This photograph depicts six men and two horses with carts in the process of constructing a road. The men each stand in a relatively relaxed position, posing for the camera. However, the amount of upturned soil surrounding them suggests the hard work they have endured, armed only with pitchforks and shovels. The creation of new roads in the Beechworth area had become a priority for the Beechworth council in the second half of the nineteenth century. This included connecting roads which radiated out of Beechworth to surrounding towns. This led to the expansion of the local government authority over the surrounding countryside, greatly strengthening Beechworth's central position. The use of horse and cart to take away the removed soil, as well as the style of the men's attire, suggests that this photograph dates back to the late 1800s. It can also be assumed that this photograph was taken somewhere in the surrounding hills of Beechworth. This photograph is historically significant as it provides insight into the rapid expansion of roads in and around Beechworth during the second half of the nineteenth century. Sepia rectangular photograph on matte photographic paper mounted on card Reverse: BMM 2982 / road construction, beechworth roads, 1800s, 1800s beechworth, beechworth hills, horse and cart, beechworth road making, beechworth council roads, road expansion, beechworth surrounding hills

Mrs. Valerie (Val) Mason (1927-2019) was a local sheep farmer, business-woman, Beechworth shire councillor, and mother to five children. With her husband, Charles, Mrs. Mason developed and managed the Big Valley farm estate, at Everton, which is now part of a vineyard and farm stay. Mrs. Mason was instrumental in introducing a 'paddock to plate' philosophy and business model, opening a butcher shop on the farm in 1973. Concerned with improving infrastructure and developing economic opportunities in the region, Mrs. Mason successfully stood as a local council representative for South Riding in the United Shire of Beechworth, and later become the first woman Shire President in 1979. Mrs Mason was a member of the local Business and Professional Women's Club for 37 years. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Mrs. Mason's story is historically significant for understanding economic and social changes in the Beechworth region during the latter half of the twentieth century. As a council representative, issues such as road and infrastructure modernisation and the transition from traditional government employment sectors, like Beechworth's care institutions, were challenges for local government. As a farmer and local employer, Mrs. Mason's story is testimony to the region's economic diversification as businesses like Big Valley farm shop helped shape the region's contemporary character. Mrs. Mason was among the first women to broach the traditionally all-male Beechworth Council Chambers and her story is socially significant for understanding the changing role of women in rural and regional Australia. This oral history recording offers interpretive capacity for social history themes and may be compared with other oral histories in the Burke Museum's collection. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mrs Val Mason /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, working women, trail blazers, farm to plate, farm shop, paddock to plate, woman farmer, united shire of beechworth, rural and regional women, beechworth's first woman shire president, women in leadership positions, women leaders, australian settlement history, settler societies, victorian gold rush, heritage tourism, culinary tourism, regional land use, indigo winery, farm stay, social history

