mother Goose Play Group initially use the renovated schoolroom until Beechworth Neighbourhood Centre manager Judy Lazarus applies for funding to develop a social enterprise that is to become the Quercus Community Bookstore in 2008.

*The (former) Wesleyan Schoolroom on the left with the Wesleyan Churc*h on the right *at 26-30 Ford Street.* *The Wesleyan Curch building is now known as ‘Oregon Hall’*

1996

*The former ‘Star Hotel’ in the centre of Beechworth at 59 Ford Street.*

Keith and Dorothy Graham take over the lease of the former Star Hotel on Ford Street from Josef and Elizabth Kraus. The Grahams will continue to have two shops tenanted on the ground floor, while they convert the upstairs into a private residential rental area. They will own the building until 2002, when they sell it to Heidi Freeman.

1996

*James McLaurin, founder of ‘Golden Ball Wines’.*

James McLaurin purchases 53 acres of the Golden Ball property from his father Paul McLaurin who had bought the land in 1981. Originally established by Isaac Phillips in 1857, the historic property sits at 1175 Beechworth-Wangaratta Road, Everton Upper. It now has 5 acres under vine and Golden Ball Wines produce Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a small portion set aside for Grenache and Malbec. All wines are entirely grown, vinified and bottled on the property. Since 2010 Golden Ball Wines have been producing their own electricity, through a five kW solar grid feed system.

1996

*‘Gapstead Estate Wines’ which begins life as the* ‘*Victorian Alps Wine Company*‘

The Victorian Alps Wine Company is established 22 km from Beechworth, on the Great Alpine Road towards Myrtleford. The winery is the outcome of six wine families seeing the potential of producing high quality cool climate wines from the Alpine and King Valleys. The families all have experience and influence in the region either as grape growers, winemakers or business owners and can see the benefits of overseeing the product quality from vine to bottle. Situated on 24 hectares of land – with eight hectares of vines – it will eventually be renamed Gapsted Estate Wines and feature a cellar door and restaurant. Beginning with a staff of five, it soon grows to 35 permanent staff members, rising to 55 during vintage. Its founding members include Shayne Cunningham, Pat Murtagh and John Cavedon.

*The impressive entrance to the ‘Gapsted Estate’ at 3897 Great Alpine Road, Myrtleford*

1996 – Jul 1

The original ‘*Goldfields Greengrocer*” *at 59 Ford Street* (image from the book *‘Echoes of History: Beechworth 1853-2003’)*

Peter and Fay Mim take over the small fruit and vegetable grocery store run by Alex Grec at 59 Ford Street on the ground floor of the old Star Hotel (above). After five years, when Brian Voight’s Butcher Shop next door to the Star Hotel becomes available, Peter and Fay will move their Goldfields Greengrocer into the larger premises at 61 Ford Street, where it remains to this day (below). Peter is known for his extensive vegetable garden which he uses to supply his loyal customers and also sells meat at the greengrocers on the weekends when the Arthur Stephenson’s Butcher Shop across the road is closed. The Goldfields Greengrocer is eventually taken over by Peter and Fay Mim’s daughter Kathleen Stackpole.

*‘Goldfields Greencgrocer’ at 61-63 Ford Street*

*Peter Mim with his daughter Kathleen Stackpole.*

Born in Yugoslavia in 1942 (during the Second World War), Peter Mim and his family migrated to Australia in 1953 and spent three months at the Bonegilla migrant Camp before moving to Beechworth. The Mim family were one of many European migrants who are welcomed and assisted by Beechworth’s Michael Freeman. After leaving St. Joseph’s School at the age of 13, Peter worked as a woodcutter at Stanley as a teenager, before finding work at the ‘Mayday Hills Mental Asylum’, working his way up from a kitchen hand to becoming the Asylum’s Catering Manager. He married Fay Borschman in 1965. After the closure of the ‘Mayday Hills Mental Asylum’ in 1994, Peter works at Rob Tully’s orchard before taking over the ‘Goldfields Greengrocer’ in mid-1996. He will pass away on May 6th 2016.

1996 – Nov 29-Dec 1

*The* ‘*Bijou Theatre’ at the Mayday Hills Asylum*.

