Naming Araluen
Newspaper reports in 1936 suggest Mr. W. Stuart, an old resident of the Major’s Creek district, recollects that Araluen 1Someone with a beautiful mind. Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888 – 1954), Friday 24 January 1936, page 2 got its name from ‘Araluen Billy,’ a member of one of the numerous tribes of aboriginals which were settled in in district in the early days. He said it was over 70 years ago since the late Messrs. Tom Roberts and Wm. Royds came to this district from Moss Vale with a mob of 300 cattle and a number of horses. They pushed south until they came to Jembaicumbene, where they camped at the place now called Exeter Farm. It was while they were here, Mr. Stuart went on, that an old black fellow, ‘Araluen Billy,’ came along and told them of a wonderfully fertile valley over the mountain. He offered to pilot them down, and took them through what is now known as Bell’s Creek. So delighted were they when they finally arrived in the verdant valley, which, of course, was in its virgin state— a veritable paradise, undefiled by the ruthless hand of the white man, who later came along and rooted and tore up the fertile flats in search of gold —that they took up big areas there also, holding these for many years. The aboriginals, Mr. Stuart says, were the people responsible for the names Araluen, Bettowynd, Neringla, as they were for practically every locality in the Braidwood district.
Richard Kennedy writes 2Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888 – 1954), Friday 8 May 1942, page 2 in 1853 there were a great number of aborigines in the Valley, It appears some dispute arose between the southern blacks and the Monaro blacks, and it was decided between them to fight it out in Araluen. Before they commenced hostilities their two leaders singled out from their parties by some sign made between them, and these two men met and had a conversation in their own language. After about half an hour they made signs, each one to his own party, that peace was made, and the two parties then joined together and had a great corroboree, which lasted for three days. They dispersed but some remained with the Araluen blacks long after.
The Monaro Mercury, and Cooma and Bombala Advertiser in June 1887 3Manaro Mercury, and Cooma and Bombala Advertiser (NSW : 1862 – 1931), Wednesday 29 June 1887, page 2 reports that in the Braidwood district the Aborigines have dwindled down to Mr. Wallace, Tommy, and Araluen Billy.
The Queanbeyan Observer reports that Mary Ann Wallace 4Queanbeyan Observer (NSW : 1894 – 1908; 1910 – 1915), Friday 7 February 1896, page 3 died in the Braidwood Hospital in Feb 1896. Mary Ann had been in the institution 5Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW: 1881 – 1940), Tuesday 4 February 1896, page 4 some fortnight or three weeks and died of consumption. Nellie, her mother, was a regular visitor to the Hospital. Nellie is now childless and is going to Araluen which is her birthplace.
On Wednesday 28 April 1897 Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal,6Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888 – 1954), Wednesday 28 April 1897, page 2 reports Nellie Wallace, an aboriginal, and the last of her tribe about this district, died in April 1897 7NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages (No:4124/1897 ) https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search NSW BDM Accessed 18 Feb 2023, and was buried on the side of the mountain overlooking Deep Creek. It appears it was her wish to be buried in this spot as her birth-place, the Moruya Mountains, were visible from there. Nellie’s age was not known, but she must have been over 70, as she remembers the Araluen Valley long before it was inhabited by whites. She often described the Valley as it appeared in those early days, before the surface was rooted about by those in quest of gold. It must have looked beautiful. Her description was so plain and yet in such simple language that you could almost imagine you saw the sparkling streamlets running between green banks and shaded by gigantic trees, and the ferns and flowers undisturbed by the hands of man, must have made this place a veritable Garden of Eden. Her father was a king, and was the proud possessor of an inscribed breastplate, the gift of the Government.