Burke Museum and Beechworth Historic Precinct

09/04/2026

🛑 Due to a planned all-day power outage on Friday 10 April, the Beechworth Historic Courthouse, Burke Museum and Telegraph Station will be closed.

⚡️ Walking Tours are also cancelled, so to hear about Harry Power (pictured) on our Ned Kelly tour you’ll need to wait until Saturday… there will be no power of any kind in the precinct tomorrow 😉

ℹ️ Beechworth Visitor Information Centre will be open 9.30am to 4pm for your tourist info needs.

⏰ We’ll be back to business as usual on Saturday, hope to see you then! 👌

05/03/2026

We’re excited to see Beechworth Biennale artworks being installed today in both the Gold Sub Treasury on Ford Street, the Stone Lock Up and the Powder Magazine!

Katheryn Leopoldseder’s ‘Drawing Out The Gold’, a site-specific installation including precious metals, is installed in the very place where millions of ounces gold were processed during Beechworth’s gold rush.

Drew Pettifer’s audio-visual installation ‘Incidental Contact’ in the Stone Lock Up explores ideas including masculinity, in a place of historical brutality.

In the atmospheric Powder Magazine, Vestigial Liminal, musicians Matthew McKenzie, Liam Cuffley and Richard Iskov, are installing an experimental soundscape titled ‘Gloaming’. The artwork will will play on a loop throughout the weekend, but will also feature a live performance at 8pm Sunday night.

Make the most of the beautiful weather this weekend, explore 20 sites of free art, and see some different perspectives on our history!

13/02/2026

COLLECTION HIGHLIGHT: The Gang-gang Cockatoo 🦜

A charismatic Beechworth local, Gang-gangs are hard to miss—both in their distinctive appearance and their signature “creaky gate” call that echoes through our forests. 📣

But these beauties aren’t just a sight to behold—they’re a species under threat. Known for preferring cool, wooded mountain ranges, Gang-gangs are particularly vulnerable to climate change, suffering extensive habitat loss from both bushfires and deforestation. 🌍🔥

By continuing to showcase species like the Gang-gang through our historic taxidermy collection, we can try to raise awareness in hope of hearing their calls echoing through our region for generations to come! ❤️

👀 This Gang-gang Cockatoo specimen is part of a collection of nearly 200 specimens—originally acquired as skins from museums across Australia—including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (Museums Victoria). The skins were mounted by the Burke Museum Committee in the 19th century, and the resulting specimens highlight a long history of scientific collecting for public education. 📚

18/01/2026

In the midst of a hot summer where our communities are being protected by volunteer emergency services folk, it gives us a chance to reflect on one of our local legends from the past!

🔥 Hiram Crawford – Firefighter, Leader & Pioneer 🔥

Hiram Crawford was a cornerstone of fire protection in north-east Victoria, serving over 20 years as Captain and Superintendent of the Volunteer Fire Brigade. A foundation and life member of the fire service, he also served for many years on the State Fire Brigade Board, helping shape firefighting at both local and state levels.

Arriving in Australia in 1853, Hiram built a remarkable life as an entrepreneur and civic leader. He founded Crawford & Co. Coaching Lines in Beechworth in 1856, which became Victoria’s longest-running coaching business. He later developed hotels, theatres, farms, orchards and major buildings including Melbourne’s Eastern Arcade.

Hiram also served as Mayor of Chiltern and Beechworth, Shire President, Gas Company Chairman, Hospital Committee member, and President of the North Eastern Railway League. His legacy lives on through the communities he helped protect, build and lead.

🚒 A true pioneer of service, safety and progress.

📸 Stewart & Co., Carte de visite of Hiram Crawford, c1885, Burke Museum Collection.

More information available via Victorian Collections: https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5f0d484821ea6b199ca16c78

16/01/2026

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bob Simpson, a much-loved and highly respected contributor to Beechworth’s heritage. Our heartfelt sympathies go to his wife Rosemary, family, and friends.

