Murray River to Mountains Day 1 – Beechworth
Am in Victoria for a week cycling some rail trails as my post-election holiday. Day 1 saw us drive to Beechworth, where we will be based for three nights. Beechworth is a historic town, famous for gold mining and Ned Kelly.
This is the Old Beechworth Gaol, where Ned Kelly and many others were imprisoned. Amazingly it was still operating up until shortly after 2000.
A standard room.
There were many hangings at the prison, and you can see where they took place. The tour guide was full of history about some of the more famous inmates, including “stars” of the Underbelly TV series.
The old Beechworth Post Office.
One of several historic hotels.
A monument to the gold rush and the famous Golden Horseshoes incident from 1855 when a newly elected Legislative Council member Daniel Cameron rode through the main streets on a horse shod with real golden horseshoes, to celebrate.
This has now become an annual festival and parade, with a new pair of golden horseshoes ridden every year.
Talking of elections, I predict this bloke will win a seat as I have seen scores of his posters around the place, and zero for anyone else!
Many of the houses here have wonderful gardens – a mini Christchurch.
An Australian White Ibis, Lots of magpies around, but thankfully also many other birds.
The old gunpowder battery storage where gunpowder for mining was safely stored. Designed to funnel a blast upwards in case of an accident.
A view from a nearby lookout.
One of the original cottages.