Araluen - "Place of Water Lilies"

Out & About

Situated 27km south of Braidwood, 72km west of Moruya, is the picturesque village of Araluen. Prior to the gold rush, there were numerous lagoons in the valley where water lilies grew freely and formed a staple article of food for the natives.

Also known as the "Valley of Peace", Araluen was abruptly transformed in 1851 when gold was discovered by Alexander Waddell. Over £11 million worth of gold was found here and it was known as the richest alluvial goldfield in Australia. Records from between 1858 and 1860 quote 1,000 ounces of gold per fortnight being taken by the gold escort to Goulburn for railing to Sydney.

Araluen was divided into six suburbs - Mudmelong, Crown Flat, Redbank, Newtown, Bourketown and Deep Creek. Affectionately known as Upper and Lower Araluen, this nomenclature survives to the present day.

In 1862, the bushranger, Ben Hall, and his gang made an unsuccessful attempt to hold up the gold escort on the Majors Creek Mountain. Shortly after, the Clarke Gang began a series of holdups in the area. Led by Thomas Clarke, the son of a former convict, these bush-bred "wild colonial boys" eluded the police until 1867.

In 1896 there were 11 dredges working in the valley. At this time there were 28 licensed hotels, 5 police stations and 8 large schools in the area.

Araluen is known today for its high quality stone fruit and vegetable growing and its proud population in the year 2001 is approximately 150.