Braidwood - Speed Hump or Worth a Stop? Your Views!

Thanks guys…the Feedback Form for the meeting on Monday night can now be downloaded directly from http://www.visitbraidwood.com.au front page. Membership forms for Braidwood & Villages Tourism Inc. can also be downloaded from the same page. We really want to take the issues and comments raised on this blog to the meeting, so if you have any more to say I will continue to check here until around 12 noon on Monday. I am compiling a summary of suggestions and criticisms that we will distibute to attendees on Monday night, and also in an attachment in our feedback to Palerang Council.

As I have told a few people in the last few days, I am not going anywhere. I am staying right here in Braidwood and I am determined that the businesses of Braidwood who want to do a better job for their clients and customers should have a voice about what needs to change.

Despite how jaded we all may be; let’s all look at this as our last chance! If nothing comes out of this, we really are in the shit, because no one will take this up again.

Let’s forget the wasted efforts of the past and give it one very big last shot!

We have the product, we just have to make it more desirable and more accessible!

I feel it poignant to quote a man who had the gift of shaping the most unlikely object into an object of desire! A true alchemist!

“It’s better to be a flamboyant failure than any kind of benign success.”
Malcom McLaren, who died yesterday in New York aged 64.

Sorry about the typos…how I wish there was a spell checker on this blog….

Expressions of Interest for membership of the Palerang Cultural Tourism s.355 Committee were called for in late February. I understand they are to be called for again following the vote to ‘defer’ the decision on aborting the committee due to ‘lack of interest’. The Committee was to have six community representatives (at least one each from Bungendore, Braidwood and Captains Flat). The contact person at the Council is listed as Debbie Ferguson on 1300 735 025 during business hours. Applications are to be addressed to Peter Bascomb, Counciul CEO and marked Expression of Interest – palerang Cultural Tourism s.355 Committee.

If youo are eligible and interested to join, I suggest you don’t wait for the re-advertising but hop straight in and send an application to Bascomb today. I was one of the two who applied back before 19 March, the previous closing adte. I have applied again. I am determined that this Council is made to understand the value of Tourism to the region.

I just read the Braidwood Times report on the s.355 committee on tourism!

Has anyone ever watched the Dukes of Hazard? It was a really bad American sit-com from the 70’s and early 80’s!

I’d like to know if anyone who is familiar with the programme sees any similarities between Walter Raynolds and Boss Hog!!!!

“You dipstick Walter!”

Wow – I said I’d given up on this thread! I crept back in for a look and to my delight, it seems that there has been some “movement at the station!!!”

Excellent!!!

In reference to Hanafyre’s fine comments:

What else can we expect from our local council other than opposition to an s.355 committee on tourism. Yet another example grass chewing, banjo strumming millionaires, serving their own interests!

The first point in the ICAC’s definition of corruption is:

“A public official improperly uses, or tries to improperly use, the knowledge, power or resources of their position for personal gain or the advantage of others.”

REF: http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/about-corruption/what-is-corrupt-conduct

Two questions! 1. Has anyone contacted the appropriate “watchdog” in regards to this council’s conduct! 2. Who votes for these illiterate halfwits!

Oh yeah and 3. (That’s 3 questions) Where does one apply to join the s.355 committee?

We lobbied hard to have the vote in Council last week on the Tourism and Culture Committee deferred as they were about to abolish the committee due to a lack of interest. We are talking to several people about applying to join the committee who may not have thought that they would be considered.

Today’s Braidwood Times has a front page article of the whole issue of the new s.355 Committee and we realise what we are up against when even our own Mayor is opposed to a committee for fear it ‘lobbies’ council. Our Mayor needs to revisit the meaning of citizen rights and democracy if he fears rate payers wishing to have their views heard and their experience respected.

It is of paramount importance that people who want Tourism and Cultural Tourism to flourish in the region make their voices heard, Braidwood & Villages Tourism Inc is only one vehicle for that effort, but under its current management it will be making a LOT more noise about what is needed to improve Braidwood as a tourist destination.

PS: If you want the feedback form before it is loaded to the visitbraidwood website email me directly (cheryl.hannah@netspeed.com.au) and I will send it to you.

My apologies. I cannot get the form to load. If you would like to see it go to http://www.visitbraidwood.com.au.

Here is the feedback form we will be handing out on Monday night.

Braidwood & Villages Tourism Inc
Special General Meeting 12 April 2010
Everyone interested in learning more about how we grow Braidwood & Villages as a tourism destination is invited to a Special General Meeting of the B&VT to hear Mr Colin McLean, Regional Development Australia, lead a discussion on what we can do as a community to increase tourist visits to our towns. Cr Paul Cockram and Cr Richard Graham will update the meeting on recent developments with the proposed s.355 Tourism and Culture Committee of Palerang Council. Our special guests for the evening will be Mr David Maclaren, and a number of his fellow Bungendore Chamber of Commerce members who have an interest in regional tourism. They will be available to share their ideas and experiences with us, particularly how we increase the levels of cooperative tourism promotion across the region.

All members of B&VT, and any local business owners looking to attract more tourist visits to their doors, are cordially invited to join us at 6:30 pm on Monday 12 April 2010 in the Braidwood National Theatre for what promises to be a most interesting evening. Come and hear how Braidwood can be more than a “speed bump” on the way to the coast and share your views too. For a preview check out http://the-riotact.com/?p=17981&cpage=2#comments to see what our visitors really think about us!

Light refreshments will be served.

Tracey Lamont
Chair Braidwood & Villages Tourism Inc
http://www.visitbraidwood.com.au
http://www.kingshwytodiscovery.com.au

As a direct consequence of the discussion here we have called a Special Generasl Meeting in Braidwood for next Monday night. Everyone with an interest in Tourism in the region is welcome. It would be great if some of you could come, but if you can’t come please leave your comments here because we will be distributing them at the meeting.

Braidwood & Villages Tourism Inc
Special General Meeting 12 April 2010
Everyone interested in learning more about how we grow Braidwood & Villages as a tourism destination is invited to a Special General Meeting of the B&VT to hear Mr Colin McLean, Regional Development Australia, lead a discussion on what we can do as a community to increase tourist visits to our towns. Cr Paul Cockram and Cr Richard Graham will update the meeting on recent developments with the proposed s.355 Tourism and Culture Committee of Palerang Council. Our special guests for the evening will be Mr David Maclaren, and a number of his fellow Bungendore Chamber of Commerce members who have an interest in regional tourism. They will be available to share their ideas and experiences with us, particularly how we increase the levels of cooperative tourism promotion across the region.

All members of B&VT, and any local business owners looking to attract more tourist visits to their doors, are cordially invited to join us at 6:30 pm on Monday 12 April 2010 in the Braidwood National Theatre for what promises to be a most interesting evening. Come and hear how Braidwood can be more than a “speed bump” on the way to the coast and share your views too. For a preview check out http://the-riotact.com/?p=17981&cpage=2#comments to see what our visitors really think about us!

Light refreshments will be served.

Tracey Lamont
Chair Braidwood & Villages Tourism Inc
http://www.visitbraidwood.com.au
http://www.kingshwytodiscovery.com.au

Hoola Hoop….
I, for one, am chuffed.
You Sir-Fellow-Well-Met have my support without question.
I am unable to attend the meeting of the 12th though I have asked another to reside and pruvey on my behalf.

If any submissions made by myself on this “blog’ are worthy of mention – please take hold of same and run a mile and twenty and more to boot. Kudos is un-neccessary if it “gets the Job done”. The Community matters. Braidwood Matters.

Let the Past be Past and Long Gone yet to be Treasured Now, whilst at the same Time to live alive in the prescence of the Braidwood Community and its now Heritage Umbrella NOW
– a new Era for Braidwood inclusive of Community,Tourism, Heritage,Employment,Education.

If perchance I can give you any support in any matters pertaining – you have same whole heartedly.

Go you Good Thing.

Kev Renshaw

I haven’t entered this debate, yet! Well I guess I have now. I have been following it avidly. This post and the reaction to it, has been one of the most positive things to happen in regards to commerce and tourism in the 8 years that I have been part of the business community in Braidwood.

It has been invaluable to read comments from Canberrans in regards to their opinions on commerce in our town. Some of the suggestions from Canberrans for how we might improve commerce in the town have also been of great value. These people represent a significant slice of Braidwood’s market and despite popular belief, do want an experience in Braidwood beyond purchasing a dodgy meat pie, taking a leak and fueling the wagon!

Subsequently the discourse that has ensued here between members of the Braidwood business comunity has been constructive, mostly positive and above all has displyed that most of us are on the same page!

I was very encourraged today to be informed that Braidwood Tourism has scheduled a special general meeting aimed at discussing how tourism based commerce may be improved. Mr Colin Mclean from Regional Development Australia will lead the discussion. Members of the Pallerang Council will be present and Mr David MacLaren from the Bungendore Chamber of Commerce will be speaking about their experiences. The meeting will be held at The National Theatre at 6:30 PM on Monday 12th of April. Let’s see a great turn out.

The “meeting” that has been discussed in the later stages of this thread, is happening! That’s fantastic news. I know that many of us in the Braidwood business community are a little jaded and can be somewhat sceptical about the path forward for tourism in the town, but this really is a step in the right direction and needs everyone’s support! Some of the ideas put forward in this thread, really do provide something to work with.

Congratulations to Braidwood Tourism for taking the time to listen to the many opinions put forward here and acting upon them so quickly and so appropriately. Well done!

Let’s do them proud by keeping the meeting orderly and by maintaining the constructive and good spirited approach that has been displayed in this post. Bickering has really taken it’s toll on Briadwood. Look what happened when the heritage listing was going through! Everyone bickered over it so much that eventually no one wanted to know anything about it and few of the positives that should have been gained from it ever eventuated. Let’s not let that happen to this opportunity to move forward!

I’m just about to join Braidwood Tourism for the first time in the 8 years that I’ve been part of the Braidwood business community. I’m very impressed by this!

Scott Watkins-Sully

Post Script

Japanese Proverb

??????
ishi no ue ni san nen

……..It takes a long time sitting on a stone before it becomes warm.
Expect to work at something for years before you see results…………….

ummmm CM – coup d’etat?
Sacré bleu!!!!

Nay Sir I am not suggesting that.

Rather I suggest an entente cordiale between all parti’s for the betterment of the Braidwood community at large.

Can anyone really imagine a march up Wallace Street screaming for Bread?
That was Versailles in 1789 or thereabouts.

Council, Committees and Community – Local and Tourist – they all are part of Braidwood.

“If you must have motivation, think of your paycheck on Friday.”
Noel Coward.

What excellent comments from Larrikan and invaluable information and links too! You are obviously a wise and informed man.

I think it might be time for a coup de tat, so to speak!

Having briefly scoured the information that you have provided, it seems that given appropriate community support, this council and it’s administration’s days may be numbered!

I for one am going to hang around outside Centrelink in Goulburn, just so that I can laugh out loud when members of the “former” Palerang Council administration turn up to lodge their dole forms!

So much is being mentioned about Council and Town and Council and Living and Council and Tourism here that I am amazed. Council Does not hold any power without the say so of the voters also Local Councils only have summary powers only in terms of the Constitution of Australia, http://www.comlaw.gov.au/comlaw/comlaw.nsf/440c19285821b109ca256f3a001d59b7/57dea3835d797364ca256f9d0078c087/$FILE/ConstitutionAct.pdf

Also to be noted any Development Control Plan to be assented to by Council Vote is simply a Guideline – it ain’t Law fellas, it is a Guideline only, ergo the Land and Environment Court to make final judgments after so many days if a local council is lacking, http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lec

In terms of Braidwood and Palerang, Employment and Tourism may I be bold enough to suggest that Council in Toto – both the Councilors and the entrenched bureaucracy is and are beyond the ken of the average person, given the natures and intercine dynamics of all and their own dependency of one and another upon the other.
You reckon this is double-speak? Go to a Council meeting!

We then need to return to the Community to make a Living, engender employment and continue the town with the knowledge that we are not at the Council’s bequest – the Council is at the bequest of the Community. Yes?

How is this accomplished?

The Community takes control – that is how.
Mis-construence of any Council judgment needs to be petitioned and have written proof, for example Palerang Council adopted a Code of Practice some years ago. If perchance this Code of Practice was abjured in any way the Petitioner need only look to the clauses in the code to cite the possible contraventions in any case or DA/CC under deliberation.
http://www.tallaganda.nsw.gov.au/council/7862/2469.html

If a concern or complaint regarding a Local Council is to be made – it should be made in triplicate.
1. General Manager of said Council.
2. Local Member State “wise”
3. Local Government Association – http://www.lgsa.org.au/www/html/7-home-page.asp

In terms of Tourism for Braidwood – I refer you to all previous mentions and suggestions.

All the positives are there – no one is dependent on Council. Council is dependent on the Community

What I don’t understand is why none of this is happening. Everyone gets together in other towns, for example Beechworth in Victoria. That town was on its last feet until it got itself together.

Braidwood has its own uniqueness – now Codified under the Heritage Act.
Braidwood has a Mastery of People in terms of the Arts that need to be advertised.
Braidwood is a great place to live if, and only if those in the background come forward and stand tall shoulder to shoulder, burying all philosophical differences for the good of the Community and be Honest in the doing of all will anything ever happen.

And no my other nomen is NOT Sir Thomas Moore – a Utopia he writ yes, for me I simply wish a move forward for all.

