Victoria · Attraction
Beechworth Powder Magazine
Victoria's finest powder store
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Built in 1859 from solid local granite, the Beechworth Powder Magazine is the best surviving example of its type in Victoria and among the most intact in Australia. Miners were required by law to store their bulk black powder here overnight rather than on the diggings, and the building's ingenious design reflects the deadly serious business of managing explosives on a working goldfield.
The structure was built by Melbourne contractors to designs by the Public Works Department, with the surrounding high stone boundary walls completed in 1860. Its buttressed granite walls, slate roof, and slit ventilation openings are designed with one purpose: to contain a catastrophic explosion while protecting the surrounding township.
The National Trust of Australia began restoration in 1963 and in 1966 the Powder Magazine became the first National Trust property opened to the public outside the Melbourne metropolitan area. Access to the interior features a self-guided audio tour narrated by historical characters.
A swipe card for interior access is available when purchasing a combined precinct pass from the Beechworth Visitor Information Centre. The site sits on Gorge Road, a short drive or pleasant walk from the town centre.
Scenic views