After becoming an incorporated association in 1984, then ceasing operations in 1991 due to dwindling interest, the Beechworth Theatre Company is revived. BTC’s first new production is Shaun Sutton’s adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol”, performed to full houses at the Mayday Hills Bijou Theatre (above), directed by Amanda Darling.

1996

A ring of six bells is installed in the 17-metre granite tower of the Christ Church, and Beechworth becomes the first country town in Victoria – and only the third in Australia – to have a ring of six bells. A dedicated team of Beechworth Bellringers – including Graeme Heyes (below) – still gather for ‘change ringing practice’ sessions at the Christ Church Bell Tower every Monday evening (above and below). The bells ring every Sunday, and for weddings, funerals and significant events. The parish also has a set of handbells occasionally used in services and concerts.

Devoted and experienced Beechworth bell ringer Graeme Heyes pictured in 2022. He rang the bells at St. Peters Anglican Church in Ballarat in 1952 on the occassion of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. (photo: Coral Cooksley)

The six bells are – ‘St. Mary’ [Note B, treble] (cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry of London in 1993); ‘Henry’ [Note A] (Whitechapel Foundry 1994); ‘Little Ben’ [Note G] (cast at the John Taylor Bell Foundry in Leicestershire, England in 1958); ‘Nancy Collins’ [Note F#] (Whitechapel Foundry 1993); ‘Bobby’ [Note E] (Whitechapel Foundry 1993); and ‘St. Aiden’ [Note D, tenor] (made at the John Taylor Bell Foundry in 1958).

1996 – Dec

*Steven and Elizabeth Mason’s ‘Rolls Royce Silver Spur’*

After purchasing a Rolls Royce Silver Spur (above), Steven and Elizabeth Mason establish Elegant Expeditions and the Fine Style Motoring Company. Employing respected Beechworth photographer Gary Coombe as lead chauffeur, Elegant Expeditions offer personal tours around historic Beechworth along with ‘Gourmet Region Sampling’ and ‘Winery District and Tastings’ tours. Tours can be booked through the Mason’s The Finer Things of Life shop at 16 Camp Street.

The ‘Rolls Royce Silver Spur’ is a long-wheelbase version of the ‘Rolls Royce Silver Spirit’, produced in England from 1980 to 2000. It is the first Rolls Royce to feature a retractable ‘Spirit of Ecstasy‘. The spring-loaded Rolls Royce mascot sinks into the radiator shell if dislodged from its position.

1997

The original logo for the Beechworth Old Cranks Motor Club. It is designed by David Baines, an Art and Design student at the ‘Wangaratta College of TAFE’ . Sadly he will be killed in a car accident in 1998 at the age of 26. The ‘Bainz Gallery’ within the ‘Wangaratta Library’ is named in his honour.

The Beechworth Old Cranks Motor Club Inc is established by a group of local car and engine enthusiasts – including Bill Savage, Lindsay Rankin (below), Keith Harms, Rudy Kraus, Ron McAnanly and Ian Downes – who enjoy sharing their passions and interests. Over the following years, the club will grow and grow and hold regular events in Beechworth, eventually taking over the running of the popular annual ‘Drive Back in Time’ event which began in February 1994.

*Linday Rankin – one of the founders of the* ‘Beechworth Old Cranks Motor Club’ – pictured in May 2025 with his *1946 Chevrolet ‘Fleet Master’*. *He purchases the classic car in 1976* *for $500* *and spends the next few years restoring it.*

1997

*The new ‘Sandy Beach’ at the Lake Sambell Reserve (photo: Mamma Knows East)*

A new beach area, christened ‘Sandy Beach’, along with barbecue facilities and a children’s playground is established at the Lake Sambell Reserve.

The playground, under shade sails (pictured below), features a spiral slide, climbing wall, platform with binoculars and fireman’s pole, walkway, crazy angled climber, hanging disks, rope climbing frame, monkey bars, balance beam, little wave slide, steps, clock, panels and a row of little shop fronts including Blacksmith, Bank, Sweet Shop and Bakery. It also includes a springer, stand-on spinner, see-saw, flying fox and four swings including one with a harness.

