The Beechworth Forestry Heritage Museum was officially opened by John Haber Phillips AC, Chief Justice of Victoria, during the Beechworth 150th celebrations on 27 July 2003.  The museum is operated and maintained by volunteers from the Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association.

Location

The Museum is located in Ford Street, in the Beechworth Heritage Precinct near the town centre. Click here for a location map.

Hours

Hours are 9am - 4.30pm seven days; admission by gold coin. Donations are used to maintain and expand the collection. Your thoughtful bequest would support our voluntary effort to maintain a record of Victoria's Forestry Heritage, and help ensure the future of the Museum.

Purpose

The museum was established to show how Forests Commission staff managed, administered, and protected Victoria's forests during a long history of achievement. In 1984 the Forests Commission was absorbed into Conservation, Forests and Lands, and public forestry values in the State changed forever.

Displays

The items displayed have been gathered from all over Victoria; many belong to the Museum, some are on loan, and some have been donated.  The owners view the Museum as a safe repository for their items, some of which are extremely rare.

Displays include tools used for timber-getting before the days of chain saws, aspects of forest fire-fighting, radio communications, and forest science that were used in every day forest management and protection.

Photographs showing the history and culture of the Commission and forestry in Victoria are displayed in the Museum.  for examples, see our "Gallery".  The role of forestry in the early development and culture of the State is summarised in the "About Us" leaflet on the "Maps and Documents" page.

New exhibits

Should you know of any forestry tools, photographs, or exhibits you think may be suitable for the Museum, please click on  "contact us".