STANLEY TOWNSHIP
The Beechworth Forest Drive takes you past the hamlet of Stanley, once a bustling goldmining town during the 1850’s. The town had a number of hotels, a bakery, general store, boot maker, carpenter, butcher, saw mill, brewery and inn. Today, Stanley has a general store and an inn, which stands on the original site of the old Star Hotel. In season, there is a delicious array of local produce: apples, nuts and berries for purchase. Close to Stanley township is Mt Stanley, with spectacular views from the summit of the Victorian Alps and surrounding forest.
GORGE SCENIC DRIVE
Expect to witness some breathtaking scenes as you drive around the northern and western outskirts of Beechworth through rocky mountain terrain. This drive takes in several lookouts along the way with spectacular views of granite valleys, waterfalls and the remains of mining activity. There is a magnificent sweeping view north to the hills that contains Ned Kelly’s lookout, North East Victoria’s infamous bushranger.
North East Victoria is rich in natural resources. There are several impressive displays of granite along this drive: the Granite Tors, where the granite has been weathered into strange and unusual shapes and Fiddes Quarry where you can easily imagine the quarry-men still at work. Newtown Bridge, built in 1875, provides a fine example of granite structure and Scottish stone-masonry. Just one hundred metres upstream is the site of the first gold discovery in Beechworth.
Other interesting walks and places to visit nearby are Woolshed Falls, the Eldorado Reserve, Mt Pilot Lookout, Aboriginal rock art and Warby Range State Park.