Wow, having been away for a month I was amazed to see this thread was still going, though it had wandered off into the woods a bit. IACM is correct in that it has served its purpose, stirred up ideas, shown that there is a considerable community who care enough about Braidwood. Blogs are perfect for this but they won’t translate easily into action – Palerang Council will ignore all that has been contributed because it’s not “real”.
What a shame the PC twits won’t support the Lions Club initiative. As soon as I read #111 I thought “what a great idea, esp with that great hill in the middle of the main street!” Just imagine it, street lined with tourists watching, admiring the buildings and the carts, spending money in the shops… I agree with Jasmine, just do it anyway! And do they really have control over the highway? Oh well, so much for the Tour de Braidwood.
I do have to admire Larrikan’s turns of phrases and willingness to reveal his identity. I won’t follow suit as my identity is not relevant to this subject, and is not the way blogs work. I can tell you that if I lived in Braidwood I would have long ago contacted IACM and there would by now be hundreds of subversive flyers dotting the heritage-listed walls and doors of the town, with my name at the bottom, and a date and time for a meeting of those who want to move the town forward without compromising what makes it unique.
You appear to have a bit of a kerfuffle going on right now with Palerang Council, a Local Environmental Plan, and “pecuniary interests” debates (see http://www.palerang.nsw.gov.au/files/11258/File/extmins2010_02_25.pdf and http://www.braidwoodtimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/working-on-the-working-draft/1778836.aspx for starters). Fancy trying to have a closed session to get given legal advice about pecuniary interests! Disgusting. Hope the next meeting on Thursday 25/3 is an opportunity for some concerned locals to take a good look at your council at “work”. Mention “the RiotAct” and see how many of the knuckleheads have been secretly following post 17981 and waiting for the day to come when their sorry arses will be turfed out.
Good luck IACM and like-minded compatriots!

Don’t give up Country Member. This is a bit bold, why doesn’t the town just do it anyway, *!*$ the Council. If the community is behind it why not cordon off the street and ensure a detour for visitors. It is not like it is difficult to get through Braidwood without going down the main street. There is plenty of parking on the side streets as well to cope with visitors and residents.

I wasn’t going to post anything else on this thread as I feel that it has fallen apart with irrelevant issues being debated. However, I just had to bring this one up:

The local Lions Club have come up with the Braidwood Billy Cart Derby – Absolutely Brilliant!!! Congratulations, this is the typ of quirky event that Braidwood needs! Who wouldn’t be impressed by the sight of a couple of dozen homemade machines engineered with various degrees of skill, thundering down Braidwood’s herritage main street!

Alas no! The council refused to get behind the closure of the main street for an hour!!!! If some old farmer pops his cloggs the council and SES are out there diverting traffic at the drop of a hat so that they can drag a corpse through the town! Will they make the slightest effort for the living! No they won’t; especially if it’s in regard to anything that’s outside of their myopic little square. What a bunch f@#*#ng corrupt morons!

The Lions club have found the resolve to go ahead, albeit in a location that does little to make this the great, uniquely Braidwood event that it could become.

Yet again Braidwood comes through as the only small town in Australia that can’t get a simple event together for the benefit of the community in general!

I give up, there’s no frigging hope!

Larrikan, can I respectfully suggest that you have gone so far off topic that you should start your own Blog somewhere else? This is not the forum in which to rant on about the pros and cons of using your real name, nor is it the forum in which to post lines and lines of poetry. Please either stay on topic or go away. I really think that with a few more posts in the same vein from you and this very interesting discussion will be dead, or is that what you are trying to do, kill the conversation?

“Let’s not take this thread off track! It’s not a debate about identity disclosure.”
Community, a Town and debate upon same and no “identity disclosure”?….interesting consideration there CM.
“In retrospect, it probably wasn’t the best suggestion, as like me, he’s just a concerned member of the community.”
CM you are correct in that singular respect however you have missed far greater as to my concerns. Yes I am a member concerned though I too am a “Business Owner” in Braidwood – Renshaw Building Design. I will admit I do not cater to the appetites of the transient – I Design for Living Life to the best of my talents and ability. That is why this “debate” on this “blog” in terms of this “thread” got me so passionate – The town and the Living within and without. Words – simply words. Action is needed for this Town.
The physicality of movement and action is required not discussion nor heated surly debate that at times is the venue for discontent voiced personally noted with names withheld. No need for invective nor the Scots Game of “hurling”{ to be so pronounced – surely?
“We must all remember; “online” is not a real place…………… oustside of the square. Oh, how very square that square is!”
Personally I prefer a hexagon to a square. Remember though CM that the people that type the remarks and retorts Are Real People and Braidwood is a real town regardless of “it not being a real place.”
“One must also consider ………………….. generally destroys such a debate, hopefully might be avoided!”
Might I respectfully suggest a broader mindset be enabled to grapple with the reality that Braidwood faces presently Cm? Country Town, unemployment, and all associated.
“I don’t think the debate can make any tangible progress in this forum.”
If you feel that way CM perhaps this evolution of your first intercession now needs to go public?
CM your suggestion of BT may “take hold” – though given your conception of the idea in the first instance might I suggest that you yourself “grab the halter and run a mile with it” – you have my support. The Town has support – we support ourselves. Do we not?
Phantom
The Ghost Who Walks!

The oath of the skull……”Thru the centuries…the nemesis of evildoers everywhere
………..he works alone…The Phantom!”

Renshaw Building Design
Kev Renshaw
Designers and Planners of Sustainable Environments
Winner of NSW
Heritage and Energy Efficiency Awards

No Phantom hereabouts…….Phantom

Let’s not take this thread off track! It’s not a debate about identity disclosure.

I did at one point suggest to Larrakin, that he arrange a public meeting; simply because he had tendered some very good ideas. In retrospect, it probably wasn’t the best suggestion, as like me, he’s just a concerned member of the community. There are organisations that have been mandated the responsibility of furthering the cause of both commerce and tourism in Braidwood. I’m quite sure that representatives thereof are privy to this forum and should therefore feel compelled to take elements of this debate to a public forum at which identities are disclosed.

I think that if this thread has turned into a debate over the disclosure of identity, its totally lost its momentum and can serve the cause at hand no further. This forum doesn’t represent a genuine debate, but it is a “think tank” for an actual debate. It’s a place where a variety of ideas can be “brainstormed” with a view to taking those ideas to a forum in which a genuine debate may progress with somewhat more substance.

We must all remember; “online” is not a real place and Spacebook friends are not real friends! Online communication is most commonly a means by which once can edit one’s own reality for the purpose of constructing a cyber reality! This may or may not be socially healthy; either way, that’s the way it is! As previously stated, in terms of this debate, I feel that it’s very healthy that anonymity allows opinions to be expressed that might otherwise have been held back for fear of vilification within a community that can be far less than friendly towards those that dare to think oustside of the square. Oh, how very square that square is!

One must also consider that regardless of how good a point that is raised may be, others may oppose it simply as a matter of course on the basis of the identity of whoever has made that point. In the comfort of anonymity, old adversaries might totally agree with each other. When such issues are taken to a public meeting at which identities are disclosed, opinions will have already been cemented in the minds of the participants through previous debate in this forum. That way, when the debate does go to a forum at which identities are disclosed, the typical bullshit based on opposing personalities that generally destroys such a debate, hopefully might be avoided!

I don’t think the debate can make any tangible progress in this forum. If we care about the issues at hand, we’ll take them to a public meeting. Personally I put out a call to the council to host and chair such a meeting, but there’s about as much chance of getting them to do so as there is of getting the Rolling Stones to play the National Theatre; they simply aren’t interested! We have seen some input from Braidwood Tourism in the later stages of this thread. I therefore urge BT to promote, host and chair such a meeting. I don’t for a moment suggest that BT is responsible in any way for progressing the issues in this thread; it is a volunteer organisation and is only mandated to serve the interests of its members. I do however feel that BT is a major stakeholder in this debate and would therefore be a good body through which to host such a meeting in the absence of council that gives a shit!

Phantom
The Ghost Who Walks!

A little humour betoken Good Fellows

A Po-em

This bloke went round about and said a lot and said but little
He travelled far and wide and visited Country town after town
He went to the Local Pub and started on his pet subject
The all listened and watched for a little while.

He had an audeince and rejoiced in it
His flair for drama and speechmaking
Found its own fury as he spoke louder and louder
Hats were Jaunty and smiles were shared

This bloke went on and on and on and on
About this and that and that and this yet again
He held his audience in the palm of his hand he bethought
Little did he realise what was coming his way.

On of the blokes nearby the bar
He was sitting and listened ast first
Then he took a swig and heard a jumble in his ears
He turned and looked, took another swig

“Hey You whats’s ya name mate?”
The Speaker retorted in fine fashion
“My name you ask?
My name is everyman’s name”

From one fella
to another fella
was heard the question
“Do you grow mushrooms as well?”

“Without Honesty – nothing goes forward”
The very nature of any debate of any subject or “object” is surely a venturing to a suitable juncture between opposing considerations resulting in a move forward by opposing forces with arms and minds linked together to move forward together.
The Debate is about Braidwood – yes?
A country Town where Honesty is beholden and trust is not given lightly.
Are we not all discussing the lifeblood and future of our Town – if so it needs to be dealt with with honesty and openess and without the failsafe of being an unkown.
That is not the Country way “Country Memnber”.
Has fear and prejudice taken such a foothold in Palerang that no one will speak with kindness and forebearance and take all opinions with equamanity?
Country Member you suggested to me that I organise a Venue for a Public Discussion
– Luv 30 – I return the provocation. Perhaps you could organise same.
All closet doors evenually open even if they creak with vainglory.
You organise same and I will assist openly and honesty.
Tis the Town at stake dear man – not an anonymaus Leaf at the will of the whisp to be debated upon constantly without any real movement forward.

You all know who I am – I am astonished that so many who claim they care when hey appear to be Hiding within the debate of a “Blog”.
Seriously what does hiding do for anyone?
Courage is a quality that is forced from one by circumstance – Braidwood needs Courage and Honesty.
Courage exists in feet squared in Braidwood – it simply needs to be activated by a few “Good Men”. Ask any Local shearer……………
PS
Zoro
– I trust that your blade is of the finest Toledo steel,
engraved with the runes of a Fable lasting and well polished.
The Spanish have ever enjoyed a good Tale………………

Larrikan Wrote:

“I would suggest that any who add any comments in this venue are chary to be honest – lest they use their own names and make a Difference for themsevles.
Without Honesty – nothing goes foreward.”

I totally disagree! “Blogs” provide an open forum in which to express opinions that might otherwise not be tendered if anonymity were not an option!

I don’t think there’s anything under handed about enjoying the freedom of an open forum without being personally linked to a particular comment. This has become a very useful, positive and constructive post. Had the privelidge of anonymity not been an option for those that have contributed, the contributions might not have been so open and honest. When Australia goes to the poll later this year, would you prefer a show of hands to a secret ballot?

There’s a classic example of the value of anonymity in this very thread. Somone calling themself “Blue Cottager” made a complete buffoon of themself in a single post here, some weeks ago! Subsequent posts highlighted the stupidity displayed in the comments that were made. The comments were also negative and verging on defaming. However, the comments gave substance to the debate by displaying the kind of myopic moronity that confronts the business community in Braidwood. I’m quite sure that “Blue Cottaging” would not have tendered such an opinion without the shield of anonymity to protect them. That particular contributor has obviously seen the error of their ways, pulled their head in and subsequently not re-emerged! I probably still nod convivially to them in the street and no damage has been done to their status in the community.

Anonymity is the very essence of this kind of debate. What one hopes is that those who belong to organisations that have the capabillity to take these issues to a public debate without the veil of secrecy, have absorbed the points that have been made in this thread.

I agree that anonymous debating cannot progress any of these issues beyond this forum. This forum isn’t the right place to attempt to progress these issues beyond discussion. It is however, a valuable vehicle through which to spark debate that might be taken to the appropriate forum and approached with full disclosure.

Zorro The Gay Blade.

IF you all care so much – what is with the Nicknames?
Why hide behind a BLOG?
I introduced myself as myself, Kev Renshaw, more than a week a ago…….and not one person made a compliment in return
Surely Comunnity starts first with Honesty of name and then works towards a shared communion?
If a number of no names cfontinue to remark aboutbthat which is important…..this is simply nothing more than a dishonest echo of nameless entitities seeking some sort of trivial escapiscm for them selves alone
Any Discussion of any Town Needs – nay demands and Has to be to be Honest, Responsible and have Ownership by means of Free Speech. The free speech that one has rather than HIDING behind a “Blog”

I would suggest that any who add any comments in this venue are chary to be honest – lest they use their own names and make a Difference for themsevles.
Without Honesty – nothing goes foreward.
Nothing.
Yours Faithfully
Kev Renshaw
1 Monkittee Street
Braidwood.

With all due respect to Hannahfyre (and I do mean this with genuine respect), there’s only so much that a small under resourced and under subscribed to volunteer organisation can achieve without the support of the council.

Very few of the suggestions made in comments on this post can be achieved could be achieved without a major contribution to the effort from the council.

If therefore, Braidwood Tourism is to take up these issues, it will need to do a substantial amount of lobbying! Personally, I’m not worried which organisation takes up the fight to improve the commercial situation in Braidwood, so long as it’s one that’s well supported by the business community.

At the moment, Braidwood Tourism probably doesn’t enjoy the amount of support that it should. That can only be achieved by being proactive. Holding a general meeting and expecting people to turn up isn’t going to achieve much. The business community needs to be canvassed for it’s support. BT needs to come up with a list of ideas (many in this post) that it intends to either take up with the council, or attempt to execute by procuring funding from local businesses.

The best way for me as a small business operator support BT is to be financial and to tender my ideas. The same goes for all businesses in Braidwood. Maybe more businesses would become financial members if they were approached with a list of proposed actions.

The fight with council is always going to be a big one and the more the support that BT has, the more clout it will have. Try to drum some up, but in doing so, let businesses know what you intend going into bat for! It has to be worth a try.

I have been reading (and commenting)on this thread ever since it was brought to my attention a few weeks ago. It seems that there are many things we could do to make Braidwood a more attractive place for people to spend time here and I plan to take all of them into the Braidwood & Villages Tourism forum for much more discussion to see if we can prioritise a few to get our teeth into this year.

We have made some progress with the Braidwood Visitor Centre – there is now an internet kiosk available where visitors can access current information quickly, as well as the usual maps and other reference information our volunteers provide. Bush Dukkah, myself and the others on the Braidwood & Villages Toiurism Committee are wide open to positive suggestions about how to improve your experience when you are visiting Braidwood and the surrounding villages.

Thank you IACM and Miss Bliss. I like your ideas.