After moving to Beechworth in 1989, Bob became a driving force behind the preservation and reopening of the Beechworth Courthouse, dedicating many years to its operation, research, tours, and education programs. His passion for history, generosity of spirit, and warm sense of humour enriched the courthouse, the Burke Museum, and the wider community.

Bob’s legacy lives on in the stories shared, the collections preserved, and the generations inspired. He will be remembered with great respect, affection, and gratitude, and will be deeply missed.

14/01/2026

👀 Precinct Education Officer Sally has been testing out some alternate views of Beechworth Town Hall while running our school holiday Precinct Pop-Ups out the front of the Gold Sub-treasury.

📸 These images show a glimpse through the viewfinders of a 1940s Ensign Full Vue camera, and an early 1900s Box Brownie camera.

🔎 The cameras are part of our Education Collection which gives school groups and other visitors the chance to have a really close look and to handle genuinely historic pieces that they may not have the opportunity to see otherwise.

If you’re visiting Beechworth Historic Precinct these holidays, keep an eye out for Sally & Chris in the Precinct Pop-Ups between 11am-12pm on weekdays, weather permitting! 🌞🤞

07/01/2026

🔥 It’s HOT out there! 🔥

Looking for a way to escape the heat in Beechworth? We’ve got you covered! ❄️

Both the Burke Museum, Historic Courthouse and Telegraph Station are open and COOL this week, offering the perfect air-conditioned break for locals and visitors alike, especially families needing to keep the kids entertained.

🏛️ Step back to the 1860s in our much-loved “Museum of Museums”. Enjoy a free quiz or treasure hunt, or simply explore the fascinating collections at your own pace. Visitors consistently tell us the Burke Museum is a must-see — and it’s even better in summer!

🎬 Chill out in our state-of-the-art cinema at the Historic Courthouse. Each hour-long session includes the immersive Kelly Trials Experience, followed by time to explore five exhibition spaces packed with incredible stories and relics — including Ned Kelly’s death mask, Dan Kelly’s pistol, iconic armour, and the original law library.

🖊️ Send a Telegram from the southern hemisphere’s last remaining working Telegraph Station! Exploring the volunteer-run museum of communications history is free AND airconditioned 🤌

🚶‍♀️ Walking Tours: Please check with the Visitor Information Centre during hot weather. Morning Gold Rush Tours are likely to run, while afternoon Ned Kelly tours may shift to cooler indoor options.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Free Pop-Up Precinct fun!
Keep an eye out for our team on Ford Street in the mornings, with shaded, hands-on activities for kids — including gold panning and touch-and-feel historic objects.

⚠️ Please stay alert to emergency updates and changing weather and fire conditions over the coming days — and most importantly, stay safe and cool!

We look forward to welcoming you to the Beechworth Hostoric Precinct this summer ☀️phee u

19/12/2025

☀️ Summer in the Beechworth Historic Precinct ☀️

With the summer holiday period upon us, we’d like to let our community and visitors know that the precinct is open every day except Christmas Day.

🎄Please note: we’ll be closing early at 3pm on Christmas Eve, so our team can enjoy time with friends and family.

We look forward to welcoming you on all other days throughout the Christmas–New Year period. On hot summer days, the Burke Museum and the Kelly Trials Experience at the Historic Courthouse offer engaging, air-conditioned indoor experiences for all ages.

If you haven’t visited the Burke Museum recently, now is the perfect time to explore our beautiful extended taxidermy cabinets and refreshed natural history displays. Both the Burke Museum and Historic Courthouse are accessible for all.

We look forward to seeing you this summer in the historic precinct!😎

02/11/2025

🏆 Beechworth Historic Precinct Wins National Recognition! 🏆

We’re thrilled to announce that the Beechworth Historic Precinct has been awarded the Heritage and Culture Award at the 2025 Tidy Towns & Cities Sustainability Awards for Securing our Story: Beechworth’s National Heritage Journey.

This achievement reflects the Beechworth Historic Precinct’s inclusion on the National Heritage List - a proud moment for our region and a testament to the power of community, collaboration, and cultural stewardship.

