 Braidwood Click to get the inside scoop from real travelers here at VirtualTourist. See the Braidwood Travel GuideInside advice from real people on:Overview, Hotels, Things to Do, Restaurants, Nightlife, Shopping, General Tips, Transportation, Off the Beaten Path, Tourist Traps, Warnings or Dangers, Local Customs, Packing Lists or Sports Travel.
40 Braidwood Tips. 111 Braidwood Photos. Braidwood Pages by tiabunna
| Page Views: 1,683 Last Visit to Braidwood: - I Live Here | Braidwood by tiabunna - last update: Feb 6, 2008 |
Historic Gem of the NSW Southern Tablelands | Classic cars pass the Braidwood Hotel. |
It would be somewhat remiss not to have a travel page on our 'local' town, just up the road a little. So this is a start - from here, it's likely to continue as a 'work in progress' with additions from time to time. |
| View across the Braidwood district. |
|  | So, where is Braidwood? You'll find it on the King's Highway, roughly half way between Canberra and Bateman's Bay on the coast, and 80 km south of Goulburn. It's about 300km south west of Sydney. The town has a population of about 1100 and is 600M above sea level. The first European settlement in Braidwood was in the 1820s, which makes it older than most Australian capital cities! Cattle and sheep properties were established in the 1820s and 1830s, but life around here was pretty quiet until gold was found in 1851. Then the town and surrounding villages expanded rapidly. Eventually the gold ran out and the area reverted back to being a centre for primary industries, mainly beef cattle. The area has more than its share of history. The champion racehorse 'Archer' (winner of the first two Melbourne Cup races in the 1850s) came from this area. Following the goldrush, in the 1860s, fast horses were also a key requirement for the bushrangers, most notably the Clarke Brothers and their gang, who created considerable problems in the district. Interestingly, "bushrangers" returned in the 1960s, when the film "Ned Kelly" was made here, starring Mick Jagger (unlikely as it may seem!). Today the town is notable for its nineteenth century buildings, from grand country estates to workers' cottages and various public buildings. The town is listed by the National Trust and recently became the first entire town in New South Wales to be given State Heritage Listing by the State Government. It is a popular stop for motorists travelling between Canberra and the coast. The town also is known for its annual "Hanging of the Quilts" weekend - I now have added a travelogue of photos from the 2006 event. New 'to do' and restaurant tips added February 2008. |
| The Tourist Information Office is across the road. |
|  | Find out more here The surrounding area takes in the Shoalhaven River valley and surrounding mountains, much of which are National Parks. Visiting some of the scenic attractions of the area is well worthwhile, either as a motoring tour or as bushwalks. For more information on Braidwood and district, this is the local tourist office website. |
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| Pros: | "Pleasant, scenic and historic town." | | Cons: | "But the bright lights are few and far between." | | In A Nutshell: | "Quiet but comfortable" |
tiabunna's Braidwood Travel Tips
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Comments for tiabunna about Braidwood | | | | |
Pawtuxet Thu May 1, 2008 11:22 UTC Enjoyed the view of your little park and rotunda. Reminded me of our Pawtuxet Park. We call our park structure a gazebo. I'll send a pic. | Ekaterinburg Wed Apr 16, 2008 22:35 UTC From Paris to Braidwood in one small virtual flick. The 1800's houses are indeed very interesting. In fact the town is obviously much bigger than I had thought. Cute little boys in the Ant's nest photo :)) | Bwana_Brown Sat Feb 23, 2008 23:42 UTC George, great updates on your hometown! Seeing the 'Nambawan' restaurant almost made me want to return to Papua New Guinea! Also, quite a feather in your hats to have the town war memorial chosen for such an honour! | Nemorino Fri Feb 22, 2008 22:41 UTC Me again, just checking back to read the fine tips and updates you have added to this page in the last year and a half. I'm glad to see that Braidwood has a "National Theatre", which puts it right up there with the rest of the world's major metropolises. |
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