Braidwood and Villages Tourism Inc has a shopfront in Wallace Street, Braidwood Visitors Information and two websites http://www.visitbraidwood.com.au and http://www.kingshwytodiscovery.com.au.
The visitbraidwood site is Braidwood specific.
The kingshwy site covers the region from Canberra to the Coast ie. what tourists can find along the Kings Highway.
The kingshwy site is a fairly inclusive website and lists all tourism related businesses. Those that pay subscriptions get bigger, more eye catching adverts. The visitbraidwood site is about to be remodeled.

Apart from encouraging tourism in Braidwood and the region, these websites and the Braidwood Visitors Information shopfront exist for the benefit of all business in Braidwood, corporate sponsors and tourism related businesses alike.

I am sure Braidwood Villages and Tourism Inc would welcome all business owners and the general community of Braidwood to become members and would be pleased to welcome them to attend our general meetings every second month. A calendar of meetings can be obtained by emailing vic@visitbraidwood.com.au.

Lets keep the ideas rolling……

miss bliss said :

In regards to the discount website, how about the information centre doing something like this on paper? You could have a discount coupon book. Get in there quick before they all make their decisions though. You could spin it in terms of keeping their relationship with the information centre…

I think by “discount” Bush Dukkah was referring to the fact that the new website can be subscribed to for a discount price in comparrison to the federally funded “Kings Highway To Discovery” site, which has attracted some criticism; largely from those involved with the new site! The problem is that the new site (just like Braidwood Tourism’s “Visit braidwood” site) won’t be visible on search engines unless a search for “Braidwood” is undertaken! If people are already looking for Braidwood, why would there be any need for a site to promote it.

At least the Kings Highway site has a marketing budget allocated to it, which enables it’s management to utilise traditional media and trade shows etc to promote it. The main issue facing the Kings Highway site isn’t one of traffic; it’s one of content! The site lacks content because of a lack of subscribers. Expense appears to be the main reason for this. Subscriptions are expensive but I’m sure that if a large group of small businesses got together and discusssed the price structure with the management of the Kings Highway site, a more affordable price structure could be achieved.

http://www.kingshwytodiscovery.com.au has been funded by our money, tax payer’s money! It was funded for the purpose of improving tourism in the region. No matter what various business operators might think about the site or it’s management, it’s there for us all to benefit from. Instead of forming splinter groups, rebel alliances and “discount” websites, it would be far more constructive for a group of business owners to get together with the Kings Highway site management and possibly representitives of Aus Industry who funded it, in order to work out how local businesses can give more support to the project and thus utilise the infrastructure that has already been paid for! I’m sure that the issue of subscription cost would be negotiable if enough businesses pleged their support to the project. Likewise, the site management should most certainly be proactive in bringing non subscribers together in order to discuss these issues and thus procure support. I’m certainly open to discusssion.

I’m not under any circumstance willing to subscribe to a half cocked break-away site that will achieve little more than to divide the business community further! I’d also like to point out that I personally heard about the new “break-away” site through this post; no one has approached me.

Back to Miss Bliss – I like the idea of the Visitor Information Centre issuing a discount voucher book. This could also be turned into an online model – what about setting it up on the Kings Highway site? Subscribe to your voucher online, pick it up at the VIC – no online redemption. We need to encourrage people to shop in Braidwood and this could help.

In regards to the discount website, how about the information centre doing something like this on paper? You could have a discount coupon book. Get in there quick before they all make their decisions though. You could spin it in terms of keeping their relationship with the information centre…

I can actually spell ridiculous, really!

Splendid comments by Bush Dukkah. Here Here!

Yet another focus / interest group / committee is the last thing the Braidwood business community needs! It’s ridiculaous.

If anything, the various bodies need to be unified into a single entity that serves a variety of interests.

If there are short falls as far as the Visitor Information Centre is concerned, it’s down to lack of support and funding. The problem in Braidwood is that when certain people can’t be king of one castle, they build a different one!

I think that this post alone is enough documentary evidence to prove that something positive can be done and needs to be done. Some top notch ideas have been tendered in this post. I think it’s time for a public meeting to put them on the table! It would be great to see the various volunteer organisations, business proprietors, regional and state tourism bodies, the local MP and representitives from council in the same room, discussing the issues that this post has raised!

If the issues aren’t broached in an open, inclusive and pluralistic manner, Braidwood has bugger all hope! Splinter groups compound the problem.

IACM said,
“I’ve heard a lot of chat around Braidwood about this post! Apparently it’s got a few backs up even! Yet still there’s bugger all in terms of comment here, from members of the Braidwood business community – an example of the very apathy that keeps the town down in commercial terms!”

Firstly congrats for starting this lively debate! I’d say the above posts display some great thoughts about Business in Braidwood.

I feel that Braidwood is a great place to live. So many well educated and worldly residents both old and new. A great resource, however it seems as though this passion often leads to conflict. It could be said that Braidwood has too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Some guidance from the local council could do wonders for focusing the aspirations of both business people and local residents.

As a volunteer worker in Braidwood, I appreciate that The Museum and the Visitors Centre are two very good resources for visitors and or tourists in Braidwood. These centers are run solely through the generosity of local volunteer labor, with some small business membership contributions. There have been odd grants to assist marketing, but both these centers would run better with a more stable financial approach. The fluctuation of income places both the Museum and the Visitors Center under much stress and this in turn effects the volunteers.

Recently a splinter group has emerged and canvassed local businesses with an offering of a discount website presence. This freelance group are dividing the business community within Braidwood and placing the Visitor Information Center at risk of closing down.
The visitors center and the tireless work done by its volunteers delivers great benefits to the town, as well as having a shopfront presence. The recently renovated center is a place for tourists to call in and have a chat to a real person. The Visitors Center gains its revenue mainly from membership fees. The membership fees go to pay the bills such as Rent (to Palerang council), power, phone, and sundries. The splinter group instead of putting their efforts into supporting the Visitors center, are approaching businesses in the town and stealing away memberships with a cheaper no frills option. Some people believe in open market economics but the GFC and other debacles clearly show what can happen. Is this splinter group going to offer other tourist services? On a seven day a week basis? Will they offer a shopfront presence and help build community relationships?
Will this new group be able to give up to date advice regarding traveling in the district such as when rain has caused road closures?

Some how I think that many of these points are not being considered when small business owners decide to support this “el-cheapo” website option and foresake the current Braidwood Visitor Information Center.

oops I meant will NOT return to that cafe…Hope that was evident despite my typo

There are so many great posts on this thread and I’ve been reading long enough that my eyes were sore and the tummy grumbling, so after a break for dinner with the hubby, and a discussion about this thread I have returned to keep reading.

I agree with many posters that Braidwood is quite close to Canberra and therefore people aren’t yet ready to stop. Might I suggest that there are people who love a country town and love ambling through unique stores who will stop no matter the proximity to the start point. Others simply want to get to where they’re going. I know people like this. They don’t even stop on the way to Sydney (how they do this without needing to use the loo I will never understand).

I haven’t been in Canberra very long and have only been to the coast twice and only one of those times through Braidwood. On this occasion we did stop. I found the park accessible however did think it could use more benches. I can see very much the value of the comments from people suggesting it be made more friendly. Whilst I was just happy to be off the motorbike and have a bit of shade to sit in with my sandwich, it would definitely make the park more user friendly for a greater range of people.

I can’t remember if there was a playground in the park, but that alone would entertain kids a little long enough that families may stick around a bit more. Shade over it would be an advantage.

I agree wholeheartedly with the comments about the difficulties of being a pedestrian in the town. Ungrading pedestrian facilities would be a marked improvement. I too like the ideas suggested earlier with the interspersed trees along the roadside and a wide median strip and do recall that Yass has done this well, and may be a good example.

But I also agree with the posters who have talked about the charm of the place. It is a gorgeous little town that I have wanted to explore since we visited those few months ago. Milking this is definitely the way to go.

I do very much appreciate a good coffee. The problem with that is that good coffee is hard to find. I have learnt from this thread a few places in town to avoid and a few to try and look forward to experiencing the cuisine and atmosphere posters have enjoyed. And that will make me more willing to buy coffee in a town like this. I often avoid doing so simply because too often you are handed something undrinkable. This is not the fault of Braidwood of course, and I’m not suggesting that places in Braidwood have bad coffee. However if I go to a cafe there and it has bad coffee I will return to that cafe even if the food, service, atmosphere and price were outstanding.

But, in discussing how to promote Braidwood with my hubby we picked up a couple of things, perhaps already highlighted, but perhaps I can add a little to them?

One thing in particular that may be worth capitalising on are the motorbike riders who come through the town. It is a wonderful pursuit to go for a leisurely ride and stop somewhere for lunch and then make the trip home. We commented that once the road between Nowra and Nerriga is open there may be a great circuit for bike riders. If you can promote that circuit and get it a status as a ‘great ride’ it will even be included in motorcycle atlas’ and that’s gotta be a good thing. Though, due to the weather, many Canberra riders ride only in the warmer months.

But, if there was something about Braidwood they found and loved on a ride it could see them coming back in their car year round, as a couple of posters have made evident.

We agree with the many posters who suggest promoting some event. We think Motorcycle rallies are great. The patrons of such events are actually quite well behaved and all that’s needed really is a big paddock. But it could be anything else. I am intrigued by the quilting that has been mentioned a few times for example.

I think promoting the town through better websites for stores and better ‘tags’ and ‘metatags’ attached to the websites so that you’re picked up in searches will be 1 thing that will make an immediate difference to business. As mentioned, if you find a website that has something you want you will be inclined to go there.

I’ve also wondered about a function centre of some sort. For example a beautiful outdoor garden is a huge attraction for weddings especially, but many other events. It’s not too far from Canberra to be a day trip for something like that, but if you were coming for an evening event you would definitely be tempted to stay over. And country weddings are becoming ever more popular. Boomrock.co.nz have made a great adaption to land they already own for example. It would have been expensive no doubt, and I realise that’s a barrier, but it’s an example.

In our discussion over dinner my husband said “people will stop in places like that for the shops.” And gave the example of Berry. We have for example specifically taken both a drive and a ride from Sydney to Berry just for Berry Pie shop, and the experience of a leisurely and scenic drive. But the other stores in the town keep us there for much longer than it takes to eat a pie. The main road in Berry is notoriously busy and the many pedestrian refuges really help to get across the road. Here, another example of something that could work well in Braidwood.

It is a shame that things seem to stop with the council. I experience this in an organisation that I work with. Great ideas come up and that’s as far as they go. One person who pushes and pushes can change this. And one person who starts with small things can make a difference. Small things that go well create a lot of confidence for people. Perhaps taking some of the comments here to the council may help as well? Or doing research such as having a little leaflet in your stores for customers to fill out about why they stopped, if they’ll come back etc. You’ll be reaching a minimum of Canberrans with this thread for example.

We also agreed that capitalising on it’s proximity to local natural attractions was a good thing. for example the Budawangs. I have wanted to hike through more and more areas of that since I first visited. What a great place Braidwood would be to stop off on the way home for example. But also, you could use it as a base for outdoors stuff with an ‘I site’. NZ do this really really well. The i-site provides information on the local outdoors, the tracks etc, the weather conditions and so forth as well as sells maps, local wares, postcards and so forth and have a small range of camping and hiking gear, especially dried food stuffs and safety equipment. They also use those facilities for running information evenings, workshops and holding exhibitions. If Braidwood really does have lots of natural attractions (I’m keen to check out the tracks mentioned earlier) this would be a great way to increase traffic to those places. Increasing the profile and amenities at such attractions would be advantageous too. Mt Stromlo Forest Park have done really well developing their site for example, winning several awards and holding international events http://www.stromloforestpark.com.au/

Going back to the promotion of ideas, boosting the tags on the websites so you can be found is only one way. There are numerous other websites that post info for the Canberra regions. Google ‘whats on canberra’ and the first four links all go to different What’s On calendars. I’m sure advertising on one of these would work well. I personally look for stuff to do almost exclusively from these sites. I also don’t buy the paper, but I do read the Chronicle, our local newsletter. So a feature article in that about a major upcoming event would be a great way to tell me what’s going on in Braidwood. The Chronicle also have a small section detailing in a list form things that are on in the coming week. Just a small column, but it’s enough. There’s also this site. The events section seems to get a reasonable response…

I can see you’re getting some great insight and feedback into/on your initial questioning and reason for starting the thread. I just hope now that some of the suggestions can be put to fruitition and will benefit your community.

I look forward to exploring Braidwood properly. With the attention it sounds like it deserves. Good on you Im a country member for getting out there and trying to make it more appealing.

“Jasmine” and “I’m a country member” many thanks for your appreciation of the suggestions I presented.
From an acorn the mighty Oak doth grow.

You are quite correct “I’m a country member”, I am a virgin “Blogger” (that is the word, yes?)
– Prior to all I had thought Blogs were something one read bout in the Harry Potter Novels!

RE : “Larrikan – why don’t you suggest a venue and date for a public discussion on the subject of business plan relating to the management of heritage in Braidwood. Post it here and I’ll help to spread the word.”

You must be joking “I’m a country member”, it is apparent that your experience far outweighs mine! I bow to your better and greater direction.
As for a public Meeting – has not Braidwood had enough of “public debates and discussions” – they seem to have become a forum for the expression of negatives, personal attacks and Tea Chest expressions of the Domain(Sydney) of days long past which, entertaining to a few, create dividedness and result in little other than memoranda to be filed.
‘Nother suggestion from the newie?
A meeting to be held yes – Advertised in the Paper making all open and honest.
A meeting including Representatives and Executives (Maximum of three people from each)
Of the following:
– Every Committee in Town – Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers only.
– Braidwood Chamber of Commerce – President, Secretary and Treasurer.
– Local Member
– Local Council
– Heritage Department
– Three Residents; One from High School to represent the Youth, A Woman who works from Home, as all Mother’s do, in the 40’s age bracket and a Senior who has lived in Braidwood and District forever.
– A representative from Palerang Financial Services aka Bendigo Bank
– A Press representative.
Also required would be another three that possess no Conflict of Interest in terms of the above noted and who would be prepared to Gift their time for the Better Good of Braidwood.
1. Solicitor
2. Accountant
3. Record Keeper – Hansards bereft!

