March 28, 2011
Beechworth Real Estate Snapped-Up Quickly When Available
Beechworth is a popular tourist destination in the picturesque northeast region of Victoria, Australia. It remains one of the best preserved historical towns in the country with many fine colonial buildings. The town was a key supply centre in the Victorian goldfields during the 1850s gold boom. Because of its rich history, large flow of visitors, attractive natural setting, Beechworth real estate is an asset highly prized by many people.
The town is a comfortable three-hour drive northeast from Melbourne. From Sydney, the journey is slightly longer at seven hours. In both cases, access is along the Hume Freeway to Wangaratta, then heading east for the final 30 minute drive to Beechworth. Similarly, visitors arriving by train travel first to Wangaratta and then complete the final leg of the journey by road.
The town has produced a number of notable figures, including Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs (1855-1948). Although Isaacs was born in Melbourne, his family moved to the small town of Yackandandah in 1859 and then to the larger neighbouring Beechworth in 1867. Isaacs attended the Common school and then to Beechworth Grammar School of which he was dux. He eventually carved out a career as barrister, politician, Victorian state and federal attorney-general and high court judge. He was a prominent federationist, having served as a Victorian delegate to the Federal convention. He was also the first Australian-born governor-general to serve the country.
The region surrounding Beechworth was first settled by Europeans in 1838. In September of that year, David Reid (1820-1906) arrived from New South Wales with 500 cattle and quickly established himself as a grazier and wheat farmer. Gold was discovered in 1852. People rushed to the area and within a handful of years, the population had swelled to about 20,000. Explorers seeking their fortune arrived from all parts of the world, particularly China.
Some of the town restaurants have developed a national reputation, many visitors seeking them out specifically by name. Perhaps the best known in this category is the Beechworth Bakery.It proudly claims to be the greatest bakery in Australia. This bread and pastry maker is licensed to serve alcohol which, by itself, indicates it is not your average bakery. It is a multiple award-winning family business that was an early catalyst driving Beechworth as a significant tourist destination.
The building that houses the Beechworth Bakery was built in 1857, making it one of the oldest in town. The second storey and balcony were added around 1900. Over the years, it has been used as a shoe shop, dining room and pastry shop. It was purchased by the Beechworth Bakery in 1984, along with the adjacent. Twenty six years and much work later, including a couple of false starts, the business generates an annual turnover in excess of $12 million, serving over one million customers, and is one of the largest retailers of its type in Australian history. The owner, Tom OToole, has established similar bakeries in five other rural Australian towns – Echuca, Albury, Healesville, Bendigo and Ballarat.
Beechworth is a superb base from which to launch a campaign of day expeditions to enjoy surrounding highlights/into the surrounding countryside. One popular route is to drive or bicycle to Stanley to explore its apple, berry and nut orchards and then move on to visit historic Yackandandah.
Newtown Bridge traverses Spring Creek just east of the waterfall. This stone arched structure, built in 1874, links Ford Street on the northern bank with Bridge Road on the southern bank. Ford Street is the main thoroughfare through town; it runs into Sydney Road at the northern perimeter and which leads to Yackandandah and then Wodonga. At the southern end of town, Bridge Road leads to Wangaratta.
Over the years, Beechworth has had to reinvent itself moving from a frenzied gold town to the more sedately paced agricultural centre. Today, tourism is a key activity. The one constant during its life is that Beechworth real estate has been consistently viewed as among the most desirable in the region.
Jasmine Zahara is seen as a revered copy writer with a casual office in Beechworth and is passionate about this district of Australia. Jasmine writes on more or less all regional Victorian topics and acknowledges Beechworth Victoria as just one of the most interesting country Australia locations.
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