Historical information

The area around the town of Beechworth was settled by Europeans in the 1830s with much of the area being sheep runs. Gold was discovered in Spring Creek in 1852 and went on to become one of the richest goldfields in the area. The area known as May Day Hills goldfield area was surveyed, and the township of Beechworth was declared in 1853. The town was named by George Smythe after his birthplace of Beechworth, Leicestershire in England.

Physical description

Booklet with light cardboard cover. Front cover brown background with title and picture of a commemorative monument. Back cover has old black and white photos of Beechworth.
Pages are white with black printing.

Inscriptions & markings

Front cover: 'BACKGROUND TO BEECHWORTH'
'Published by Beechworth & District Progress Association'
Title page: 'Background to Beechworth From 1852, Ninth Edition'
'Complied by the late Roy G. Harvey, Beechworth'
'Printed by BLAKE PRINTING BEECHWORTH'
'Published by Beechworth Progress Association 1991'