Chaired by a firm adjudicate that also has no Conflict of Interest in Braidwood yet a clear understanding of Community and History and Australia today.
IE – The Governor General – This is not as farfetched a suggestion as might bethought. It may take 6 months given engagements etc anon – it would condone complete impartiality over all.

What cost is the First Heritage Town to make if not Upon Time itself on the Governance Tree?

When all is arranged three weeks’ notice be given to all Guests. Proposed responses to be submitted in writing and all tabled by the Chair and to be handed out at the meeting – Written expressions not to be limited. Oral Responses at the meeting be limited to three minutes – no interjections from others.
All based on the following and any other suggestions:
-To maintain and foster the Town of Braidwood in terms of Heritage Care primarily whilst fostering growth overall.
-To Create Employment, Education of the Young and Care for the Future whilst holding the past Dear.
-To maintain and foster Country Life and Living in all modes.
-To maintain and foster the Arts in all modes.

Now Public Forum Commences.
The Complete and correct Minutes be made available for free to one and all.
Now the Community at large responds – in writing and signed without prejudice, so to speak, and with total freedom inherent.

Time to foster Community and Friendship and “Free Trade” – without tilling the field no harvest will be gained.

In terms of Community and Friendship and Honesty tis it not time be open and honest with each other?

Well if we are all looking toward the same “Endeavour”, Braidwood and Growth – why hide behind anonymity?

I now introduce myself as I am.
How do you Do?

Kev Renshaw here……aka Larrikan……

If I may be so bold to ask?

…..and you are who?

IACM and Larrikin you are both very passionate about your town and between the two of you I am sure you could get some of that community action going.

Funny you mention the Council Depot as we have always thought that a strange spot on the main street. Also, we looked at buying a house on Park Lane but there is a great big electricity (or is it communications) substation right next to houses and that was a bit offputting. Would make sense to put the depot and substation together out, maybe near the tip. Just a thought.

Shame about the regional food idea IACM. I think it would be really popular especially if it could tie in with the artisan/art/craft idea.

The Wales link was interesting and it could be incorporated with a Gold history focus especially with the new Gold Mine that was in the news recently – the one near Majors Creek. That would tie in with Larrikin’s exhibition building idea. What about gold panning excursions to various sites around the Shoalhaven. We did it years ago with extended family who lived out near Tarago on Mayfield Road – was great fun especially with kids.

I love the artisan idea. Braidwood already has a big arts focus and this idea fits in well. It could be extended to include an accommodation centre for larger groups like school camps focussing on medieval artisan projects that the kids could do as part of their camp activities including medieval food cooking projects, which links in with the regional food idea too. Many of these ideas can be interwoven.

Good luck with your project. Braidwood is a lovely town and you are lucky to live there.

Larrikan has really offered some intersting food for thought!

Whilst it seems that you might be new to internet posting, making your comment quite hard to read, after going through it a few times, some excellent and very constructive suggestions become apparent.

I love the idea of turning every sixth parking spot into a bay with a tree and access ramp – excellent! Something that the council could complete in a few weeks for very little cost. Why not add a table with benches to each bay! Even the most unlikely country towns are re-vamping their main drags. I recently heard somone singing the praises of a recent main street make-over in West Wyalong!!! West Wyalong for god’s sake; it’s in the middle of nowhere, if that council can get it together, why can’t this bunch of self serving, gluttonous, land owning inbread hicks lift so much as a finger to improve Braidwood’s main street. Where does the revenue raised from rates actually go? Why doesn’t a cent go into improving Braidwood as a public space. Possibly only the ICAC will finally provide answers to these questions!

The suggestion of turning the council depot (literally in the middle of town) into visitor parking, is a priceless idea. let’s loose some of the parking in the main street and create an effective visitor car park with a visitor information centre located within it! The council have enough room for a depot out near the sewage works. You know the one that’s gone over budget by $4 Million Dollars! Maybe if the council made such a bold move, it might amaze local residents to such an extent that they might become distracted enough to forget about investigating possible innapropriate connections between the council and the contracters who have been awarded the budget blown sewage plant contract!

I have travelled extensively through the UK, where there’s an awful lot of heritage to protect and an awful lot of heritage to make an awful lot of money from! In a typical British town with a strong emphasis heritage, there’s always a central parking point and a street plan that’s friendly to pedestrians. Can we afford to be so precious about the heritage issues of Briadwood that we can turn our noses up at practices that are employed in towns that successfully maintain the upkeep of heritage dating back as far as the 10th century! Should we take heritage so literally as to re-introduce Cholera and the practice of lobbing our shit into the street. Given the council’s upkeep of the town’s drinking water supply and oh yes of course, the sewage plant, its very paossibly part of their agenda!!!!!!

Thank you Larrikan, for posting the link to the heritage act! I for one have not read it, as is probably the case for many of those that bang on about the preservation of heritage in Braidwood! The notion of incorporating Braidwood’s heritage order into a body that effectively serves a culture of not only preserving but also reviving Braidwood’s Heritage, is extremely attractive. For far too long, the bodies that govern heritage in Australia have been obsessed with architectural exteriors, machinery and modes of transport! What about artisnal skills and practices? Why can’t Braidwood play host to a “heritage centre” that crates an industry out of preserving and teaching artisnal skills?
Check this website out – This is a centre that was buit on heritage grants into a multi million pound per anum industry: http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/ Its far more than a museum, its a showcase of living heritage!

I agree whole heartedly with Larrikan that community action is the answer.

Larrikan – why don’t you suggest a venue and date for a public discussion on the subject of business plan relating to the management of heritage in Braidwood. Post it here and I’ll help to spread the word.

Let’s just get on with it!

Braidwood?
A message to the Locals and the drive through’s………..

I know I am still a “blow-in” in Braidwood – I moved here only ten years ago so I submit the following with that in mind…yet being a proud Yokel rather than a passer by with Passion.

Country is soooo different to the City – I came from the Country went to the City and came home again.

Only today I was advised that this site existed – internet one I mean – not Braidwood!

http://the-riotact.com/?p=17981&cpage=2#comments

I have read the entirety of the entire, thought a while about the lot and realised that the one thing that hasn’t been mentioned is that which could be called the “Charm” of Braidwood – The sense of Place.
Question – how does one advertise the ethereal?
Yes there are countless Country Towns across this red brown Land – each one is unique unto itself. Each one has its own quality and quantity.
Rather than compare Braidwood against that which other towns have – perhaps we could concentrate on what Braidwood possesses presently and then build on these unique qualities?
Perhaps gain a True understanding of the Town and its qualities then create a Plan with which to move forward with sensitivity to the Community that lives and works in and around the Town and the District.
The one thing no one can evade is that Braidwood is a Country Town with its own Community – an amazing community full of an untapped reservoir of giving, caring and creativity all very quietly enacted upon – this is the Country Way.

That stated – Next question is that of economic sustainability for the Townies, Commercial and Retail outlets and the Farmers first and foremost – ie the entire community within the Town and surrounding District. The first priority in Town should in terms of Employment within the Town for the people Living around-a-bouts rather than relying on the Tourist Trade firstly and foremost.
One of the financial challenges and economic considerations is the amount of the Council Rates – I have about 2800sq metres of land within the Village limits, a single cottage thereon and the remainder “Undeveloped”, approx 2,700sq m.. My Rates are approx. $2,800.00 per year. These are not Commercial Rates, Commercial Rates I have no doubt exceed this in some cases – then there are the Water Rates.
Ergo outgoings are at the first instance are going towards paying Rates. If the outgoings exceed the incoming – it makes a short term business sense to cut costs in other ways ie shorter Hours and less Staff.
The cycle continues ad infinitum unless of course the primary outgoings are lessened immediately.
Suggestion?
A five year moratorium on Rate increases, the Local Councilors rescind any thought of Payment for their Elected standing for US for the same five years and work as their predecessors did for years ie as a Community Gifting with a conscious awareness that Braidwood is the issue at stake.

Increases in Rates and Voted self payment will only cause the cutting off the nose to spite the face in terms of the Town.
Generosity is one of the Key’s – how about it fellas?
If ya take umbrage at the suggestion I then ask you why did you decide to take up Public office.
I thought you had all done this for Our better good – your constituents in and around Braidwood Town
– am I correct?
Decreases in outgoings for a time would allow business and the Householder to flower and take on more staff perhaps? Less money out more to spend within ergo more money in Braidwood!

Braidwood has so many Committees that overlap in their Caring and Giving and Hard work – could they not all work together? Yes I realise that Funding and Grants could be problematic – but not if there was a Trust Account under the Name of Braidwood Heritage Town – the Umbrella for the Community and all Committees there under. No I am not being naive to the dynamics that are alive and well – what I am suggesting is to put away the “dynamics” away in a drawer and work together for the good of all. To work together for the Town as a Community – Community is another Key.

Has no heard of Quilt Day or Music at the Creek or the Markets at the Park?

Now there is a mention worth making – Community and the Park.
“Men’s Sheds” have been set up in town and the Park has been mentioned a number of times in the submissions. Given that the necessary “Insurance Forms” and other sundry OH&S paperwork was filled out with Council could it not be possible to build a Heritage Picket Fence around the perimeter of the Park – Making it rather like a Georgian Common, Perhaps other volunteer groups would join in and maybe a few tourists as well?
And who would pay for the materials someone just asked – why the community, possibly Tourists that have made their feeling known on this website and a hefty donation from Council and our Councilors perhaps?
Who would Design a Detailed Plan for free as a Gift to the Community?
I will – with a Heritage Landscape Plan as well.
Call at the Gate Keepers Cottage – if I am not around leave a note addressed to Larrikin, I will respond.

By the way have any of you “checked out” the new Walking path on Bombay Road as yet?
How about the Picnic Ground at the River – On the Way to Bombay that is – and, no, that was not a play on Rudyard Kipling’s works!
How many have visited the Fairy tree out Reidesdale way? An amazing Lady set this up for the children more than 20 years ago and someone unknown these days – perhaps the Fairies themselves – attend to it to this very day for the Children.

There is so much more to Braidwood than first noticed in the passing by thereof.
Depth is a necessity. Staying is necessary. No Judgment is worthwhile of an hours stay.

Remove the War Memorial was suggested?
Have you been to Mudgee- It is the centre of Town – just like here.
Move a War Memorial?
WHAT?
I can’t but ask again………
…..MOVE A WAR MEMORIAL……..IN A HERITAGE TOWN?
Traffic Accidents occur by the violation of the drivers near sightedness – not because a Memorial to the Dead stands in their car’s way!
A suggestion?
Remember your right foot?
Lift it highly when driving into a country Town and have some respect for the inhabitants – remember you are the Visitor and hospitality will only happen when your generosity and care is foremost shown as the Guest by showing respect and care in the first instance.

Rather than move the War Memorial, remember it is on the highest peak in Town opposite the Court House for a Good Reason – Justice and all, and justly so.
Rather I suggest that the 60kl speed signs be moved a further 500 metres out of town so that the speedsters slow down.
Why must Travelers travel so fast? They miss so much!
Their speed is their own to travel in haste and not incumbent of the Place that they are travelling through at the speed of Light – unless of course, tis the Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy that is their Road Map and then of course they are off the planet entirely and nowhere near the Main Street of Braidwood.

First speedbump suggested?
500 metres before the left hand turn into Solus street, the next a speed bump be installed halfway up the hill to the Courthouse(It’s supposed to be 40k there anyway!), then another on the northern side of the Crossing at the Royal, then another midway down Wallace Street between the Royal and the Wallace Street and Lascelle’s Street intersection.
Conversely to the South, again move and change of the speed limit a further 500 metres to the south, then a speed bump on the south side of the intersection of Lascelles and Monkittee Street’s.
Why?
Because the speedsters have no right to blaze at high speed through town at all!

What is with the people that enter a Country Town having the expectation that they have the right to trundle through at a great pace – I call that arrogance!
Plain and simple?
Ever heard of the saying “when in Rome – do as the Romans do?”
Ergo
When in Braidwood do as the Braidwoodians do and respect our way of Life.

Concrete in Wallace Street?
I would not suggest a median strip down Wallace Street – way too much change with the Heritage context of the Past’s Present Braidwood “Charm” and not enough room y a long shot.
The idea of a bypass is a definite negative for Commerce in Town and out of the question entirely.
That concept died a slow death with many Towns in the early eighties.
I would respectfully suggest that every sixth car parking space along Wallace Street be turned over to Landscaping – Plane trees every second tree bay, Silver Birches by the three alternative. Bulbs under for Spring. Summer Shade and Winter Sun balanced.
Did I just hear someone ask about upkeep of all of this? Upkeep = Community.
Tidy Towns and all?
I will make a suggestion about that under Heritage Apprenticeships.

Parking?
Something must be done about the Planning for Parking – Car and Coach Parking.
Suggestion yet again?
Some Properties have laneway access to Wallace Street , for example the Council Depot that really should not be adjacent to the Main street nor Residential areas for reasons of noise and pollution basically(Oil and Petrol seeping into the Ground and the water table)– Parking possible and Walking to the Main street…………..Council could charge Parking fees perhaps?
Yes that was yet another suggestion, yet made tongue in cheek made.

Retain the Stone Gutters – high though they are they are part of Braidwood’s heritage. Though installation at several points for wheelchair access to the pavements would be helpful for Locals and Visitors – perhaps adjacent to the tree’d Bays?

Now for the “Biggy” for Braidwoodians mostly – though tourists help greatly appreciated without doubt- that has the capacity to include Employment, Education, Tourism, Growth bi-laterally and tri laterally and quarto-laterally for the Town and District and the implementation of Heritage retention and Care all under the same umbrella.
Come one come all………..
Braidwood – the First Heritage Town on the East Coast huh?

That is worth a Business Plan for sure id you care and have the passion to make it work rather than pick and be negative.
At present Funds are Via Council and the Heritage Office – and you must all admit the funds are less than fulsome given the proclivities of the Act that we all live under now.

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ha197786/

A question in passing……………how many have read this?
Go on read the Act………then make a Judgment.