*The children’s playground at Lake Sambell Reserve*

1997

*The old ‘Trim’s Bakery’ at 12 Albert Road* *which will become ‘Albertines’*

Owen and Judy Richards purchase the defunct ‘Trim’s Bakery’ at 12 Albert Road and begin to renovate the historic building and eventually convert it into the Albertines boutique guesthouse with a nod to French Provincial. The original building, also known as the ‘Ovens Bakery’ and simply as ‘The Old Bakery’, operated at 12 Albert Road for over 50 years. Today the business operates as Twelve on Albert luxury accommodation, with four private guest suites with ensuites, separated from a common lounge and entrance area. It features delightful gardens behind the old bakery (below).

1997

*The ‘Amulet Vineyard’ on the Beechworth-Wangaratta Road* *(photo: TruPics)*

Sue and Eric Thornton establish the Amulet Vineyard at 1,036 Beechworth-Wangaratta Road, Everton Upper. Later joined by their son Ben Clifton (who has been studying ‘Wine Science’ at Charles Sturt University), they plant around 6 hectares of vines and become a pioneer of Italian varieties in the region. These varieties, together with their French varieties, are planted on the Amulet Vineyard’s elevated, cool site. The Thorntons will go on to produce two popular labels – Scarecrow (representing value) and a premium range under the Wood Duck label (for reserve wines). In May 2006 Ben Clifton will organise a traditional ‘Highland Games’, hosted at the Amulet Vineyard. It will become a popular and regular event.

1997 – May 23-31

The Beechworth Theatre Company stages “The Four Faces Festival”. The production – directed by Amanda Darling – features the short plays “The Women of Troy”, “The Zero Sum Mind”, “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” and Tom Stoppard’s “The Fifteen Minute Hamlet”. The Beechworth Theatre Company is an affiliate of the Beechworth Arts Council, founded in the 1970s by local member of the community as a forum of support across all creative art genres – arts, crafts, music and theatre.

1997

*The front exterior of the Montessori Children’s Group facing Gilchrist Avenue*

The Beechworth Montessori Children’s Group is established to provide a Montessori preschool program for three and four year old children.

In 2007, the Montessori School opens a full a primary school for 6-12 year olds at 42 Gilchrist Avenue, enabling children to complete their early childhood and primary school learning within the Montessori educational philosophy.

1997 – Jul 1

*A 1965 portait of David Martin by Josef Herman (courtesy: National Library of Australia)*

After living in Beechworth for 25 years, renowned author and poet David Martin passes away at the age of 81 and is buried in Beechworth Cemetery. Born Lajos ‘Ludwig’ Frigyes Detsinyi in Budapest in 1915, he publishes his first book of poems “Battlefields and Girls” in 1942 in Glasgow. Adopting the pen name ‘David Martin’, he later changes his name to David Martin by deed poll. In 1950 David and his wife Elizabeth Richenda Powell move to Australia where David works as a freelance journalist and editor of the Australian Jewish News and joins the Australian Communist Party. In 1972 the Martins move to 3 Finch Street in Beechworth, where David writes a series of 14 popular children’s novels. Over his lifetime he pens numerous novels, poetry collections and scripts for theatre productions and television drama series, as well as two autobiographies – “Fox On My Door” (1987) and “My Strange Friend: An Autobiography” (1991). In 1998 he is made a ‘Member of the Order of Australia’ for his services to Australian literature.

*The poster for a 2019 event hosted by the ‘Beechworth Arts Council’ features a 1961 sketch of David Martin by Louis Kahan.*

1997 – Oct 1

*The ‘Beechworth Gold’ building on the corner of Ford and Camps Street in the centre of town.*

Pat and Graham Abbott take over the former Bank of Victoria building on the corner of Ford and Camp Streets – which has been operating as Herb and Joan Crossman’s Rock Cavern – and establish Beechworth Gold, a spectacular precious gems and jewellery store. Sitting right in the centre of town it has become one of Beechworth’s premier stores.

