A sweet history in 36 bites
It's Beechworth Bakery's 36th birthday and there is plenty to celebrate. Here is an overview of its history.
1857: Beechworth Bakery's original building erected.
1968: Tom starts bakery apprenticeship.
1974: Tom purchases the Ideal Cafe & Milk Bar in Beechworth (building of the current BB).
1977: Tom sells the business, moves to Augusta in Western Australia.
1984: Returns to Beechworth and again purchases the bakery.
1986: Tom gets married.
1987: The shop opens up into the vacant building next door.
1988: Cappuccinos were introduced along with tables and chairs.
1988: The first Beestings are made.
1991: Kindergarten groups visit the bakery and make bread.
1990: The famous 1930 'A' Model Ford bakery van is bought.
1990: Marty Matassoni (now managing director) joins the team as a 13 yr old 'Afternoon Boy'.
1992: The first Ned Kelly pies are made.
1992: Upstairs area opens.
1993: Marty starts his apprenticeship as a baker at Beechworth Bakery.
1994: We are proud recipient of most Significant Regional Attraction in the Victorian Tourism Awards.
1995: Award again.
1995: The bakery runs the Golden Horseshoes Easter Festival.
1996: Tom buys land in Healesville with the plan to build a second Beechworth Bakery there.
1997: Self-serve bottomless tea and coffee introduced.
1998: Another win in the Victorian Tourism Awards.
1998: Tom starts his career as a paid motivational speaker.
2000: Tom's first book Breadwinner is published.
2001: 24-year-old Marty buys into the business.
2001: Beechworth Bakery Echuca opens; Tom's next book Secrets of the Beechworth Bakery is published;
2004: Beechworth Bakery Albury opens; Tom appears on the Bert Newton Morning Show making his famous lemon slice.
2005: Beechworth Bakery Bendigo opens.
2006: Marty becomes Beechworth Bakery's managing director.
2006: BB in Ballarat and Healesville open.
2009: BB is awarded the trademark rights and become the official home of the Ned Kelly pie.
2014: The 30th birthday is celebrated with a good old-fashioned carnival in the middle of Beechworth
2017: The business buys the Yackandandah Bakery after it had been closed - leaving the town without a bakery - for three months.
2018: The Bright bakeries open.
2020: It's the bakery's 36th birthday and time to celebrate.
