March 30, 2011
An Investment In Beechworth Real Estate Can Be Profitable
Beechworth real estate is among the most scenic in the region. The town is located in rolling farmland at the foot of the Australian Alps with the popular Mount Buffalo ski slopes about 40 kilometres to the southeast. The surrounding hills are covered with grazing pastures punctuated with vineyards and fruit orchards, separated every so often with natural bushland. The town sits within a gourmet food-producing region, centred around the town of Milawa, well-known for its wide variety of high quality products.
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.
Soon after, in 1852, gold was discovered in the nearby Mayday Hills and the boom rapidly took off. People rushed to the region. In its hey-day from 1852 to 1857, the population of the town was about as large as it is today. The mining camps in the surrounding areas housed another 22,000 people. The town was a thriving urban centre with people from China as well as the USA, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales scurrying along its streets.
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.
The town is framed to the east and west by Spring Creek. Its V-shaped course flows southwest along the eastern boundary then reverses sharply to flow northwest along the western periphery. At the apex of the V, the creek drops away to form a small, natural waterfall that cascades through a series of rock ledges into a narrow, scenic gorge. The gorge extends for almost a kilometre in length. The unsealed and narrow Gorge Road follows its course along the ridge top providing attractive vistas of the gorge and its rock formations. The road makes for a pleasant walk even though it is open to one-way vehicle traffic in a southerly direction.
While their court proceedings were underway at the Beechworth courthouse during 1880, the gang was held in the goal. Eventually, the trial was moved to Melbourne because it was felt the Kelly gang would not receive a fair trial in Beechworth.
Within Beechworth itself, wonderful colonial architecture is complimented by a series of fine art galleries, superb rose gardens and antique boutiques make Beechworth their home. Beechworth real estate values are boosted by these fine assets as well as the historical significance and beautiful natural surroundings of the town.
Jasmine Zahara is seen as a revered blogger with an office in Beechworth and is enthusiastic with regards to this area of Australia. Jasmine writes on the majority of regional Victorian things and sees Beechworth Victoria as probably the most alluring country Australia locations.
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