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The High Country

Sights in The High Country

  1. Historic & Cultural Precinct

    Visit the honey-coloured buildings on a tour of the fascinating Historic & Cultural Precinct. First is the Beechworth Courthouse, where the trials many key historical figures took place (including Ned Kelly and his mother). Ned was committed to trial for the murders of constables Scanlon and Lonigan here in August 1880. Ned’s cell is behind the Shire Hall; his mother’s is behind the courthouse. Send a telegram to anywhere in the world from the Telegraph Station on Ford St, the original Morse-code office. Just like old times!

    reviewed

  2. Mansfield Zoo

    A surprisingly good wildlife park with lots of native fauna and some exotics like a pair of lions. You can sleep in the paddocks in a swag (adult/child $65/45, including zoo entry for two days) and wake to the dawn chorus of wildlife.

    reviewed

  3. Golden Horseshoes Monument

    The Golden Horseshoes Monument is where, in 1855, a horse was shod with golden shoes and ridden into town by candidate Donald Cameron on the nomination day of Victoria’s first parliamentary elections. The Victorian-era PR stunt seemed to work – Cameron was duly elected to parliament.

    reviewed

  4. MB Historic Cellars

    Old brewery paraphernalia is on display at MB Historic Cellars, a former brewery that now produces traditional cordials like ginger beer. In the same premises is the Carriage Museum, displaying gorgeous old horse-drawn carriages.

    reviewed

  5. Burke Museum

    Burke Museum is named after the explorer Robert O’Hara Burke, who was the police superintendent at Beechworth from 1854 to 1858. It shows gold-rush relics and an arcade of shopfronts preserved as they were over 140 years ago.

    reviewed

  6. Man From Snowy River Museum

    The Man From Snowy River Museum in Corryong is actually a local history museum, featuring a set of snow skis from 1870 and the Jarvis Homestead, a 19th-century slab-timber hut.

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  7. Old Tobacco Sheds

    You could spend an hour or two getting lost among the antiques, retro stuff, junk and collectables at the Old Tobacco Sheds. There’s a small gold and tobacco museum here.

    reviewed

  8. Beechworth Courthouse

    The Beechworth Courthouse is notable for Ned Kelly’s first court appearance. See the cell where Ned was held in the basement behind the Shire Hall.

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  9. Erindale Alpacas

    Just 5km north of Tawonga you can handfeed the alpacas at picturesque Erindale Alpacas. To get here, turn off Kiewa Valley Hwy onto Red Bank Rd.

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  10. Chinese Cultural Centre

    The new Chinese Cultural Centre displays the history of the 6000 Chinese who came to the area in the 1850s to seek their fortune.

    reviewed

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  12. National Alpine Museum of Australia

    The only Alpine museum in Australia, the National Alpine Museum of Australia, highlights the fascinating history of this area.

    reviewed

  13. Muse Gallery of Milawa

    At the back of the Milawa Cheese Company is the Muse Gallery of Milawa , displaying paintings, ceramics and jewellery.

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  14. Lavender Patch

    Visit the Lavender Patch; 9am-5.30pm) for some lavender ice cream or fregrant products.

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  15. Kirby’s Flat Pottery

    The studio-gallery Kirby’s Flat Pottery, 4km south of Yackandandah, is worth a visit.

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  16. Potters of Beechworth

    The work of local potters features at the folksy Potters of Beechworth.

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  17. Town Hall

    View the Echoes of History video at the 1858 Town Hall roughly half-hourly.

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  18. Powder Magazine

    The Powder Magazine was an 1859 storage area for gunpowder..

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  19. A

    Mansfield Cemetery

    The graves of the three Mansfield police officers killed by Ned Kelly and his gang in 1878 at Stringybark Creek rest in this cemetery, at the end of Highett St.

    reviewed