Horsepower! project concludes

3 July, 2026

A STATEMENT FROM SOCIETY PRESIDENT JAMIE KRONBORG

Beechworth History and Heritage Society has concluded extensive investigations into opportunities to retain and activate five horse-drawn carriages with local provenance from Victoria’s National Trust collection in Beechworth.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, collaborative approach and broad community support, our 'Horsepower!' proposal to use these carriages to interpret the vital story of the horse in the Ovens goldrush and Beechworth's development will not go ahead.

Since February our society has worked hard with the support of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), community organisations, education partners, heritage specialists and others to explore options for housing and interpreting significant vehicles from the collection in Beechworth. These include carriages built in Beechworth in the nineteenth century.

We secured strong community support for the proposed project and recognition of its heritage value. But essential housing of a suitable size, including Beechworth's former railway goods shed managed by Indigo Shire Council, could not be secured for temporary use to enable the collection's ongoing care, interpretation and public access.

We obtained strategic planning advice from two regional councils that Indigo's current zoning for the site would permit the goods shed's use for storage or activation as a museum with the council's permission.

We were told council staff informed councillors that upgrades to the shed, refurbished six years ago at a cost to taxpayers and ratepayers of at least $600,000, would be required to allow public access to the building.

We were also told that an application to use the goods shed could only be made through a public call by the council for expressions of interest (EOI). Previous EOIs have failed and no EOI process is currently open for application. The building remains empty.

Our community will be deeply disappointed with this outcome.

The collection provided a unique opportunity to tell the story of horse-powered transport and its fundamental contribution to the economic and social development of Beechworth, the North East and Victoria.

We envisaged its interpretation in Beechworth would also add a significant layer ‒ contributing to a broader understanding of the horse within the complexities of colonialism ‒ to Indigo's pitch for inclusion in the Victorian Goldfields UNESCO World Heritage bid. Objects like these vehicles help us to comprehend a place’s history.

We thank everyone who contributed their support and expertise for our proposal, including the National Trust's Victorian branch leadership team, Beechworth Secondary College, Old Cranks and Motor Club, Queensland's Cobb and Co Museum, heritage specialists and the many people who shared our vision for this rare and diverse collection of carriages.

BHHS also acknowledges the work of Indigo councillors who encouraged and discussed our proposal for temporary use of Beechworth's former goods shed.

The work we've undertaken with community partners and others is evidence, yet again, of a strong commitment and interest in preserving, interpreting and sharing the important stories and objects that shaped life in Beechworth, Stanley, Wooragee, the Woolshed and Murmungee, and continue to do so.

BHHS remains committed to protecting, promoting and interpreting our local communities’ rich history and heritage in our time and for future generations.

Statement from the National Trust of Australia (Victoria)

The National Trust has been impressed by the commitment and advocacy shown by BHHS and shares the community’s disappointment that, despite considerable commitment and effort from all parties, a suitable and sustainable facility could not be secured to enable the proposed project to proceed.