Braidwood

Postcode: 2622

Braidwood is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, in Palerang Shire. At the 2001 census, Braidwood had a population of 996.

Braidwood is located on the 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. It is located in a highland area near the headwaters of the Shoalhaven River.

The town was named after Dr Thomas Braidwood Wilson. He had been a surgeon-superintendent of ships taking convicts to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land (now known as Tasmania). He was first granted land in Van Diemen's Land in 1824, which he exchanged for land near Lake George in 1825. In addition he was given 2560 acres (10 km²) which he selected in the 'new country' on two tributaries of the Shoalhaven, Monkittee and Flood creeks. In 1833 the western end of Wilson's grant was resumed and reserved for a future village and a similar area added to the eastern end in compensation. Wilson settled in the district in late 1836 with his wife and family. He became a community leader and amongst other things contracted to build the first courthouse in 1837-38. In 1840 Wilson petitioned the government to build a road from Braidwood to Huskisson to enable faster and cheaper shipping of the wool clip to Sydney and, with Col. John Mackenzie, supplied the materials and labour for the Braidwood to Nerriga section. In 1841 Braidwood Farm had 141 residents. Wilson was sent bankrupt due to a drought in the late 1830s and the subsequent depression. He died in November 1843. His land was sold to John Coghill for £2,000 who now owned all the land on the south, east and north of the town. However, before his death, Wilson had purchased the block immediately to the north of Braidwood. He was buried on this block, high on the hill overlooking the town.

The first stop for everyone wanting to explore Braidwood is the Museum located at the northern end of Wallace Street. This Museum has excellent brochures and books on Braidwood and the surrounding area. It provides detailed maps listing as many as 25 historic buildings within the town's central district. The best way to explore Braidwood's historic buildings is to start on the corner of McKellar Street and Wallace Street and proceed south to Lascelles Street then head east to Elrington Street and complete the circuit by coming up that street and back to McKellar Street.

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