Legend of the Golden Horseshoes!
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In November 1855, Daniel Cameron, upon his election as Member of the Legislative Council representing the Ovens electorate, rode a horse shod with golden horseshoes through the main streets of Beechworth.
It was reported that the miners who supported Cameron were involved in wild celebrations including the consumption of many pannikans of grog.
A Grand Parade, which included "Williams Brown's Circus Bank", 80 man on horseback and many men on foot made its way through Beechworth. Todays festival still features a Grand Parade as one of the major events.
That night, the local Chinese community staged the greatest display of fireworks ever seen in Beechworth, the huge rockets lighting up the entire reserve with the brilliancy of daylight.
The peak performance was the display of several huge and marvellously illuminated fish that floated across the sky with tails and fins flapping,
Can you imagine all this happening in Beechworth ?
The modern Golden Horseshoe Festival had its beginnings in the early 1960's, when the Lions Club was instrumental in organising a series of annual parades between Christmas and New Year until the early 1970's.
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In 2001, Beechworth Gold commissioned Robert Bremner, a local farrier to craft a pair of horseshoes from solid gold. They were made in the courtyard of the original Bank and Victoria, and bow the Beechworth Gold store,
These solid gold horseshoes were worn on the horse leading the Golden Horseshoes Festival Parade in 2001, and each year since.
They now have a permanent home on display at Beechworth Gold and The Golden Horseshoes Festival lives on each Easter Saturday.
Come and see the Golden Horseshoes at Beechworth Gold these Easter Holidays and relive the history of the region.
Written by Beechworth Gold
Originally posted on their blog on www.beechworthgold.com.au