Our deepest thanks go to:

• The dedicated Council staff
• The passionate local community
• Our partners at Beechworth Gaol
• And especially Deborah Kemp and Dr Jacqui Durrant, whose tireless work made this recognition possible

This award honours not just our past, but the ongoing commitment to preserving and sharing Beechworth’s rich heritage for generations to come.

16/10/2025

We had a wonderful time yesterday helping Beechworth Primary School celebrate their 150th Anniversary! We had every class from the school (180+ students!) visit the precinct in incredible 1875-era costumes to experience Gold Panning, a time travelling visit to the Burke Museum, and the kids also enjoyed a suite of games in the Police paddocks coordinated by a dedicated group of year 11 Sports and Recreation Students from Beechworth Secondary College based on First Nations games. Our sincere thanks to the teams from Beechworth Primary, Beechworth Secondary, and our precinct team for making such a huge day run so smoothly!

02/10/2025

We’ll be celebrating the Victorian Seniors Festival in the Historic Precinct next week, 6-10 October.

Join us for a week of free activities, to be held at 11am each day, including walking tours, the Kelly Trials Experience in the Historic Courthouse and two special talks at the Burke Museum.

Program details below, bookings can be made in person at Beechworth Visitor Information Centre, via email to [email protected] or phone 1300 366 321


𝟏𝟏𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟔 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 – 𝐍𝐞𝐝 𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫

Led by Education Officer Chris Hayes through the Beechworth Historic Precinct, the Ned Kelly Tour is an accessible and enjoyable way to learn about Beechworth’s rich and colourful past. Participants will see many of the buildings associated with the Kelly legend and hear stories behind the events which eventually brought the Kelly era to an end.
𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭: Free!
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Meet at the front of the Visitor Information Centre, Ford Street, Beechworth


𝟏𝟏𝐚𝐦 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟕 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 - 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞’𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Burke Museum’s Collections Manager will lead us on an exploration of cultural collections and the impacts of climate change. Find out about how this impacts the unique Burke collection, and the brilliant work being done across the industry. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A.
𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭: Free!
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Burke Museum, Loch St Beechworth.


𝟏𝟏𝐚𝐦 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟖 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 – 𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞

The Beechworth Courthouse played a significant role during the Kelly outbreak of 1878-1880, as the location of more than 40 trials and hearings for the Kelly Gang and its sympathisers. The Kelly Trials Exhibition provides an immersive 270-degree, wrap around multimedia experience, telling the stories of crime and punishment, governance and law, and bushranger Ned Kelly.
𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭: Free!
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Historic Courthouse, Ford St Beechworth.


𝟏𝟏𝐚𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟗 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 – 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 & 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬: 𝐀𝐫𝐭, 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐞

Join Education Officer Sally Huguenin for a fascinating look at the Burke Museum’s Natural History Collections and explore unexpected links between 19th-century science, art, and empire. From colonial explorers to Napoleon and Darwin, discover how the pursuit of knowledge in the 19thcentury helped shape the modern world.
𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭: Free!
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Burke Museum, Loch St Beechworth.


𝟏𝟏𝐚𝐦 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟎 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 – 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫

This accessible walking tour of the Beechworth Historic Precinct with Education Officer Sally Huguenin tells the story of the 1850s Gold Rush in Beechworth - once the richest alluvial goldfields in Victoria. Participants will learn the stories behind the significant historic buildings, people and events that helped shape Beechworth, visiting many of the National Heritage Listed buildings associated with governance on the goldfields.
𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭: Free!
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Meet at the front of the Historic Courthouse, Ford Street, Beechworth.

25/08/2025

We’re so excited to share this upcoming event presented by the Friends of the Burke Museum!

Only five days remaining, so now is the time to secure your booking.😀🩺🏥📅

With the extraordinarily generous sponsorship of Bendigo Community Bank Beechworth, the Friends of the Burke Museum are pleased to bring you ‘Heyday at Mayday’ an event to celebrate the work, and contribution, of Mayday Hills hospital to Beechworth community and mental health treatments more widely. Bookings essential.