Beechworth Historic Courthouse

Home to heroes and villains

 The Beechworth Courthouse, home to heroes and villains, was completed in June 1858, and has been the setting for some of the most fascinating court cases in Victoria’s history. Still with its original furniture and fittings, the Courthouse operated as a working Court until 1989 - 131 years of service, which makes it one of the longest running and most authentic Courthouses in Australia.

Ned Kelly appeared here on two occasions, including his committal hearing when he was charged with the murders of Constables Lonigan and Scanlon. Ned’s mother Ellen Kelly received a three-year jail sentence for the attempted murder of Constable Fitzpatrick and Elizabeth Scott, the first woman executed in Victoria, received the death sentence in this building.

Robert O’Hara Burke, Police Superintendent in Beechworth 1854-58, once sat at the bench and Justices Sir Redmond Barry and Sir William Stawell presided over many trials. Sir Isaac Isaacs started his legal career here and later became Australia’s first native-born Governor-General.

School groups should include the Courthouse on their itinerary. The education program available covers both primary and secondary school levels. Our tour guides will organise the tour to include the students current studies - law bushrangers etc. The processes of running a trial in Victoria during the 19th century, are explained using the enthusiasm of the students who take part in a role-play based on a trial that took place during the Courthouses long history.

Visiting groups can take part in a mock trial where one of the group will become the prisoner on trial. The prisoner is charged with an offence - organised by the group-and their fate is determined by a jury of fellow members.

The Courthouse is open every day except Christmas Day from 9am to 5pm.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COURTHOUSE CLOSES ON OCCASION TO CATER FOR GROUP ACTIVITES.

LATEST NEWS
On the 28^th of June 1880 the Kelly Gang bailed up the Jones’ Inn at Glenrowan in what was possibly a failed attempt at Ned’s ‘Republic of the North-Eastern Victoria’. Ned Kelly, Dan Kelly, Joe Byrne and Steve Hart forged their place in history when clad in bullet proof armour they took on ever increasing numbers of well armed Police. The only gang member to survive the gun-battle, Ned Kelly, recovered from substantial wounds in Melbourne before being bought to the Beechworth Court of Assize for the preliminary hearing on the charge of murdering Police Constable Thomas Lonigan