We’ve just returned from spending a few days in the London Tavern, an old tavern and hotel in Beechworth.
Beechworth is a picturesque historical town located north-east Victoria. It’s famous for its gold rush boom during the mid-1850s. In its golden heydey, Beechworth was wealthy, powerful, and influential. It boasted a range of industries and had colourful characters and villains, including Ned Kelly.
Built in stages between 1859 and 1864, the London Tavern was the first brick hotel in Beechworth. It was notable for its verandas, French windows, and open courtyard centred by a unique bath house. The London Tavern is no longer a hotel and has been privately owned since the 1970s by a group of friends. They use it as a holiday home and have been very slowly restoring it. One of the owners is a friend and she invited us to stay there.
We were so enchanted by the London Tavern that we hardly explored Beechworth. I guess we’ll just have to go back.
Have you been to Beechworth?
Love Beechworth- the Lolly Shop there is gorgeous!
What a fascinating old building! We did Beechworth a few years ago and stayed at a cute B&B, though unfortunately it was over Christmas, so not much was open. We did a quick tour of the historical highlights on Boxing Day. I remember the court where Ned Kelly was tried and sending a telegraph from the telegraph office. And a lot of Ned Kelly kitsch! Very sweet, historic little town.
There’s also some beautiful landscape nearby. There’s a wonderful 4km trail through the gorge. Unfortunately, we didn’t discover it until we were almost leaving so we just drove through it quickly. Next time, we’ll visit it.