LAST week the Beechworth Organ Society celebrated the 170th birthday of the beautiful instrument which stands as a working centrepiece of the town's history and heritage.

It was built in London in 1852 by Hills Organs and installed in a stately mansion where it was used for entertainment of the 'upper classes'.

In the years that followed gold brought great wealth to Australia and Beechworth was one of the richest fields in the world producing more than 60 tons of the precious metal.

Beechworth was keen to promote itself as a high class town with beautiful buildings and world class entertainment so by 1886 the organ was installed in the town hall with great acclaim and as a timely distraction from the horrors of the Ned Kelly saga.

However by 1906 it was sold and removed, but with a great deal of effort in 2018 the Beechworth Organ Society found it in Melbourne and brought it home with generous grants Indigo Shire Council, the Copland Foundation and support from the local community.

Since then it has been played on more than 200 occasions and continues to be a centrepiece of town's cultural heritage.