Revitalizing the Burke Museum's iconic "Street of Shops" Permanent Exhibition

Fifty years ago the local community engaged the Burke Museum to build the iconic "Street of Shops" exhibit. This recreation of our goldfield town still contains 16 authentic shopfronts and extraordinary heritage streetscapes from the 1850s. Populated with objects donated by the community, it holds significant memories and untold stories and transmits community cultural values to younger generations. This project will upgrade the existing half century old display by building immersive, multi sensory interpretations and interactive experiences. Each shop will be transformed to tell the community's stories through digital storytelling, projections and renewed artifact displays.

The Museum will partner with Beechworth Secondary College, Friends of the Burke Museum and Beechworth Chamber of Commerce. The project will link the revitalized Museum "Street" to the existing main heritage streets and businesses. It will drive visitation to the town to help support local retailers and increase education, access and active engagement for all ages and abilities. Free entrance to the local community will link donor families to their objects. Walk through the "Street", it illustrates how, why and where our community began and what happened along the way. It contributes towards Beechworth's sense of community, identity and place.