I just keep making suggestions – don’t I?
This Suggestion is “long term” for Our Town…
…….but a start needs to be made NOW!
Imagine the following……….
“Braidwood Heritage PTY LTD”…….not a co-operative!
Shares as per Community Bank – the Community Invests in its own future.
Aims
-To maintain and foster the Town of Braidwood in terms of Heritage Care primarily whilst fostering growth overall.
-To Create Employment, Education of the Young and Care for the Future whilst holding the past Dear.
-To maintain and foster Country Life and Living in all modes.
-To maintain and foster the Arts in all modes.
Draw Craftsmen of the Olde School to Braidwood Town.
Draw on our own richness from the Graziers, Country Carer’s, Water Purifiers, Land Carer’s and Bull Riders and Rodeo Stompers all including to the Artists of all to Teach in Residence.

Perhaps as A P/L Apply for Funding to setup an Apprenticeship system for Craftspeople in terms of Heritage. Keep the young in town to learn and draw both – Teachers and Students?
Broaden the umbrella to include not only the Farming and Building Industries
– Carpenters and Joiners – but also Weavers, Quilters, Artists, Artisans of all descriptions – Iron work, Leatherworkers, Wood turners, Saddle Makers, Sculptors, Writers, Actors, Playwrights and EDUCATION and EMPLOYMENT.
We have it all here Folks…………..do something!
Imagine…………
Exhibitions, Classes, Visitors slowing down and staying for a while.
Weekends of Visitors learning and watching and enjoying every facet.
Weekday Classes teaching any number of Courses.
Coaches arriving and 70 per Coach arriving in Town – three a day would give Town a boost!
Can any of you Imagine this?
It is plausible – it is “actionable” – it is Achieveable.

What is needed first and Foremost?
The desire to make it work – does “Braidwood” want to live and become more?
I can’t answer that – though it is my wish.
Next?
The un- adjudged Passion to create it – without that, the indecision that now exists will result in crutches being purchased at an ever increasing cost for one and all.

Next to next?
A building to house. A building to exhibit. A building that could become the heart of Braidwood’s Heritage and cared for growth combining Heritage and Youth within the walls of Education, Growth and Prosperity for this quiet country Town.

As I mentioned I am Passionate about Braidwood, Heritage, Growth and the Youth that have a further future to grow into – yet without the Elders help and assistance I ask you – where do the Children go?
Canberra, Sydney or ……and the Locals know this to be true…..suicide of the young?
Isn’t Growth and opportunity better than an ending final?
What the Visitors do not know about Our Town would fit a website in the retelling of in a small country town – and then they would all think again and then again.

To any detractors of the above written I address you personally even before you have responded.
How about adding to the positives rather than pulling the backclothe apart with negatives?
Read, think how you personally in your own way could assist to make this all work – it may appear at first glance simplistic – actually the concept is – the hard work would follow to make it happen, Is not Braidwood and the children of the town and their children worthy of a future at home?
The pioneer’s thought so – otherwise Braidwood would not be Braidwood would it?
The Gatekeepers Cottage………… Braidwood

I’ve heard a lot of chat around Braidwood about this post! Apparently it’s got a few backs up even! Yet still there’s bugger all in terms of comment here, from members of the Braidwood business community – an example of the very apathy that keeps the town down in commercial terms!

Come on, let’s have some comments! Surely there’s a computer that you can all use in the nursing home! Get your grand kids to show you how it works!

I guess the real challenge to most of you is remembering a log in!

Braidwood is a great place to visit and live. Within the vicinity there are national parks, beautiful countryside, a great river, and friendly country folk, (when it rains).

The main street has some great old buildings, and there is a wide variety of food and retail stores to visit. Its the perfect place to take time out from the dangerous driving on the Kings Highway.

To all you Braidwardians, value what you have and work together to support each other.

I never expected this post to attract quite so much attention as it has. The comments really have provided a good idea of how a broad cross section of Canberra residents percieve Braidwood. More importantly some very imortant ideas have been tendered in regards to what could be done in and around Braidwood to make it more attractive to visitors.

Most interestingly, none of the comments suggest that anyone is happy with the town the way it is!

The shared space is a great idea as are many others.

Sadly, someone somewhere will find a reason to presten steadfast opposition to anything that anyone might propose. Sadly the very thing that could have been the making of Braidwood as a destination has really evolved into the final nail in the township’s coffin. In the wrong hands, the heritage order, that was fought so hard for, has become a defcto “no progress” order! It’s not the heritage order that’s the danger but those that use it to their own ends!

No matter what has been suggested here or anywhere else, nothing will change and nothing will progress. Each year there’ll be a new generation of youth drained from the town. Each year most of the businesses that open each spring will be closed by Autumn, paving the way for another bunch of hopefuls to invest in a town that shows so much potential that unbeknown to them can never be realised due to the same bunch of ludites who have hijacked every comittee and community group.

As Rockerchick commented; small regional towns have next to no hope in the absence of a civic effort to attract commerce. There is no sense of civic unity in Braidwood and even those with ideas and energy have been jaded by the futillity!

All I can do is work to maintain the success of my own business in the realisation that any attempt to inspire any form of civic joint effort will be met with cynicism, hostillity and worst of all apathy! I just hope that I can bring to readers’ attention the fact that there are a number of businesses in braidwood making a tireless effort to ensure that it’s a better place for visitors. It’s such a shame that the organisation that they pay rates to, does nothing to promote their efforts by simply carrying out their “civic responsibillity.”

bigfeet said :

Sgt.Bungers said :

May I blow my shared space trumpet again? Because I’m going to anyway. 🙂

Turn the entire town into a shared space. Not a shared zone. A space. The word “zone” indicates restriction. Space sounds more pleasant, and is….

… It’s your town, not the tourists, you have every right to do what you like. Anyone who doesn’t like it can find another way to Batemans Bay 🙂

Personally I love the idea of shared space, but I think the Federal Government might have something to say about this sort of thing on National Route 52, otherwise known as the Kings Highway.

I may have been wrong about an increase in travel time during busier periods.

Every shared space project I have read about has resulted in a *decrease* in travel time. I simply assumed that with the amount of vehicles that utilise the main street in Braidwood during peak “coast traffic” periods, such a shared space project might be an exception.

However… the city of New York recently transformed Times Square into a significantly more pedestrian friendly space, Whilst New York did not give pedestrians complete priority over the entire Times Square area, they did reconfigure the layout to make things more plesant for pedestrians. The overall result was again, decreased travel time for motor vehicle drivers. Pedestrian injury rates also dropped significantly, and there is now pressure from businesses all over Manhattan to convert more roads to shared space. Pedestrians = business for most shops. The most automobile happy nation on the planet is beginning to realise the benefits of shared spaces.

Surely if Time Square, a spot that is likely to see hundreds of thousands of pedestrians and cars mingle on any given day, is able to see all positives from a cleverly designed pedestrian friendly area, the little town of Braidwood will experience the same 🙂

I suspect you’re right about the Fed Gov’t though. Without much evidence in Australia regarding the positives of a true shared space (due to no significant projects that I know of yet to be undertaken here), campaigning for approval on a National Highway is likely to be unsuccessful. Though given the incredible amount of main street on Braidwood that is reserved for motor vehicle traffic, narrowing the through lanes to 2.5-3 metres wide each way, and reserving the rest of the space for pedestrians and social interaction, is likely to be a successful first step.

Stop if hungry or need to pee, otherwise keep on going..

1. Check the membership of your council. If it is dominated by farmers and graziers they will allow the town to fall to bits as long as they have a bitumen road to their property and the rural rates are low.

2. Take a look at the Newell Highway through Moree on Google Earth, I suggest using street view and the address 156 Newell Highway will do. Planters and pedestrian refuges everywhere, this is the Newell Highway, a major Melbourne – Brisbane route with hundreds of semitrailers and B-doubles every day, yet the street is even more narrow than it was. Get a decently wide median strip and maintain it.

3. One of the food businesses in the main drag is pretty bleak. Won’t mention any names but it is on the right and on top of the hill as you pass toward the coast. Raucous pop blasting from a radio is not inviting and neither is “coffee” in disposable plastic cups. A hint to lift their game a little would do no harm.

4. A few posters have mentioned the possibility of mountain bike racing. Whether or not you get access to the big hill run something like this preferably in the cooler part of the year when business is quieter. Better still, make it a triathlon with events held on three weekends, an overall prize and prizes for each leg. A small town in Tasmania gets publicity for it’s coal shovelling competition. Call your bike race the “Shearers Derby” and run it to some convenient shearing shed not too far from town, competitors to carry a swag on their bikes with a blanket, billy can etc, with a weight minimum. Up Nerriga Road, along Halls Lane to Back Creek and Little River Road and play up the idea that some of it is on a gravel road. Just a suggestion. Other legs could be horse centred or a run. Maybe you can invent a “Bush Triathlon” around something like this.

5. I visited the little museum several months ago. There is quite a bit in it about a Chinese family who were once market gardeners. Maybe you could play that up a little, put it in a positive light – would not take much from what I saw. Plenty of east Asian folk in Canberra who might be interested if they think the place is friendly.

6. Another historical connection comes from Horatio Wills who lived in the district before overlanding to Victoria. Wills was at one time a journalist and Victorian parliamentarian and was the father of Thomas Wills, who along with his cousin “invented” Australian Rules Football. Horatio was killed in the Cullin-la-ringo massacre in 1861.

7. If the eateries don’t want to open every holiday what about a roster?

8. Get some unique product. Take a look for “Tambo Teddies” on the net. Only available to those stopping in town. http://www.tamboteddies.com.au/

Oooooooooooooh! This is a tasty debate! Also, one that I personally find quite topical and now have a vested interst in through parting with my hard earned in Braidwood!

My husband and I (no not Phillip), recently moved to Canberra from Melbourne. We made a few early trips to Bateman’s bay as we heard that it was famous for being a place of unmatched natural beauty destroyed by bad taste! Wow,no dissapointments there! We of course drove through Bungendore and Braidwood, we even remarked on how charming Braidwood looked but nothing lured us to stop. We’re not bakery types!

More recently we were lured to Braidwood by the website of a Braidwood retail outlet. We have since made numerous return trips to purchase clothing and upon doing so have discovered a couple of good cafes and other good retailers, I’m not here to talk about individual businesses but we now look forward to travelling out to Braidwood and do so regularly!

However, had there not been a Braidwood business offering something that we are into via a good website, we may never have returned, neither might we have stopped in the future whilst in transit! There are thousands of architecturally attractive country towns around Australia. The only ones that actually move forward economically are those in which either a local government body or a unified group of traders have taken on the civic duty of ensuring commerce by implementing measures to lure people in!

From what I can gather, there are a number of individual businesses in Braidwood that have the resoleve to soldier on despite (judging from this post)commerce being a great challenge. I assume that Braidwood’s proximity to Canberra aids their survival not through an influx of trade but due to the fact that businesses are essentially second incomes and partners work in Canberra!

It is a lovely town and we will continue to visit, but the public spaces aren’t welcoming! The state of the pavements do nothing to presevre the towns’s heritage, there’s little shade and apparently no civic effort to make the place welcoming. It’s only the efforts of individual businesses, each doing their own thing that makes it worth visiting, However most are doing very little to lure customers from further afield.

Without local government support, tourism bodies are just volunteer operated organisations with no budget. They are often run by people who have little sense of commerce in the town because people who are involved with commerce are busy running their business. I don’t know anything about the visitor bureau in Braidwood apart from the fact that we visited it, the lady was friendly, helpful and that it differed very little from any other bureau with no funding from local government. As Im a country member has stated; the responsibillity lies with the local govenment. I think it’s a great shame that had it not been for the efforts of an individual business and their website (and I’m sure there are others), and had we simply relied upon the efforts of local government to lure commerce to Braidwood, we simply wouldn’t have ventured out there.

Take that as you may but I just did some sums! Since being lured to braidwood, we have now given our custom to 2 cafes, 1 clothing retailer, 1 “Collectables” retailer, 1 furniture retailer, 1 guest house, 1 pub and 2 specialist food retailers – In just over 2 months we have spent a total of $8,760 in Braidwood!

Think how much the town misses out on by not luring people as a combined civic effort!

Pity about the caravan/cabin park. If I remember correctly there was talk of one down past the new retirement village which would be a good spot. Along the road to Mongarlowe, part rural but not too far from the main street.

IACM I am old enough to remember when footpaths were the responsibility of councils not businesses. 🙂

With all the money the government is splashing around for nation building there might be a chance your council could access some for the footpath which would have wider benefits for the town. I realise there are many fingers wanting a piece of this large pie.

You are starting to make me re-think the Braidwood move. 🙂 I guess this sort of disagreements are part of small town living. In fact part of every-town living, just more visible when there are less people.

Is there a small business group in Braidwood that could lobby on behalf of the caravan park idea? I guess you already have tried. I support keeping the heritage aspect of Braidwood, but I cannot see a caravan park ruining the heritage aspect of the town particularly if it is located just outside. It seems the heritage listing is only used when it suits, given the knock down of the old Nomchong House which was featured in the online Braidwood Times.

Good luck with your efforts.

That is a lovely spot – Warri Park.
It grieves me that everytime I drive past there, I see a fair sized group of caravns or mobile homes pitched there for the night and a whole bunch of tourism dollars floating away down the Shoalhaven because a disfunctional, myopic, self serving council makes it so difficult for anyone to open a caravan park in town!
There’s a property with DA approval for cabins and a van site currently on the market. It disgusts me that those self serving, half wits have imposed a ruling that would require the owner to buld a 2 Km footpath along the roadside back into town. Can you imagine the cost of that? It’s totally unecessary.
I really can’t see how Braidwood will ever move forward unless small business owners unite to get something happening. The council are obviously only focussed on leaching revenue and totally opposed to any form of ecconomic development. If I was a cynic, I’d think that possibly the powers that be within the council must have a personal source of income that negates the need for economic development in Braidwood. Of course I’m not a cynic though!

madjimmy said :

I would love to stop at Braidwood and have a look around…but I have kids…..and according to my 13 year old “Braidwood is old and boring”.

