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.
Braidwood
Classified as an Australian National Heritage Trust township,
Braidwood is a small rural town steeped in history. Located 300kms
south-west of Sydney and halfway between Australia's national
capital, Canberra, and the beautiful beaches of the South Coast of
NSW, Braidwood sits on the south-east edge of the Southern
Tablelands, 662 metres above sea level. It experiences cold, crisp
winters and hot summers.
Braidwood is considered by its residents
to be the centre of the universe. It is also a centre of excellence
in the world of art and craft, presenting unique and diverse talents
in the fields of pottery and ceramics, two-dimensional art,
sculpture, patchwork and quilt making, doll and bear-making,
spinning and weaving, woodwork and precious handcrafted jewellery.
With its fascinating historic streetscape, Braidwood provides a
feast of shopping opportunities. Admire the wide range of art,
craft, Australiana and gifts exhibited in Studio Altenburg (housed
in the 1888 Commercial Banking Company building), and work by
Australian artists and craftspeople exhibited at McLeod Gallery
(situated in the 1872 Albion Hotel building), both in the centre of
town.
An extraordinary range of fabrics and supplies for patchwork and
quilting can be found in the Braidwood Quilt Shop (also in the
Albion Centre), while Country Workbox, at the southern end of
Wallace Street, offers an extensive range of handmade teddy bears,
dolls' houses and furniture, as well as supplies.
At the northern entrance to Braidwood, potter Richard Murray has
set up his gallery and studio in the building that was once the Pig
and Whistle Hotel.
And then, on a weekend in late November each year, Braidwood
hosts the Quilt Event, which provides an opportunity to view the
creative excellence of some of Australia's best-known craftspeople -
those who indulge in the gentle art of quilting.
The town of Braidwood tops off its great art and craft shopping
experience by providing friendly and helpful service, refreshments
at excellent cafes and restaurants, and an abundance of fresh air
and comfortable accommodation for those who prefer to savour all
that is on offer in a more leisurely manner.
It is the picture perfect location for movies, melodramas,
masterpieces and photographic's. Let Braidwood inspire the
screenwriter, the movie producer, the artist and the photographer.
The peaceful countryside encourages the free flow of inspiration and
genius.
When it comes to film-making, Braidwood can boast an impressive
record of award-winning films, shot on location and using an
abundance of ready-made characters straight from the pages of poetry
and prose. Classic movies such as "Forty Thousand Horsemen",
"Robbery Under Arms", "Ned Kelly", "The Year My Voice Broke", and
that movie of the irrepressible Dad and Dave, "On Our Selection",
spring readily to mind.
And the tradition continues. Braidwood loves silent movies
screened in the old theatre, parades for airing elaborate costumes,
a good yarn spun and embroidered over the bar, and enjoys a way of
life so quintessentially Australian that you can leave the props
behind.
Jembaicumbene
Located 8 kms out along the Braidwood -
Majors Creek Road, Jembaicumbene (pronounced Jemmi-c'm-bene) was
once a thriving goldfield, but is now a peaceful, pretty valley on
the way to Majors Creek.
Stands of fine old trees mark former home sites and the upturned
earth along the length of the Jembaicumbene Creek bears witness to
the efforts of many hopeful miners, and the later activities of
several dredge mining companies.
Exeter Farm at Jembaicumbene was the last home of Archer,
winner of the first two Melbourne Cups in 1861 and 1862. Several
other Melbourne Cup winners were also bred in the district.
Horse racing was the most important leisure activity for the
miners in the old days, and the social life for the settlers
centred largely around the race meetings, held on courses which
have now disappeared.
Majors Creek
This former gold mining village is
situated some 16kms south of Braidwood. It was designed in 1858 by
W.C. Larmer, Licensed Surveyor. Originally called Elrington after
Major William Sandys Elrington, it was commonly known as Majors
Creek. The name was later officially changed to this, being gazetted
on August 3, 1928.
Gold was first discovered on the 5th of October
1851 by a Mrs Baxter of "Irish Corner" (now known as Reidsdale) in
the vicinity of the small bridge on the Braidwood Road. Following
the discovery, gold mining commenced and soon there were thousands
on the field, many being Chinese. The gold rush continued into the
1860s when the main flush of gold ran out. Around this time, the
first reef was found. The last reef to be worked was Camages Reef,
which eventually closed down around 1940. Fine alluvial gold can
still be found in the creeks and gullies.
The foundation stone of the lovely old Anglican Church of St
Stephen was laid on November 10th, 1870. Built of hand cut local
stone by stonemason Peter Rusconi, it was completed in 1872 and
consecrated on September 6th, 1880. The original shingle roof was
later replaced with slate. The church is always open to visitors and
the full history of this beautiful building is available.
The bridge over Majors Creek on the Braidwood Road was also built
by Rusconi in the 1870s.
Clarke's Lookout is situated on the Majors Creek Mountain on the
Majors Creek to Araluen Road. This vantage point offers an excellent
view of the Araluen Valley.
Music at the Creek is held every November. This music festival
has gained popularity because of the laid back styles, the village
atmosphere of Majors Creek and the fantastic variety of music and
dance styles presented.
Mongarlowe
Mongarlowe lies 13kms from Braidwood and is the gateway to Mt.
Budawang and the Morton National Park. It is also an alternative
road to Nerriga and Nowra.
Originally known as Little River,
the town of Mongarlowe came into prominence when gold was discovered
there in 1852. It was not as big as other goldfields, although large
amounts of gold were extracted: alluvial, reef and later by dredging
along the Mongarlowe River and its tributaries.
The population declined when gold ran out. In the 1930s and after
the Second World War, the high prices for eucalyptus oil led to many
stills being established on the banks of the creeks.
Today, the seclusion and the beauty of the streams and mountains
are now attracting new settlers. Trout fishing in the Mongarlowe
River is a very popular local activity.
Nerriga
Nerriga is 53km from Braidwood along
the Nowra Road. The district was first explored in 1821 by
Hamilton Hume, accompanied by two aboriginals Udaa Duck and
Cowpasture Jack. It was surveyed by Robert Hoddle in 1824. The
first promissory land grant was given to Dr Henry Douglas in
1825, soon followed by George Galbraith.
Colonel John
Mackenzie first purchased land (901 acres) in 1836. In 1840
James Larmer surveyed a road from Nerriga to Jervis Bay. Colonel
John Mackenzie was assigned 70 convicts under the charge of
Captain John Coghill in 1841 to build the road which carried
wool and other produce to Port Jervis and became known as the
"wool road". The following year the road was extended to
Braidwood using the convict labour funded by Dr Braidwood Wilson
and Colonel John Mackenzie.
Alluvial gold was first discovered on the Shoalhaven River in
1851, bringing many people to the area. Some of these settled in the
district. Official records show that 14,177 ounces of gold were
recovered from the area between 1878 and 1902.
Five kilometres north of Nerriga brings you to the Endrick River
and 30km further on, is Sassafras Mountain and Tianjara Falls, set
in the southern end of the Yarramunmun Gorge, with its sub-tropical
ferns, vines and fine scenery. Bounding the eastern and southern
sides of Nerriga is the Morton National Park which offers walking
access to such places as the Round Mountain, Camp Rock, Newhaven
Gap, Quilty Mountain, Mount Budawang, Corang Peak and the Castle.
(Click here for bushwalking information.)
Nerriga's Bark Tree Hotel (formerly the Commercial Hotel), is
believed to have been established on or before 1864. A local museum
with many interesting exhibits (open by request) is situated in the
old schoolhouse, adjoining the sawmill. Contact (02) 4845 9115.
