Beechworth Historic Park
Adjoining the popular tourist town of Beechworth, Beechworth Historic Park has a rich goldmining past easily explored by foot.
Enjoying the Park:
A variety of short and long walks in and around the Gorge and Lake Kerferd allow you to explore the natural and historical features of the park.Drive, cycle or walk along the sealed Gorge Scenic Drive (see below) for spectacular views of the granite landscape, local gold mining history and the surrounding countryside.
Some sections of the walks are steep. Walkers should ensure they have suitable footwear, water, sunscreen and a snack.
Walking Tracks:
The Gorge - Large granite outcrops in the Gorge area support dry forests where a network of tracks allows you to select your own route and distance. There are 12 kilometres of track leading to many points of interest. Entry points to the walk include the Powder Magazine, One Tree Hill, Ingrams Rock and Gorge Road. Look for the signs, follow the arrows and stay on the established tracks.Lake Sambell to Lake Kerferd - Beginning near Lake Sambell on Junction Road, this five kilometre walk follows Spring and Hurdle Creeks to Lake Kerferd, passing through moist foothill forest growing on sedimentary soils.
History:
The Dhudhoroa tribe was one of the Aboriginal groups who inhabited this area. Other Aboriginal groups such as the Pangerang, Jaitmathang and Minjambuta would have passed through the area or camped in the valleys. Art sites of significant importance to Aboriginal people can be seen at nearby Mount Pilot.Gold was discovered near Beechworth in 1852 and thousands of miners flocked to the Spring and Reids Creek goldfields. By 1857 no less than 14,000 ounces, or half a tonne, of gold left the fields on the fortnightly gold escorts to Melbourne.
Shallow alluvial mining and sluicing were used to extract gold from the deep layers of sands and gravels. Most of the work was done by hand and many miners received little or no reward for their efforts.
As the alluvial gold was exhausted, companies were formed and deep lead and quartz reef mining was developed throughout the surrounding forest.
Evidence of gold mining can be seen at Spring and Reids Creeks, the Powder Magazine, Rocky Mountain Tunnel and along the walk from Lake Sambell to Lake Kerferd.
Gorge Scenic Drive:
(see attached map below)This five kilometre drive was constructed in 1926 to provide access to the scenic countryside near Beechworth. The Gorge Scenic Drive is now also popular for walking and cycling. Start your drive at Wodonga Road or at the Powder Magazine.
1. One Tree Hill was named for the single mature red stringy bark tree that survived the miners' need for timber.
2. The Powder Magazine, listed by the National Trust, was built to hold gunpowder for mining operations.
3. Granite Tors - rain, frost, wind, sun and plants have all weathered the granite into strange and unusual shapes. Some have been given interesting names such as Pumpkin Rock and the Sphinx.
4. Spring Creek Bridge was built as part of the Scenic Drive. There are many rock pools along the creek. In spring a variety of wildflowers line the creek including the green-flowered Correa and purple-flowered Chocolate Lily.
5. Rocky Mountain Tunnel can be seen on the opposite side of the creek. The Rocky Mountain Extended Mining Company built the tunnel to reduce water levels in Spring Creek and expose new areas for sluicing. Running for 800 metres under the Beechworth township, the tunnel cost 13,500 pounds. The tunnel was a rich source of gold - 6,500 ounces (about 182kg) of gold was recovered from sluice boxes placed in the tunnel between 1869 and 1876.
6. Newton Bridge was built by Scottish stone masons in 1875 to replace an earlier bridge further upstream. The tail race or channel (2.4 metres deep and 410 metres long) visible below the bridge, was cut through solid granite over a two year period in the late 1860s, enabling the area upstream to be sluiced for gold.
7. Chevalier's Mill, a water-powered mill built in 1855, once stood at the head of the falls on Spring Creek and supplied the townspeople with flour and timber.
8. The Cascades, a series of waterfalls from which Spring Creek drops down into the valley below, are spectacular after rain.
9. Diversion Dam was built to divert water into a water race to be channelled for mining operations.
10. The Precipice provides an excellent view of the former Reids Creek goldfields.
11. Ingram's Rock was named after James Ingram, a pioneer and leading Beechworth community member. He died in 1928, within six weeks of his 100th birthday.
12. Fiddes Quarry is one of many granite quarries in the area.
13. Reids Creek Goldfield - other than a few shafts and some alluvial mining sites, little can be seen of what was once the richest goldfield in the area.
14. Lake Sambell was created by damming a mining site that had been extensively sluiced and dredged by the Rocky Mountain Mining Company for sixty years. The lake was built with funds from winning the Ideal Towns competition in 1928.
15. From Lake Sambell to Silver Creek Caravan Park the track passes through old mining sites. Many deep vertical shafts were dug in this area to reach the gold deposits. Please stay on the track to avoid the shafts.
16. Pattersons Dam was one of the many storages built to provide water for mining. Today it is a peaceful habitat for freshwater wildlife.
17. The walk from Patterson Dam to Lake Kerferd follows a vehicle track built to service the water pipeline to Beechworth. The vegetation here reflects the moister conditions of the area, with taller and larger trees such as blue gums, peppermints and white-barked brittle gums. The understorey supports many shrub species including blackwoods, silver wattles, dogwood and hop bitter-peas. Wildlife is varied here. Look out particularly for swamp wallabies, wombats, koalas and many birds.
18. Lake Kerferd provides Beechworth's water supply. The town council built the dam, retaining the waters of Hurdle Swamp in 1862, but disputes over water rights delayed the supply of water to the township until 1874. The lake was once the scene of annual regattas and has provided Beechworth with a reliable water source even through the harshest droughts.
Fossicking
Fossicking is not permitted. Prospecting for gold using hand tools is permitted in designated areas only. Check the Beechworth Prospecting Map below.
Facilities and Accommodation:
There are two caravan parks close to the park - at Lake Sambell and Silver Creek. Motel and bed and breakfast accommodation is available in Beechworth.Access for Dogs:
Dogs are permitted in the park, but must be kept on a leash at all times.How to get there:
Beechworth Historic Park is located adjacent to the town of Beechworth in north east Victoria. The park is approximately 3.5 hours from Melbourne and 30 minutes from Wangaratta.Location
Gorge Road, Beechworth 3747 Map
Web Links
→ Beechworth Historic Park (Parks Victoria)
→ Beechworth Historic Park - Park note (PDF)
→ Beechworth Historic Park Map (PDF)
→ Beechworth Historic Park Prospecting Guide (PDF)