Here is your answer. Bushrangers. Kids love em. Everyone loves a good Bushranger story. Didn’t the notorious Clarke Brothers come from Braidwood ?? My kids love stopping at the Bushranger tree at Nelligen. What about erecting “The Big Bushranger” smack bang in the middle of town. Next to the pie shop please. Just make sure it’s bigger than Ned at Glenrowan.

Solution 2: Swimming holes.
Most Canberrans are heading through Braidwood on their way to the coast. Why are we going to the coast ???…for a swim. There must be some good swimming spots not far out of Braidwood. Down that dirt road past Nerriga ??? Down past Araluen ??? Where are they ??? I once asked the elderly lady at tourist information if she could recommend a waterway nearby where I could paddle my kayak (I suggested perhaps the river down past Nerriga. The one I spied on Google Earth). Tourist Bureau lady said “the waters too cold down there, you’d get hyperthermia if you fell in”. That was it !!! She had nothing else to offer !!! Thanks for the advice Braidwood Tourist Information.

If I knew of some good swimming holes in vicinity of Braidwood I’d base my day or weekend there.

I’ve swum in the river between Bungendore and Braidwood that the big bridge crosses. Clean, warm and good fun, and room for a barbeque too on the sand.

jasmine said :

We hope to move to Braidwood eventually. A bypass would not make any difference to those who want to stop in Braidwood. If I was a resident I would prefer it, but those opportunity stops “we are here anyway why not get a pie” may impact business in the town. But by how much I wonder?

Shared space would be annoying for those just wanting to get to their destination.

These days if small towns want to survive they need to do something that makes them stand out in the crowd. Sadly almost no idea is a new one and has already been done.

Braidwood has some great food places in terms of organic and fresh grown/raised produce. If it could showcase itself as a natural food destination I think it would be a go. Mudgee, Orange and similar towns do this well with a foodie focus. Just and idea. It may not be the way Braidwoodians might wish to go.

These are excellent points! I for one am on the side of a bypass. However, if people are going to be lured into making the effort to stop in a bypassed town, it’ll have to be sold with something a lot better than the current lacklustre approach!
Let me tell you a story about regional food in Braidwood! I know a bloke here in Braidwood who has been one of those who have spearheaded the relatively recent interest in regional food Australia wide. He has a national broadcast via the ABC and has had major publications and articles released nationally. His broadcasts are always promoted as being from Braidwood and he always uses local examples in his spot. One broadcast even involved bringing in Rick Stein the British Guru of regional food as a guest – they spoke on air about local food around Braidwood. The ABC even came to Braidwood for an outside broadcast on the subject of regional food. This bloke is very media connected! There is also chap in Bungendore who worked painstakingly to publish a magazine dealing with regional food – a very passionate, knowlegable and generous individual!
A couple of years ago, a group was attempting to start a Braidwood Regional food group. Neither of these significant players were approached in regards to being part of the group! However, the group did approach a third party to ask if they might be able to talk the broadcaster bloke into getting the group some publicity on the wireless! Kind of rude really. Needless to say the group failed to progress.
The bloke in question has a national media profile and has worked effortlessly to promote Braidwood. He has no desire to enter the inner sanctum of the Committee mafia, but would like to offer some wisdom! The problem with small towns is that people manouvre into positions that deem them to be big fish in a small pond. Such towns often harbour big fish from the bigger pond. These people often genuinely want to help. Unfortunately thre are those with an unjustified fear perpetuating the notion that assistance from such people might be a threat to their own big fish status.
Very often, people with drive and enthusiasm are thwarted in a kingdom of fear!

What a shame!

We hope to move to Braidwood eventually. A bypass would not make any difference to those who want to stop in Braidwood. If I was a resident I would prefer it, but those opportunity stops “we are here anyway why not get a pie” may impact business in the town. But by how much I wonder?

Shared space would be annoying for those just wanting to get to their destination.

These days if small towns want to survive they need to do something that makes them stand out in the crowd. Sadly almost no idea is a new one and has already been done.

Braidwood has some great food places in terms of organic and fresh grown/raised produce. If it could showcase itself as a natural food destination I think it would be a go. Mudgee, Orange and similar towns do this well with a foodie focus. Just and idea. It may not be the way Braidwoodians might wish to go.

I-filed said :

Sorry, big thumbs down on thatty….

Aubergine said :

+1 for the shared space concept of Sgt.Bungers….

Gotta love it when two people with completely opposite opinions reference the same location 🙂

I like Shirl’s Cafe.

+1 for the shared space concept of Sgt.Bungers. Check out the redeveloped Childers St on the west side of Civic next time you’re in Canberra – or on Streetview (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=childers+st+civic+au&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=childers+st+civic+au&hnear=Canberra+ACT&ll=-35.278297,149.124521&spn=0,359.997358&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=-35.278227,149.124583&panoid=BtxZuEKHu7R-FUmdyKaEFg&cbp=12,32.42,,0,11.82) (hope that works) – for what seems to be a reasonably well executed version. Hope you can make an impression on the council. I liked the idea of the heritage order but now I understand its downside. What we’re talking about would have no negative impact at all on the fantastic streetscape – quite the opposite. What’s so heritage-friendly about a river of smoking, roaring metal cutting the life out of your lovely town?

Sgt.Bungers said :

May I blow my shared space trumpet again? Because I’m going to anyway. 🙂

Turn the entire town into a shared space. Not a shared zone. A space. The word “zone” indicates restriction. Space sounds more pleasant, and is….

… It’s your town, not the tourists, you have every right to do what you like. Anyone who doesn’t like it can find another way to Batemans Bay 🙂

Personally I love the idea of shared space, but I think the Federal Government might have something to say about this sort of thing on National Route 52, otherwise known as the Kings Highway.

I think this would be one of the quickest ways to ensure a bypass, and is that really what you want? I do a lot of highway driving around the country and if I have to stop, for petrol or a toilet or coffee or whatever I rarely leave the highway to take a by-pass into a country town. Usually I just want to get from Point A to Point B.

Put a BP Roadhouse at the bypass turn off and very few people would ever come into Braidwood again.

Sorry, big thumbs down on thatty – I find a few metres of shared pedestrian/traffic a real hassle at ANU/Street Theatre – slowing through-Braiwood traffic who are actually headed for the coast will only annoy people – and make them less likely to stop & spend money. In any case the traffic would simply divert by turning right just past “Christian Corner”, zoom through the back streets and rejoin the main drag near the failed pink cafe two-story place opposite the former hardware shop.

Sgt.Bungers, you’re a visionary! The shared space really is a sensational idea.
As commerce from passing traffic gets consistently worse in Braidwood, business owners talk more and more about a bypass. On the other hand, many fear the very notion. A shared space would keep both camps happy and could certainly be implemented in far less time than a bypass.
Braidwood needs to present a welcoming atmosphere with comfortable public spaces, unfortunately the heritage order, which is vital to the preservation of the town’s architecture has 1. been interpreted in an utterly reactionary manner by heritage zealots and 2. been used by the council as an excuse to stand in the way of both economic and ifrastructural development. The council really is a disfunctional rabble of myopic,ludites that make the notion of a “Banana Republic” look thouroughly attractive in comparison to the self serving autocracy that’s been thrust upon this town!
The heritage order is taken literally when it suits those with the power of vito to do so. However, if it were to be taken in it’s most literal sense, the main street would be closed to motor traffic and horses and carts the only allowable form of transport! There is absolutely no reason why a system such as a shared space that incorporates public areas that are more condusive to atracting pedestrian traffic can’t exist in such a manner that it complements the heritage of the town.
Local governments have a responsibillity not only to their rate payers but to the nation as a whole! As regional Australia becomes increasingly less significant, the development of tourism based and cottage industries can ensure that yet another generation doesn’t vacate our regional towns as soon as they graduate from high school. Our cities are becoming over crowded, the results of which we see daily in news bulletins. If every regional centre around Australia loses just 30% of it’s school leavers each year to the big cities, the result is unmanageable population growth in the big cities and even less sustainable regional centres. Also consider, not every kid that leaves for the lure of the big city, falls into a better life. Many years ago, I worked in a “Bistro” (for want of a better word) in a Kings Cross pub. It was a spit and sawdust kind of a joint, which attracted every poor wretch who wandered into the cross from drug addled back packers to runnaways and those who in an act poor judgement thought The Cross a place to avoid the law! Every week a handful of new faces in the form of scared, broke and lonely girls would turn up in the pub and within a month they’d be on the gear and on the game! Some might break away and move on, others might end up dead from an OD in a back lane. Most of them ate at the pub and most of them chatted to me accross the counter. The one thing they all invariably had in common was that when they spoke of home, it wasn’t the Sydney suburbs, but NSW country towns.
Regional councils have a responsibillity to promote ecconomic development other than agriculture and their failure to do so could have a far more catastrophic effect than disenfranchising the local shop keepers. Maybe, at least councilors with young daughters might see my point!

May I blow my shared space trumpet again? Because I’m going to anyway. 🙂

Turn the entire town into a shared space. Not a shared zone. A space. The word “zone” indicates restriction. Space sounds more pleasant, and is.

The Kings Highway/Wallace Street is very hostile to pedestrians. Trying to cross the road during coast traffic is a nightmare. Why would anybody want to stop and get out of their cars when doing so would mean becoming a second class citizen, confined to skinny foot paths? A street that has several tonne chunks of steel flying through it at 13 metres per second, is not going to entice people to get out of their own chunk of steel.

While Braidwood is a beautiful town, it, like every town and city in Australia, continues to be an unfortunate victim of the motor vehicle golden age. Unless you operate a drive through, people not getting out of their cars, will never make you money.

On the Kings, the view of the fields to the south of Braidwood, at the end of the historic buildings, is nothing short of spectacular. Shame that tables and chairs cant be put up in the middle of the main street, so that people could enjoy the view over a cup of coffee bought at a local cafe. Though they could if your main street was a cleverly designed shared space.

Yes, converting an entire town to a shared space may result in some delays for motorists during busier periods. Pedestrians traversing the main street wherever they want would slow your town from 50km/h to walking pace.

But should adding 5-10 minutes time to an average Canberran’s trip really concern Braidwood residents, when doing so is likely to result in more people stopping to look around and buy things? It’s your town, not the tourists, you have every right to do what you like. Anyone who doesn’t like it can find another way to Batemans Bay 🙂

This is an older article about shared space, very detailed, excellent read:

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.12/traffic.html

Also look at http://www.howwedrive.com.

In particular, before and after pictures of Ashford UK, which demonstrate how roads don’t have to be black tarmac, and can in fact be pieces of art: http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/07/28/streets-ahead-in-ashford/

Also look up “shared space” on youtube. Stacks of videos which demonstrate how the “radical” concept, just works.

I wrote the following but unfortunately my stupic computer turned it into nonsense!!

The majority of Canberra motorists pass straight through (or possibly stop just for a pie), not because Braidwood has nothing to offer but because Braidwood does NOTHING to offer what or to create’s there or for that matter offer an environment in which its more comfortable to enjoy what’s on offer! It takes more than a few old buildings to make people stop!

It should have read:

The majority of Canberra motorists pass straight through (or possibly stop just for a pie), not because Braidwood has nothing to offer but because Braidwood does NOTHING to offer what’s there or for that matter offer an environment in which its more comfortable to enjoy what’s on offer! It takes more than a few old buildings to make people stop!

Aubergine’s comments reflect what I have thought to be the problem here for a long time!!!!

The majority of Canberra motorists pass straight through (or possibly stop just for a pie), not because Braidwood has nothing to offer but because Braidwood does NOTHING to offer what or to create’s there or for that matter offer an environment in which its more comfortable to enjoy what’s on offer! It takes more than a few old buildings to make people stop!

Here’s a comprehensive list of businesses within approximately a 200m radius, that Canberra (and other) motorists might find worth visiting. I find it alarming that so few of them have websites, or at least a website that can be found on a search engine! There really are quite a lot of interesting retail and food businesses. So, why aren’t they pulling in the punters!!!

I have listed the websites that I can find.

Spinney woods – Rustic Furniture, collectables, recycled timber products

Gorman on Wallace – Braidwood outlet for Gorman markets

Times Past – Baskets crafts etc

Clans and Crests – Geniology, family searches etc

Cafeb Albion – Cafe Restaurant

McLeod Gallery – Local art, cradts, ceramics etc

Quilt Shop – Fabric and quilting stuff

Bernadorff – High end mid century furniture and Homewares – http://www.bernardoff.com.au/

Bakery – Bakery

Braidwood Deli – Cafe – http://www.braidwooddeli.com.au/

Dojo Bread – Artisan Bread

Eureka Pizza – Woodfired Pizza

Born Vintage – Collectables

The Lamp Shop – Antique Lamps – http://site.kerolamps.com/

Country work box – Gifts, Traditional Toys, Dolls Houses and Dolls House making supplies

The Braidwood Alpacca Shop – Alpacca products and clothing – http://www.braidwoodalpacashop.com/

Braidwood outdoors – Outdoor activity products

Hannah Fyre Gallery – Exhibition space which operates seasonally -http://www.hannahfyre.com.au

Boiled Lolly – Old style lolly shop and cafe

Studio Altenburg – Art Gallery and Gift Shop – http://www.studioaltenburg.com.au/

Cafe Altenburg – Cafe

Royal Cafe – Takeaway

Braidwood Oil Lamps – Antique and reproduction lamps – http://www.oillamps.com.au/

Herb Superb – Natural foods and products

William Verdon

Nambawan – Cafe with gallery retailing Pacific / indigenous art – http://www.nambawancoffee.com/

Longbarn – Architectural, Provincial and Garden Antiques – http://www.longbarn.com.au/

The Serrated Tussock – Cafe with second hand bookshop

Len Mutton – Clothing, Homewares, Jewellery

Hoola Hoop – 50’s & 60’s inspired designer fashion – http://www.hoolahoop.com.au

Material Arts – High end art quilts, textiles and jewellery

Braidwood Hotel – Earthy and atmospheric pub – http://www.braidwoodhotel.com.au

Braidwood Museum – http://www.braidwoodmuseum.org.au/

Sugden Hamillton – Ceramics Gallery and Collectables

Shirl’s Cafe – Cafe

ImACountryMember, you’re absolutely right and BlueCottage is wrong (about points 2 and 3 at least). Everyone has a website, and 95% of those creating them then think “website done, here come the hordes of customers”! WRONG. Why would I bother looking up Braidwood’s one (which is pretty feeble, just a collection of listings out of the Yellow Pages) before I head down the coast? For goodness sake, I and thousands of others are DRIVING THROUGH YOUR TOWN! What more do you need? Short of throwing out the road spikes you have to now find some way of making us stop, whether for a few minutes or a few days.
I thought of another approach. All those fantastic old buildings on both sides of the street, some with eateries, some with funky shops, some (sadly) empty but anyway… What you could try to encourage is for visitors to spend 10-15 minutes strolling up and down both sides, past/into all the businesses, in a circuit back to their car while munching on their sloppy pie/cardboard sausage roll. Put yourself in their position and try to work out what would make people do this. Things like the aforementioned median strip / crossing points, more bins, seats, shade, a good mix of businesses, no need to go to the extreme ends of the street to see everything (a couple of interesting places are too far from the centre for them to be easily included on the “Braidwood Promenade”), new paving…
I was also thinking about traffic levels. You want to keep the bulk of people going through the main drag, but on the downside this creates an incessant stream of noise and fumes. You could create a truck bypass but I suspect that would lose too much through traffic. Once people stop in the main street you want to make sure there are quiet places for them to get to easily – hence my previous comment about using those backyards.
Thanks for the amusing spray about Mr Mt Gillamatong. I think it’s appalling that someone can hold your whole town hostage! Just because he owns the land which happens to have the nearest high point on it for transmitters – there should be some right of community benefit which ensures he does not have the final say on this sort of thing. Maybe someone else should build a tower on the other side of town, offer the networks access for a reduced fee, and take away his “business”. (Run some stairs up it and make it a tourist attraction while you’re at it?) Still, it’s only Channel 10 you’re missing out on, no great loss.