Graham is a successful Perth property developer until he loses everything in the 1987 financial crisis. He gradually recovers, establishing a wholesale jewellery manufacturing business before buying a van and – calling himself ‘The Jewellery Man’ – travels across Australia selling gold and iron ore jewellery. When he arrives in Beechworth, he thinks it is one of the finest tourist towns in the country and decides it is the perfect place to set up a permanent headquarters for the family business.

1997 – Oct 23

The new Beechworth Police Station, on the corner of High and Williams Streets, is officially opened by Bill McGrath, Minister for Police and Emergency Services.

*The former Beechworth Police Station, when it is housed in the 1858-built former *‘Gold Office and Sub-Treasury’* building on Ford Street*.

1997 – Nov

After a number of years in business, Marilyn Williams closes her Twigs of Beechworth shop on Ford Street and all of Marilyn’s stock is taken over by Steven and Elizabeth Mason and moved to their House in the Country store at 12 Camp Street.

1998

*The completed Chinese Gardens featuring silver birch trees.*

To celebrate Beechworth’s Chinese Heritage, the North East Branch of the Australia-China Friendship Society initiates a project to be known as the Beechworth Chinese Gardens. To be built on the corner of Albert Road and McConville Avenue, it will be designed using the principle of Feng Shui – living in harmony with the surrounds – as a place for people to sit, read and enjoy the surrounds.

1998 – May 7

Jeff Kennett, the Premier of Victoria, officially opens the “Wallace Park-Spring Creek Walking Track”.

*One of the numbered marking signs on the “Wallace Park-Spring Creek Walking Track”*.

1998 – Jul 2-5

The Beechworth Theatre Company presents“Screwtape” a ‘devilish and diabolical comedy’ stage adaptation of the 1942 C.S. Lewis novel “The Screwtape Letters”. It is staged at the old Bijou Theatre, located within the former Mayday Hills Asylum, now the Beechworth campus of La Trobe University.

1998 – Oct

Dieter Bach establishes Gospel Antiques in the former Beechworth Congregational Church – erected in 1869 – at 40a Camp Street (on the north-western corner of Camp and Loch Streets). Dieter had previously established Drill Hall Antiques in Port Fairy in 1993 in a former military drill hall, built in 1858 for the protection of Port Fairy from any possible Russian invasion following the Crimean War (1853-1856).

The fascinating interior of ‘Gospel Antiques’ in the former ‘Beechworth Congrgational Church’. Dieter Bach offers vast range of quality furnishings, glass and ceramics, collectables, silverware, jewellery, books and many other speciality items.

When the Congregational and Methodist Churches amalgamate in 1977 to form the ‘Uniting Church of Australia’, this church ceases being used for services. The now ‘united’ congregations of the Beechworth Congregational and Methodist churches agree to hold their services at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church (now St. Andrews Uniting Church) at 115 Ford Street, on the corner of Ford and Williams Streets. In 1993 the Beechworth Shire Council purchases the two empty churches.

1999 – Jan

Kathryn Hammerton opens her eponymous shop at 59 Ford Street selling ‘ladies exclusive labels’. The attractive store is located on the ground floor of the Star Hotel building.

*The interior of Kathryn Hammerton’s store on Ford Street*

1999

The Indigo Vineyard is established at 1221 Beechworth-Wangaratta Road, Everton Upper, 10 minutes from Beechworth.

1999

*The curent home of ‘Crozzys Collectables’ at 4 Ford Street.*

With a lifelong interest in collectables, Geoff ‘Crozzy’ Crossman opens the first of his Crozzys Collectables shops in Beechworth. The son of Herb and Joan Crossman – who established The Rock Cavern in the former Bank of Victoria building on the corner of Ford and Camp Streets in 1971 – Geoff specialises in coins, stamps and old glass bottles. His first shop is at the rear of Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel, then at other locations including the former Regent Theatre at 15 Loch Street and the old McKenzie Family Store on Bridge Road. In 2010 he moves operations to his home at 4 Ford Street where he continues to operate, as well as travelling to regular markets and collectables gatherings.

1999

George Fendyk sells his Beechworth Machinery shop at 30 High Street to Mick and Sharon Stribley who, along with their son Luke, continue to run the popular business. The building had begun life as Ladson’s Cash Grocery Store in May 1882 (below).

