the gold. Near the creek it is easily reached, but away back it is covered with the tailings and débris of former diggers, that has to be removed. Further from the creek, therefore, the more stripping there is to deal with—16, 18, and 20 feet. There was a revival of gold mining at Araluen in the first two decades of the 20th-century, when the area was extensively mined using gold dredges, adding to damage to the landscape of earlier mining efforts. By the mid-1920s, dredging had ended. Over its years as a goldfield, Araluen produced in excess of £11,000,000 worth of gold. After the years of gold mining, Araluen was renowned for its stone fruit, particularly its large, good tasting peaches. Facilities It had various schools between 1867 and 1956. Araluen West Public School operated from 1867 to 1919, although it was called Bourketown Public School during its first two years. Araluen Upper Public School operated from 1872 to 1888. Araluen Lower Provisional School operated from 1943 to 1956. Araluen West Evening Public School operated from 1880 to 1886 and in 1890 and 1892. Araluen Evening Public School operated in 1880 and 1881. The town was connected by road to Braidwood, via Majors Creek, from its earliest days. Those travelling from the coast went via Braidwood, either over the Clyde Road (from Nelligen on the Clyde River) or the Braidwood Road (from Nowra). From around 1858, packhorses were used to bring supplies from the coastal river town of Moruya. In 1867–1868, a road—Araluen Road—was built from Araluen to Moruya. Two rare plants growing in the area are the Araluen gum (Eucalyptus kartzoffiana) and the Araluen zieria (Zieria adenophora). Residents Australian geologist Torrington Blatchford (1871–1938) was born in Araluen. Australian author Jackie French (1953–) lives in Araluen. References External Links Media at Wikimedia Commons under Category: Araluen Towns in New South Wales Southern Tablelands Queanbeyan–Palerang Regional Council Mining towns in New South Wales