Furthermore!

Bluecottaging wrote:
People, in general (apologies to you still in the PS), make suggestions about how things can be ‘improved’ in Braidwood, admitting that they never stop for anything more than the 3 Ps, never bothered to look us up on the web: http://www.visitbraidwood.com.au, because if they did, would have seen that we do have most what they suggested we should have (how much more advertising we should have?) from a variety of events (I won’t name any, look it up!) to tourist attractions to things to do and many many places to stay!

Do you realistically expect Canberra residents to “look up” information about every little one horse town they drive through en route to somewhere else. It’s up to the Business community in Braidwood to take measures to ensure that their regional market (and beyond) is aware of what’s on offer! So, there’s a Braidwood website; people might even find it on a search engine if they search “Braidwood!” Does the site appear on a search engine when someone searches for any of the activities or services that are available to the visitor? No! Has any advertising with links to the site been placed anywhere? No! A website is worthless if no one knows that it exists! Bluecottager wrote: how much more advertising we should have? Hmmmmmmm – How about shit loads! Currently there’s a grand total of none! An unpublicised website does not warrant advertising!
So, maybe instead of taking cheap shots at businesses that not only do a very effective job of promoting themselves and in doing so bring more trade to a very lacklustre business community, you should attempt to mobilise the business community into embarking upon a campaigne to joint promote and generally lift the game! Or, if you really don’t have anything to offer, go back to your knitting!

Bluecottage said :

I read ALL these comments slowly and repeatedly – I think I start to understand a couple of things:
1. We in Braidwood are not good at telling people why they should do more than the 3 Ps (pee, pies and petrol).
2. People, in general (apologies to you still in the PS), make suggestions about how things can be ‘improved’ in Braidwood, admitting that they never stop for anything more than the 3 Ps, never bothered to look us up on the web: http://www.visitbraidwood.com.au, because if they did, would have seen that we do have most what they suggested we should have (how much more advertising we should have?) from a variety of events (I won’t name any, look it up!) to tourist attractions to things to do and many many places to stay!
3. I have to accept that here are people (possibly in every community) who are good at using every opportunity to promote themselves like (I suspect) 40Bluejeanbop (Newbie) did on 7:00, 01 Feb 10, and others who (on reading the comments,I suspect again) would not hesitate to voice negaive views about the very community they live in or pass through
4. But there are a lot of valid comments and let’s see what we can do about lifting the game.
Stay tuned!

This is a classic example of why Braidwood fails as a business comunity! Petty in fighting!
Your claim that Bluejeanbop’s comment was some kind of viral self promotion has done nothing to serve the greater good of the Braidwood business community. The business that is promoted by Bluejeanbop’s comment is obviously owned by someone that you don’t like, so you attempt to publicly vilify them by devaluing one of the most positive comments in the post. How very right wing and reactionary. Judging from previous posts on the riot act, word of mouth and overall web presence, I doubt that the people that you’ve taken a very cheap shot at have any need to “take every opportunity to promote themselves.” Neither (I suspect) would they give a shit!
It’s such a shame that small towns nurture such small minds!

I read ALL these comments slowly and repeatedly – I think I start to understand a couple of things:
1. We in Braidwood are not good at telling people why they should do more than the 3 Ps (pee, pies and petrol).
2. People, in general (apologies to you still in the PS), make suggestions about how things can be ‘improved’ in Braidwood, admitting that they never stop for anything more than the 3 Ps, never bothered to look us up on the web: http://www.visitbraidwood.com.au, because if they did, would have seen that we do have most what they suggested we should have (how much more advertising we should have?) from a variety of events (I won’t name any, look it up!) to tourist attractions to things to do and many many places to stay!
3. I have to accept that here are people (possibly in every community) who are good at using every opportunity to promote themselves like (I suspect) 40Bluejeanbop (Newbie) did on 7:00, 01 Feb 10, and others who (on reading the comments,I suspect again) would not hesitate to voice negaive views about the very community they live in or pass through
4. But there are a lot of valid comments and let’s see what we can do about lifting the game.
Stay tuned!

There are always lots of cars parked in Braidwood on holidays and weekends so some people must be stopping on a regular basis, even in winter although not as many granted.

If thinking about festivals maybe autumn/winter is the best time so that people make the special trip to Braidwood rather than just a stopover to the coast in summer.

How does the Hanging of the Quilts weekend go each year?

I still think the hedge maze would attract families to stop. When my kids were 5-10 they loved the Sheffield maze in Tassie.

Trouble is someone has to invest the time in planting, watering (droughts?), and then marketing.

Part of Braidwood’s charm is that it is a bit quieter in the winter but I can see that is not so good if you are in business.

Street trees – great idea. I would think the main road is wide enough for a median strip with trees down the middle.

Sadly it’s owned by a gentleman who is so rigid that….

I was afraid this would be the answer. I always thought it was odd that there wasn’t a road up and a lookout from the top.

OH SHIT!! I have just realised that in my last comment I spelled conservative with a “c” in the very same sentence that I accused those very “concervatives” of being sparsely educated!

Who siad that the art of comedy wasn’t Time

——————— ing!

p1 said :

What about that amazing hill just south of town (forget the name)? Looks like it could be a lot of fun if it has a mountain bike track up and down it… does it?

Mt Gillamatong is a pretty dominating point on the skyline while approaching Braidwood. I don’t know who owns it, but I imagine that it could be a big drawcard with quality MTB tracks, and a chairlift…

Or at least maybe a big spotlight shining the batman signal at the sky during the night?

Wouldn’t that be great and yes it would be a big draw card!
Sadly it’s owned by a gentleman who is so rigid that Braidwood doesn’t even have Ch10 digital reception because he’s being so hard arsed with the network about a fee for accessing their transmitter that it’s not worth their while to upgrade it. Now I think anyone who holds the gluttonous juggernaut that is commercial media at bay is OK by me, but he’s just as hard arsed with the SES!!!!
That’s Braidwood in a nutshell, there’s always a sparsely educated concervative or a group of such, standing in the way of progress in the name of opportunism. Too many people with too much money who know damn well that they can easily afford to travel elsewhere in order to absorb culture and entertainment; they generally choose not to however, as both of those entities, culture in particular, just confuses them!

What about that amazing hill just south of town (forget the name)? Looks like it could be a lot of fun if it has a mountain bike track up and down it… does it?

Mt Gillamatong is a pretty dominating point on the skyline while approaching Braidwood. I don’t know who owns it, but I imagine that it could be a big drawcard with quality MTB tracks, and a chairlift…

Or at least maybe a big spotlight shining the batman signal at the sky during the night?

The Albion is by far and away the best cafe/resturant in town. The coffee makes the bakery’s look like brown mud. Numbawan is also good and as someone else mentioned, Shirles cafe does a wicked burger.

On the non-food shopping I really like Bernadorf and Longbarn. They have some great stuff. Also we never fail to find something cool in the country workbox. A very good gift shop.

I see the old bakery has been copping a hiding, and from my somewhat biased perspective I would say it’s well deserved.

Ten, maybe fifteen years ago, I used to buy my bread from them, fairly regularly, willing to pay a good price for a good product. One Monday I wandered it, selected two loaves after wading through literally a hundred or more Canberra types spending fistloads of money like it was going out of style, and after a lengthy delay managed to divert one of the staff members from their gluttony of cash long enough to take my cash. The price was up by 10% compared to what I normally paid. When I queried it, she said there was a ‘holiday surcharge’. I questioned the reasoning behind whacking a holiday surcharge on a non-waitress-served item, ie what’s the justification, but she wasn’t interested in any compromise. So, I elected to forgo the bread, a commodity that is not peculiar to that bakery, believe it or not, and have not darkened their doorstep with my shadow ever since.

No doubt there will be Riotactors who will come on here accusing me of the usual crime of being stingy, being petty and all the rest, don’t bother guys, you’ll just be wasting your time with any smart-alec comments. My beef with the bakery was that they were making money hand over fist, and yet were still greedy enough to try and gouge more on a holiday Monday for a grocery item.

It seems a lot of the things people are asking for are actually available in and around Braidwood but we are not very good at gewtting the message out to our potential visitors. What you say about food and opening times is unfortunately true (and it is also a problem for locals who would like a choice of places to eat out in town after 5pm ;-|).

However, a lot is happening and if you are intertested why not check out http://www.kingshwytodiscovery.com.au where Braidwood and its surrounding region is covered in detail.

It seems the dog issue is a big one. I think there could be some interesting media generated from the notion of a dog friendly town!

I totally agree with a leash free area in the park, drinking bowls and tethering posts! I also think there should be a public flogging post for owners who let their dog drop a log without picking it up! We see it all the time – from locals and visitors, well their dogs anyway!
One woman let her dog shit in the street outside our shop. I told her to clean it up to which she replied “I don’t expect my dog to clean up after me.” Huh???? My repost was “I suppose you have 2 more brain cells than a cow so you don’t shit on the floor when someone pulls on your udders!”

Dogs not allowed in the park!!! Thats crazy, every second car on that road would contain the family pooch! If they are so worried about the ‘park’, why not improve it a bit, its really just a bit of dry grass and stuff. Doggie bag dispensers and a poo bin could be provided.

Ahh, and another thought. Braidwood is on the King’s Highway, the same highway with all of those teddy bears. Well what about an annual teddy bear’s picknic? A Teddy bear festival of some sort? I suggest around the school holidays in summer some time. Or Easter, and combine it with a giant Easter egg hunt.

Good on you for seeking constructive comments to improve something. Hope you have a bit of influence in town!
We pass through and back three or four times a year and always stop, for two reasons – toilet break for humans and dog, and eating/drinking.
The bakery used to be good and I was impressed that they were doing well enough to double in size… but not so impressed by the change in quality. Only a dropoff in customers and a noticeable rise in patronage of other bakery-like businesses will tell the owners they’ve lost it and had better try to get it back. Are there any other straight bakeries in Braidwood? (PS: The Nimmitabel bakery still has “it”.)
The park is lovely but needs to become dog-friendly… you know, get a couple of those neat dog watering stations with the tap and hinged bowl above a drain, plus a post with a poo-bag dispenser and a bin. Easy. For more investment you could consider fencing off a quarter of the park at the back as an off-leash dog area. The park could do with some more seats and tables too.
The main street is a bit… someone said “Deliverance”… I wouldn’t want to lose the country town feel, but, yes, trees are good. It’s a massively wide street and when the Canberra motor train is in full flow it’s damn hard to cross over, so how about a central median wide enough for some really nice trees to grow up over the next 50 years (plane trees etc)? You could create occasional kerbed islands against the roadside too, also fitted with trees, with 95% of the existing angle parking retained and interspersed. Yass has done this pretty well. Try to invest in sourcing and ongoing maintenance of decent trees, not just no-maintenance strappy grasses and weed filled planters.
Get that war memorial out of the middle of the street and put it in the park otherwise someone’s going to drive a semi into it one day, if they haven’t already.
I think the food business/other business mix is about right… I’d look in old wares shops and bookshops myself mainly.
Use the rear yards of the places along main street like Cafe Altenburg has done – much nicer than sitting on the roadside with a pie.
What about that amazing hill just south of town (forget the name)? Looks like it could be a lot of fun if it has a mountain bike track up and down it… does it?
Stay away from ideas of theme parks, zoos, etc – marginal at best, cost too much to set up. Try a few “festival” ideas, start low key, see if someone can come up with a theme and time of year for it which clicks and draws in not just passing traffic but people who’d make Braidwood the destination for such an event. If Parkes can create an Elvis festival anything’s possible!
Good luck!

madjimmy said :

Here is your answer. Bushrangers. Kids love em. Everyone loves a good Bushranger story. Didn’t the notorious Clarke Brothers come from Braidwood ?? My kids love stopping at the Bushranger tree at Nelligen. What about erecting “The Big Bushranger” smack bang in the middle of town. Next to the pie shop please. Just make sure it’s bigger than Ned at Glenrowan.

Just make sure the Big Bushranger has big lips!

Heh, the maze idea is a nice one.

