Beechworth is a small town located on the north east hills of Victoria, Australia. Maintaining a population of between 3200 and 4000 permanent residents, this well preserved historical community thrives on tourism to expand the local economy. Located in a temperate climate, the town is well known for fresh air festivals and annual celebrations, walking tours, and welcomes conferences and onetime events throughout the year. To understand Beechworth real estate, one must first grasp the values of the town and its history.
The earliest settlers to this area were aboriginal people, who left a legacy of painted stories in the local caves. By the 1800s, sheepherders tended their sheep on this grassland known only as Mayday Hill. In 1852, by a creek where the sheep grazed, gold was discovered. An almost immediate rush of people flooded into the region, bringing their picks and shovels, and a determination to find gold. Within months the immediate area sustained over 8000 prospectors, miners and the followers. In 1853, as a town was beginning to grow, a government land evaluator legally changed the name of the settlement to Beechworth.
During the period 1852 through 1866 over several billion dollars (at 21st century rates) worth of gold was dug, sluiced and panned from the creeks and hills around Beechworth. Fortunes were certainly made in the gold fields, as it was reported that one lucky party of men walked away with 50 pounds of gold that had been found by them in one week.
Miners of all nationalities came to, what was known as, the Ovens Goldfield. These miners included over 4000 Chinese, as well as men and women from the United States, and the United Kingdom. During its heyday, populations swelled to over 22000 inhabitants. Beechworth became a thriving community boasting a number of industries, such as a brewery, boot makers, blacksmiths, and a livestock yard. Schools, a convent, hotels, hospitals and a prison sprang up and encouraged a civilized society. Many inhabitants of the era are buried in the Beechworth Cemetery.
In the local region, the town is known as The Elegant Dame, which pays compliment to the colorful charms of its late 1800s traditional and elegantly styled city center store fronts and residences. The town serves as a center for year round attractions providing festivals, annual and one-time events, pedestrian and vehicle tours, as well as seasonal sports. Businesses include cultural and historical displays, museums, restaurants, art merchants and artisans, wineries, accommodations, tourist information centers and public transportation. As an excellent home for those who commute to larger cities, Beechworth has access to airports, rail stations and bus stations. Taxi cabs are available in town.
Real estate in this area is predominantly owned by the locals and district shareholders. Many of these titleholders are not interested in relinquishing their investments and want to hold on to their properties. Recently, some of the land and homes in the area have become available for purchase, as a result of the increase in housing costs in the bigger cities. For the most part, available structures are smaller new homes that have been built on recently divided land parcels.
Most of the significant structures in the center of Beechworth that were built in the 1880s are protected by heritage rules and regulations. Any buyer interested in purchasing one of these buildings needs to discuss the purchase with local authorities to find out if changes can or cannot be made to the buildings. Although fewer historical residential properties have heritage regulations, be sure to check with the authorities on these structures, as well.
The treasure of Beechworth Real Estate lies in its past. Visitors are always joyfully met in this town, whether as a new neighbor, festival participant or a day tripper. Whatever is sought in this community, it will be met with a glorious historical past.
Karl Larkins is a long time Beechworth citizen with a keen interest on local matters. Karl operates as an independent writer and is in addition a consistent photo taking contributor to a range of holiday blogs. Karl’s Independence would make him an ideal narrator for all those Beechworth inquiries.
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