Araluen, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Araluen is a small town near Braidwood
in the Southern Tablelands
of New South Wales
, Australia
, in Palerang Council
. It lies in the valley of Araluen creek, that joins the Deua River
at roughly the mid point in its course. On Census night 2006, Araluen had a population of 215 people.
The name 'Araluen' meant 'water lily' or 'place of the water lilies' in the local aboriginal dialect. At the time of European settlement Araluen was described as a broad alluvial valley with many natural billabongs covered with water lilies. Unfortunately, no such billabongs exist in the Araluen valley today. As with most river and creek valleys in south-eastern Australia, the natural landscape of Araluen Creek and its valley were completely destroyed by rampant and extremely destructive gold mining during the 'gold rush' in the latter half of the 19th century. The town experienced a decline after a flash flood in 1860 virtually destroyed the town, killing 24 people.
Araluen experienced a great population increase during the gold rush and is also home to author Jackie French
. Two rare plants growing in the area are the Araluen Gum
and the Araluen Zieria
.
Braidwood, New South Wales
Braidwood is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, in Palerang Shire. It is located on the busy Kings Highway linking Canberra to Batemans Bay on the coast. It is about 200 kilometres south west of Sydney and about 60 kilometres inland from the coast...
in the Southern Tablelands
Southern Tablelands
The Southern Tablelands is a geographic area of the State of New South Wales, Australia. This area is located west of the Great Dividing Range.The area is characterised by flat country which has generally been extensively cleared and used for grazing purposes...
of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in Palerang Council
Palerang Council
The Palerang Council is a Local Government Area in the Southern Tablelands Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the Kings Highway and the Sydney-Canberra railway....
. It lies in the valley of Araluen creek, that joins the Deua River
Deua River
The Deua River is the freshwater reaches of the Moruya River, an east coast drainage in southern New South Wales, Australia. The Deua River rises in rugged and thickly forested ranges south of Braidwood...
at roughly the mid point in its course. On Census night 2006, Araluen had a population of 215 people.
The name 'Araluen' meant 'water lily' or 'place of the water lilies' in the local aboriginal dialect. At the time of European settlement Araluen was described as a broad alluvial valley with many natural billabongs covered with water lilies. Unfortunately, no such billabongs exist in the Araluen valley today. As with most river and creek valleys in south-eastern Australia, the natural landscape of Araluen Creek and its valley were completely destroyed by rampant and extremely destructive gold mining during the 'gold rush' in the latter half of the 19th century. The town experienced a decline after a flash flood in 1860 virtually destroyed the town, killing 24 people.
Araluen experienced a great population increase during the gold rush and is also home to author Jackie French
Jackie French
Jacqueline Anne "Jackie" French is an award-winning Australian author. She writes mainly children's fiction and books on gardening....
. Two rare plants growing in the area are the Araluen Gum
Eucalyptus kartzoffiana
Eucalyptus kartzoffiana, the Araluen Gum is seldom noticed eucalyptus of south eastern Australia. A mid to large tree, sometimes reaching 30 metres in height. The tree features bluish juvenile leaves. A rare species, with a ROTAP rating of 2VCi, with a most restricted distribution...
and the Araluen Zieria
Zieria adenophora
Zieria adenophora, also known as the Araluen Zieria is an Australian plant in the Citrus family, only found near Araluen, New South Wales. It grows on a granite hillside, less than two hundred plants are known from this one site. A spreading shrub, up to a metre high, with small glossy and warty...
.