Historical information

This is an original stereoscopic photograph of a bridge over Spring Creek in Beechworth, taken on 22nd February, 1864.

In early 1853, newly arrived English architect, 22 year old Francis Nixon was appointed Government Architect. Nixon was sent to Beechworth as the towns first architect, where his first duties included the erection of a wooden post office and the first bridge over Spring Creek (Reference 1). The Beechworth Benevolent Asylum (built c1862) can be seen in the background. It is not completely clear if this is the bridge that Nixon designed, however 'A Beechworth Companion, volume 1' indicates a bridge built over Spring Creek at the foot of Camp St was built in 1856 which accords with the article cited above.

Significance

This stereoscopic photograph is historically significant as it captures Beechworth in it's early form, with the newly built Benevolent Asylum visible in the background.

Physical description

Two sepia toned square steroscopic photographs mounted on card depicting a bridge made of an unsealed gravel road in the foreground, with some trees, small buildings, roads and fences in the background.

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse: Number 4 handwritten on right hand side photo.
Reverse: Card turned to a vertical position and written from top down: '7806'/'3 Bridge over Spring Creek Beechworth 22nd Feb 1864'/'Benevolent asylum in the distance'/'59' in large lettering the middle of the card/'9'/'9' in small lettering at the bottom right of the card.