Black Springs Bakery – History

Black Springs was a settlement on the road between Wangaratta and Beechworth that existed during the second half of the 19th century and early into the 20th century. Black Springs serviced the local farming community and supplied Beechworth and the adjoining district with produce. It consisted amongst other things of a number of hotels, a blacksmith, a state school and a bakery. The property now referred to as Black Springs was the bakery, and is the last remaining fabric of the community.

The bakery was established in 1875 by William Price on land his uncle James Price, a market gardener had selected for 1 pound an acre in 1871. Black Springs comprises three main structures, the bakery building the barn and the stable. The bakery building was built in 1877, the barn in 1880 & the stable in 1890 all with Beechworth granite. Still attached to the bakery is the commercial wood fired baker’s oven. The well was dug in 1871 for the market garden, and covered by stonemason Thomas Fluke in 1894 by a slab of granite which has the initials WP, TF and the year 1894 carved into it.

The bakery closed in 1942 and became the property of the Department of Conservation. In 1977 the Department sold the property & the buildings and the bakery was rescued from dereliction and the enchanting French-inspired garden was created.

Black Springs is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register as being of historical, architectural & technological significance to the State of Victoria.

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