1999 – Mar 8

Wayne and Kaye Richardson open their Beechworth Cycles and Saws business at 17 Camp Street where they become the local agent for Stihl Chainsaws. They continue the tradition of selling bicycles and bicycle parts at the shop, started by Leonard and Nancy Collier in 1973 with their Seagull Cycle Works. The Richardson’s will retire and close the shop in August 2020.

1999 – Apr 11

The Beechworth Public Cemetery adds a new ‘Lawn Section’ across the road from the historic main cemetery on Balaclava Road.

1999

*The Beechworth Brass Band’s ‘Liedertafel’ concert at the Burke Museum*

The Burke Museum stages an exhibition titled ‘From the Liedertafel to the Skating Rink: Entertainment in Beechworth 1852 – early 1900s’ which celebrates the rich and diverse entertainments that were a part of Beechworth life in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. In conjunction with exhibition, the Beechworth Brass Band stage a ‘Liedertafel’ concert in the main hall at the museum.

The exhibition highlights the various entertainments and attractions in Beechworth at the time, which included marching bands, choirs, circus acts, theatrical performances, races, and seasonal activities, including ‘Mr. Spiller’s Roller-Skating Rink’, established at St. George’s Hall in 1869 by 27-year-old champion roller-skater Adolphus Frederick Spiller. ‘Liedertafel’ is a tradition thataccompanied German settlers to Australia. It refers to a friendly society of men united by an enthusiasm for singing. The ‘Beechworth Brass Band’ was formed by Henry Vandenberg in 1887 while the ‘Beechworth Liedertafel’ was established 14 March 1894 at the ‘London Tavern’ in Camp Street by Alfred Arthur Billson, and a visiting conductor, Mr. H. Fielder.

1999

*The two-storey ‘Beechworth Laundromatt’ building (at right)* *on Ford Street*

Peter Rue purchases the Beechworth Laundromatt at 55 Ford Street from Anthony McNeil. Rue will continue to run the popular and successful business for the next 25 years, finally selling the building and the business in February 2024.

1999 – May 17

*The main intersection of Ford and Camp Streets in Beechworth in the 1920s*

A roundabout for Beechworth? The Beechworth Community Advisory Committee holds a special meeting at the Memorial Hall to discuss the matter of a roundabout in the centre of Beechworth. Elizabeth Mason presents a petition with 515 signatures in favour of the plan which would help resolve the growing traffic and safety concerns at the busy intersection of Ford and Camp Streets. As well as the construction of a roundabout, citizens are keen for the historic street lamp – currently standing in front of the Beechworth Courthouse – to be relocated to the centre of the roundabout. Within a few months, the roundabout is approved, along with the placement of the old street lamp in the centre of the roundabout, making it a real feature of the town (below).

*Aerial image of Beechworth’s roundabout (courtesy: Alex from ‘Yack Drone’)*

*An east-west view of the completed roundabout with the historic street lamp as its centrepiece.*

*A north-south view of the completed roundabout in the centre of Beechworth.*

1999

*The ‘Beechworth Ice Creamery’ had been established by Italian gelato master Mario Scardigli who migrated to Australia from Tuscany. He also established the ‘Bright Ice Creamery’ in 1986*

Seamus Foley sells his popular Beechworth Ice Creamery shop on the corner of Camp and High Streets to Torbin and Kamma (surname?) who continue to run, and grow, the business. As well as its home made gelato and ice-cream (including the famous ‘Magic Mallow’ topping), the shop is also known for its range of baked potatoes, hot dogs, jaffles, focaccias and sandwiches.

1999 – Oct 22

The new Beechworth Library is officially opened. Named in honour of Keith Henderson Zwar, it stands at 2 Albert Road, on the corner of Albert Road and Harper Avenue in a brick building originally constructed and operated as the Beechworth Kindgergarten from 1965.

In 2015 the Beechworth Library will move into the former Council Offices at the rear of the Memorial Hall. In 2022 the building will become the new home of the Beechworth Veterinary Hospital, operated by ‘Indigo Veterinary Services’.

THE STORY CONTINUES IN THE 2000-2019 TIMELINE