Reviews

Herald Sun, Sunday October 7th, 2007

By Sheridan Rogers

At 1860, an unusually named B&B at Beechworth in north-east Victoria’s high country, I had a flash of inspiration: if Peter Mayle (A Year in Provence) and Frances Mayes (Under a Tuscan Sun) can make their fortune writing memoirs of buying, renovating and living in abandoned villas in Europe, why is no one doing it here?

On a recent visit to Beechworth, I came across charming young couple Gina Bladon and Matt Pfahlert, who have a terrific Mayle/Mayes – like story to tell about falling in love with an unusual old slab hut – and the process of moving and restoring it.

Built in the 1860’s by a German timber feller and carpenter, it had been moved from its original site in Emerald during the 1980’s to a Pioneer farm at Taggerty and then by Matt & Gina to Beechworth in 2003.

“The original hut would have been built by hand using just a few tools and would have sat on an earth floor made from a mixture of ox blood and mud and the original roof would have been either bark or split timber shingles” Matt explained.”

“We’ve gone to painstaking lengths to beg, borrow, swap, barter, demolish, split, cart and salvage genuine and unique materials for 1860. Obtaining the right materials was almost as big a project as the building of the hut.”

“Our use of traditional materials extends to the use of flattened bark in our gable ends and an original lime mortar recipe to caulk between timber slabs,” he said.

The result has been well worth the effort. On a cold winter’s night, it was warm, welcoming, supremely comfortable and full of character.

Matt points out that 1860 is a living building and those who stay become part of its history.”

Almost every mod con – such as airconditioning, LCD TV and DVD, dishwasher, microwave/convection oven, fridge with minibar and local wines, washing machine and clothes dryer – has been provided. And there’s even wireless broadband internet connection for those wanting to stay in touch with the 21st century.

But why would you when you have the option of immersing yourself in the history of this famous gold-rush country?

Beechworth was the centre of the richest goldfield in the state and the administrative centre for the north-east of Victoria. During the 1850’s, to support the town’s rapid development, local honey coloured granite was used in numerous public buildings, all of which are now heritage listed.

This is also a region imbued with the spirit of Ned Kelly who spent time in the local gaol and fought a famous bare-knuckle fight with Isaiah “Wild” Wright not far from 1860.

In 1878 Ned’s mother, Ellen, was arrested or the attempted murder of a policeman and put in the gaol pending trial. She was given three years’ hard labour.

Like 1860, most of the historical buildings in the town have been lovingly restored. There’s plenty to occupy the discerning shopper – from up-market fashion boutiques to elegant homeware and linen stores.

The bakery features Ned Kelly gingerbreads and there’s a funky lolly shop next door. The Spa at Beechworth is up on the hill in magnificent old country gardens. Treatments include Quandong (hair), Mirri (facial), Mikiri (deep cleanse) or The Dreaming (face and body)….Ellen Kelly never had it so good.

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