Historical information

Taken in Beechworth 1859, this photograph depicts the south side of Ford street looking towards the Methodist Church.

The Methodist Church was built in 1857, and was the first permanent church building on the Ovens goldfields. It was one of the first permanent churches built on the Victorian goldfields, and the first on the Ovens goldfield. It demonstrates the rapid development which occurred in the goldfield towns following the discovery of gold in the early 1850s. It reflects the importance of Methodism in Victoria at this time, and the early activities of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in taking their religious message to the gold miners. [https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/104]

The buildings ceased being used as a church in 1966 when the Methodist and Congregational churches in Beechworth amalgamated.

Physical description

Black and white rectangular photograph. Image is printed on matte photographic paper.

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse:
NO INSCRIPTION

Reverse:
7775
Ford St Looking Southwest
1859
Burke Museum
Beechworth