Taken some time after 1864, these photographs depict the Star Hotel both directly (8674.1) and from the Hotel north west down Ford Street (8674.2). The images depict the building with its modern exterior, having settled for this brick form after several other building designs. The Star Hotel was the first hotel opened in Beechworth, and would go through a series of dramatic changes under its first three owners. The original timber structure was built by W.H. Neuber, though at the time it was only known as ‘The Beechworth Hotel’. The site was later purchased in 1855 by mining entrepreneur, and prolific business owner, John Alston “Six Stars” Wallace. He would go on to extend the established hotel, rebuilding much of it with weatherboard and a shingled roof, adding a two storey structure with a verandah and a theatre capable of supporting 400-500 people, which was often used for international performances. Renamed as the Star Hotel, it was the second in a chain franchise, eventually leading to the “Six Stars” moniker Wallace went by, with hotels at Rutherglen, Chiltern, Yackandandah, Bright, Snake Valley, and of course, Beechworth. Under his ownership, it developed into a popular location for merchants, wayfarers, and locals alike, with the help of his brother Peter as manager. Situated on a road once synonymous with Melbourne to Sydney roadtrips, and the allure of the gold mines, the popularity of the Star drew all manner of clientele from across the country. As such a central hub, the ‘Star Assembly Rooms’ were used as a meeting place for debates, discussions, festivities, and problem solving among the various working sects of the area. These meetings included shareholder discussions for prospecting companies, railway planning, council meetings, and discussions surrounding the interactions between European and Chinese miners, both good and bad. By late 1856, John had the Beechworth at auction through J.H. Grey & Co. It was most likely due to the high profile murder of the manager, Robert Murdoch, during an altercation in relation to a dine and dash event by a Swedish miner, Charles Jansen, who had been ‘excited by drink’ on November 17th. He had refused to pay for his meal and waiter James Mitchell failed to persuade him otherwise. Mitchell, or possibly Murdoch himself, forced him out as tempers and threats escalated. As the photos tell, there are a number of doors which may be entered through, and Jansen used an alternate entrance to access the building. Murdoch was investigating the noise when he encountered the furious man. He was subsequently stabbed with no warning by a small clasp knife, as he tried to stop the intrusion. His exclamations, "I’m stabbed, I’m stabbed!” alerting other occupants, and Jansen was restrained and arrested. Murdoch died the next day from his injuries, with the inquest carried out on the theatre stage. Some 3000 members of the town attended the funeral, and the Star hung black cloth in memory of Robert and his death. Afterwards, an auction caw the property pass to Messrs Robertson and Quirk, though would return shortly thereafter to Six Stars’ portfolio. Six Stars would later sell off his properties from 1862, with the Beechworth Star purchased by 1864 by John Sitch Clark. This allowed Clark to redevelop a significant portion of the Hotel, stripping a central section and constructing the brick structure that survives today, reopening the Star in July that year. It was after this time that our photographs were taken. Clark would later sell the property to Frank Mitchell, shortly before his own death. The next owner, Frederick Allen, lived on the property before the deed was sold to him in the 1880s. He would later sell the property to William Carroll in 1890, with proprietorship eventually moving to Mr. W.H. Porter, and transferring to a Mr. Marendaz by 1913 and Mr. Holly in 1915. Licensing disputes would arise 1917 between Margaret Carroll and a Mrs. McDonald, before it became delicenced some years prior to 1935. It was around this year that the property was bought by Mr. W.J. Pemberton at the meagre price of £500, down from the £13,000 Six Stars originally auctioned it for. It served as a Youth Hostel for a period of time around 1972, and currently the building serves as a private accommodation on the second floor, with shops taking up the ground floor level.These photographs of the Beechworth Star Hotel as they depict a form of Beechworth's first hotel, and also the site of a high profile murder. Two black and white rectangular photographs printed on matte photographic paper.8674.1 (reverse) Beechworth/ 734/ Tanswell’s Hotel [crossed out]/? Old Star/ Hotel,/[small pencil scratching]/ Saunders/ BMM 8674.1 8674.2 (reverse) Beechworth/ 60%[circled]/ Old Star Hotel/Building etc.,/ 12 ½ cm/ 3"[circled, arrows extending horizontally to edges]/[arrows extending top to bottom mid-right of reverse]/ Saunders/ 734[circled]/ BMM 867.2,/ [thin scribbled bordering around top, right, and bottom edges]star hotel, beechworth hotel, john alston wallace, ja wallace, john sitch clark, frederick allen, robert murdoch, meeting place, tragedy, theatre, mining town

Henry Beardmore was a significant contributor to Wodonga and the state of Victoria. He was born in Melton on 7th February 1863 to Edwin James Beardmore and Flora McDonald. He grew up in Benalla and became a butcher at Glenrowan before taking up land at Leneva near Wodonga, Victoria. On 15 July 1885 Henry married his first wife, Agnes Annie Lee and they had two sons and two daughters. Agnes died in 1892. In 23 August 1893, Henry married Jessie Muirhead and they had six sons and four daughters. Henry represented the Green Hills riding on Wodonga Shire Council from 1898 to 1922, including terms as President from 1900-01, 1903-4, 1908-10, 1911-12, 1914-17. In 1922 Mr. Beardmore retired from the Wodonga Council due to his increased workload in State politics. Henry Beardmore was a Freemason including Master of the Wodonga Lodge from 1906 to 1907, and was an active member up until his death. From 1905-1915, Henry Beardmore leased “De Kerilleau” homestead with the exception of 1907, when Mr W. Huon was in residence, and after he died there in 1907, the Beardmore family returned. Henry Beardmore won the seat of Benambra in the Victorian Legislative Assembly at a by-election on 20th April 1917. He continuously represented the Benambra electorate as a Nationalist and United Australia Party member for more than 15 years. He was a strong advocate for country development and decentralisation, but he declined to join the Country Party. He held the seat of Benambra, up to the date of his death, and was returned unopposed on four occasions. He was an Honorary Minister in 1924 and for a short time in 1929, Minister of Railways, Minister in-charge of Electrical Undertakings and Minister of Labour. He was a leading supporter of Kiewa Hydro-Electric Project and opponent of Yallourn coalfield. Henry Beardmore died in Wodonga on 29 August 1932. His last residence was on the corner Elm Street and Beechworth Road.This photo is significant because it depicts an important local and State politician and member of the Wodonga Community.A black and white formal portrait of Henry Beardmore.henry beardmore, wodonga council, benambra - victorian politics