We used to visit a farm in Oxfordshire that every season grew a 5-6 acre paddock of corn and ran an enormous maze through it. There were little lookout towers, water “traps” (sprinklers with sensors), secluded boxes with discount or giveaway vouchers you could use in the farm shop, and the maze itself was in some shape – a dragon, unicorn or the like. You were given a map at the entrance and could draw your way round it as you went. Insanely popular with kids for the short time it was open. When the corn was ready it was shut down and harvested, and the paddock prepared for next year. And of course they got to sell the corn, too. Opening weekend was always a big event – drew in busloads.

No idea if that’d be possible in Braidwood, but it’s certainly faster growing than hedges…

Been a while since we’ve travelled through Braidwood, lovely town as I remember but a few years back, Christmas holidays of 2006, we lost two very loving pooches under care there – unfortunate victims of the drought we were told. Ever since I’ve refused to go to the coast via the Clyde, much safer via Cooma anyway. Christmas has not been a joyous time for our family since.

I would love to stop at Braidwood and have a look around…but I have kids…..and according to my 13 year old “Braidwood is old and boring”.

Here is your answer. Bushrangers. Kids love em. Everyone loves a good Bushranger story. Didn’t the notorious Clarke Brothers come from Braidwood ?? My kids love stopping at the Bushranger tree at Nelligen. What about erecting “The Big Bushranger” smack bang in the middle of town. Next to the pie shop please. Just make sure it’s bigger than Ned at Glenrowan.

Solution 2: Swimming holes.
Most Canberrans are heading through Braidwood on their way to the coast. Why are we going to the coast ???…for a swim. There must be some good swimming spots not far out of Braidwood. Down that dirt road past Nerriga ??? Down past Araluen ??? Where are they ??? I once asked the elderly lady at tourist information if she could recommend a waterway nearby where I could paddle my kayak (I suggested perhaps the river down past Nerriga. The one I spied on Google Earth). Tourist Bureau lady said “the waters too cold down there, you’d get hyperthermia if you fell in”. That was it !!! She had nothing else to offer !!! Thanks for the advice Braidwood Tourist Information.

If I knew of some good swimming holes in vicinity of Braidwood I’d base my day or weekend there.

are you joking. that bakery is complete rubbish. and a rip-off with crap food and burnt foul coffee and overheated milk. the attitude of staff is undeniably that of ‘you aren’t a local and i can’t be fcked being nice to you’. well guess what, i don’t have to stop at your shop any more of the many times i head down the coast. i’ll wait another hour til i get down to batemans (or wherever nearby i’m going) or back to canberra. how d’ya like them apples?

the lolly shop and grapevine cafe are nice though.

laughtong said :

Just my thoughts on what we are looking for when heading to the coast. We would easily be tempted into a day trip if the railway historical society was able to run a day tripper to Braidwood.

Well I was always into railways and volonteering. Give me a tractor with a jib crane and dozer blade, a couple of thousand railway sleepers and a bit of rail track and I’ll make sure the Hysterical Society gets their train into Braindwood for you. 🙂

Actually I quite like the town but don’t get down there as much as I would like. I love the coast, but the cost of fuel keeps me here in Can’tbra all the time. 🙁 I like the bakery, the park and have taken the time to drdown the back streets to see the tennis courts and what I seem to recall was a hospital? Or was that Nimmatabel? I have also filled up with lolies, examined some very over priced fabric in a fabric store that was not there the second time I went to have a look, (lovely patterns, but very exy) and looked in aqt the alternative energy store which I thought at the time should really expand its business into Canberra.

Never brought petrol there.

Ideas to improve the town.

Get the bike set in. Both kinds, motor and pedal. Thos bikies are crazy. Start a Tour de Braidwood, annual event with prize money. I’m sure a few housand dollars would be worth the money an event brings in. Those long flats and then long hills would make for interesting racing. Plus I have always seen motor bikes pulled up at the pubs.

I like the idea of a hedge maze. Cheap, but fun.

Have you got a lake? Invent a lake monster?
Have you got fields? Invent crop circles.
Have you got some sky? Fake some UFO spottings.
Got a cemetary? Have some kids wander around it and have some absent minded photographers photograph them then claim they are ghosts.
Got a local military establishment? Start rumors that it is developing something “top secret” and let some geek fest group know about it.
Got caves? Let the spelunkers know. Or better still, build some fake show cave.

Hmm, no more ideas for me but that should get you started.

laughtong said :

+1 for opening hours. We came back from the coast on Boxing Day a few years ago. Planned to stop at the Braidwood Bakery for lunch, only to find it shut on what could have been their busiest day of the year.

Like many already commented here, we normally have 2 large dogs with us when traveling to/fro the coast.
Facilities that allow us to park, let them out to stretch their legs, and then let us eat/drink/toilet/look around without having to shut the dogs in the car are a real plus.
It is not always easy or pleasant to stand there holding them while the other one goes off to get the coffees or whatever. Shade, tethering posts, taps and a dog welcoming area or even a small off-leash park for a brisk run around would be great.

A cafe with a shady (summer) protected (winter) outdoor eating area that caters for dog travelers as well as their humans might attract a real following, provided the food and drink was at least OK and prices reasonable.

Just my thoughts on what we are looking for when heading to the coast. We would easily be tempted into a day trip if the railway historical society was able to run a day tripper to Braidwood.

I’m following my post very keenly! There have been some very constructive ideas rendered. I love the idea of making Braidwood a “Dog Friendly Town.” Everyone who lives here has a dog! I always get a dish of water for dogs that are tethered outside our shop.

As for the railway historical society running a day tripper. That too would be great, but who could we get to lay 50Kms of track from bungendore!

Incidentally, we do have a Station Street in Braidwood. The station never arrived but the street was named in anticipation!

+1 for opening hours. We came back from the coast on Boxing Day a few years ago. Planned to stop at the Braidwood Bakery for lunch, only to find it shut on what could have been their busiest day of the year.

Like many already commented here, we normally have 2 large dogs with us when traveling to/fro the coast.
Facilities that allow us to park, let them out to stretch their legs, and then let us eat/drink/toilet/look around without having to shut the dogs in the car are a real plus.
It is not always easy or pleasant to stand there holding them while the other one goes off to get the coffees or whatever. Shade, tethering posts, taps and a dog welcoming area or even a small off-leash park for a brisk run around would be great.

A cafe with a shady (summer) protected (winter) outdoor eating area that caters for dog travelers as well as their humans might attract a real following, provided the food and drink was at least OK and prices reasonable.

Just my thoughts on what we are looking for when heading to the coast. We would easily be tempted into a day trip if the railway historical society was able to run a day tripper to Braidwood.

Used to be the ‘award winning bakery’ that I stopped for, and we’re talking at least 3 weekends a month as I headed down and back with surfing buddies.

Then one day I bit into my chicken pie, turned to my compadre as said ‘You know, this is an over-rated piece of shit’. Have not returned to the bakery though the little park and toilets near the pool gives antsy kids a chance to stretch their legs

Braidwood is great – but it isn’t far away enough to be a destination for Canberrans. It’s on the way to the coast. It’s very dry. You can see all it has to offer in a day – so why stay over?

One thing you could do, though, is promote and improve the Braidwood Museum. And bring your little satellite villages into the act.

You’d need to do something about some of the locals, too – the pig-shooting fraternity, and the dope-growing bikies from down the valley a little way aren’t very friendly in the corner pub.There is a bit of a Deliverance atmosphere in there! The remnants of the local squattocracy can be a bit of a joke, too.

We nearly always stop in Braidwood on the way to the coast. We normally just grab a pie at the bakery but last time we stopped at the Criterion Cafe (opposite petrol station). The Chicken burgers & coffee there were awesome!! We will definitely stop there again.

One of the other draw cards to me is the golf course. We headed down a while back for a morning game of golf and arvo game of lawn bowls and beers. It was great day trip out of Canberra!

My colleagues and I use Braidwood as a base for some research we do locally. We eat often at Eureka Pizzeria and have loved it every time. The bakery is ok. The standout business is Dojo Bread behind the pizza place. Best bread I’ve eaten (try the beer bread). We stay at the Tombarra Holiday Units at Mongarlowe which is comfortable and handy for us.

I’m not someone who generally posts on forums but I read the Riot ACT avidly!
Seeing this post has forced me to sign up. A few months ago I read a post by someone looking for classic style (50’s & 60’s) clothing in Canberra. Several of the replies lead to Hoola Hoop in Braidwood. Being a pin-up chick, I dragged my husband out there to investigate.
Hoola Hoop is absolutely the coolest shop in not only the Canberra region but in Australia (no I don’t have shares, though I probably could have given how much I’ve spent there to date). Since we discovered Hoola Hoop, we have been visiting Braidwood as a destination and I must say we’ve had some great lunches at a few places: The Albion, Nambwan and The Old Cheese Factory (10 minutes out of town). We once turned up late with the intention of stopping for dinner – we discovered that to be easier said than done – there’s a real problem with dining in the evening. But never mind, we now stop for dinner at Le Tres Bon in Bungendore upon our return – Excellent! We have also been assured that dinner is excellent at The Albion in Braidwood, though they only open on Friday and Saturday evenings!
Hoola Hoop is a real experience – it’s not hardcore rockabilly, so there are styles to suit everyone for every occasion – more the kind of thing that people would have genuinely wore to work in the 50’s. Huge selection of men’s Hawaiian shirts, sunnies, handbags, jewellery and hair accessories. Michelle and Scott are lot of fun. They actually showed us photos their house – completely decked out in original 50’s furniture; cocktail bar, Tretchikoff prints, atomic lamps, tikis, flying ducks and lots of cool laminex clad furniture. So Jealous – on that note Bernadoff’s (near the bakery) is one of the best mid-century furniture shops we’ve found.
We delighted to discover that Scott and Michelle are from the same family who set up The Braidwood Deli and subsequently sold it a few years ago. We used to go there regularly, the food was to die for! Scott had the little Braidwood Brewery, Simon (hubby) used to rave about the beer – I think the project was ahead of it’s time and thus ill fated. The rest of the family now run a regional produce centre / cafe / restaurant at Reidsdale – The Old Cheese Factory. It’s well worth a visit, the food is superb. I read a few comments about mountain biking – The Old Cheese Factory is at the edge of the Monga NP and they have maps of the tracks in their produce shop!
well for a first post, I’ve really rattled on, but we’re such Braidwood fans. Just look past the twee shit and bad food!!!
If you want to check out Hoola Hoop, look for the little pink car – not sure what it is but it’s way cool! They have a great website http://www.hoolahoop.com.au

It seems nearly everyone stops at the bakery or the park- I’d be putting fliers or noticeboards in those two place.

We stoppped in Braidwood on the way back from the caost just after the new year. The kids had to get out of the car and we went looking for something to eat and sat down in the Albion(?) on the main drag.
I was stunned by the quality of the food and how well the old place had been done up.
Also the glass of very good red took the edge off the kids noise and got me home in a peacful mood.
I would recommend the place to anyone passing through or looking for a sundy drive / lunch

no.6 said :

what about an antique/collectable emporium ..?
with supporting seasonal antique fairs..

There are at least 3 such businesses and they do hold such an antiques fair in the National Theatre every year.

Like most events in Braidwood – it’s not very well publicised!

what about an antique/collectable emporium ..?
with supporting seasonal antique fairs..

We usually stop in the park. It is a pity dogs aren’t allowed in that park tho – which we didn’t even realise the first couple of times – oops.

I’d be up for a nice lunch, but I’d need to know about it in advance, I hate driving, and I’d like to break up a drive to the coast, but i don’t want to be searching around for something once I stop in Braidwood, so we usually just grab any takeaway, or eat food we brought with us and keep going.

I think a deal where you have morning tea in bungedore and lunch in Braidwood could go down well.

When I was a child we always stopped in Braidwood for salad sandwiches. Fond memories. That shop is long gone, I think it was a butcher more recently?

I keep saying one of these days we must stop and look around. One thing that influences me, especially on journeys that can be done in one go, is whether there are decent toilets. I’ll never forget a stop at the toilets at Berrima many years ago. I took the end cubicle, not game to close the door. Hearing voices approaching I got ready to shout a warning that the door was open but before I could, I heard Lady 1 say she couldn’t possibly in such disgusting surroundings and Lady 2 reply that she also would be able to wait a little longer. I too would have preferred to wait but didn’t want to seem fussy and we did want to stop for a look around the town. After that I decided maybe I should listen to my fussy inner voice, and if a town can’t provide decent facilities then it obviously doesn’t care that much about whether I stop.

Btw at the other extreme a toilet can be not only a welcome facility but an absolute drawcard for a town.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hundertwasser_toilet_entrance.jpg

Would it be too kitsch to play up the association with certain movies?

Interesting comment about the trees. The poplars approaching Braidwood have always been a highlight of the journey especially in autumn, a wonderful sylvan streetscape within the town would definitely have enhanced its appeal.

candygirl said :

sorry to say this but as a mother of two young kids i found it frustrating navigating in and out of shops with a pram/stroller.
my husband and i had to take turns in shops (while the other waited outside with the pram) or lifted up and carried the pram up stairs just to have a look.
i really don’t know how someone in a wheel chair or other disabilities find this but was really more trouble than it was worth.
might go back once the kids are out of the pram and have a better look.

That’s a very fair comment. There’s the bloody high curbs as well – there have been numerous request for the council to upgrade the pavements, maybe a few planter pots etc, but as usual the excuse is complience with heritage regulations!!! I’ve seen at least 4 elderly people carted off by ambulance due to a fall from the curb.

When we opened our business, we made a point of putting in an area fro kids to play while Mum and Dad shop. We also have double doors that are always open in summer and easy to open in winter as well as ample space for pram parking. when we opened we made sure that we gave considerationion to prams – we’ve been there!

sorry to say this but as a mother of two young kids i found it frustrating navigating in and out of shops with a pram/stroller.
my husband and i had to take turns in shops (while the other waited outside with the pram) or lifted up and carried the pram up stairs just to have a look.
i really don’t know how someone in a wheel chair or other disabilities find this but was really more trouble than it was worth.
might go back once the kids are out of the pram and have a better look.

I stopped in at the museum/history society last time I went through – and was very impressed! I just can’t wait to see what else they have next time I go through. Hopefully, more antique exhibits, like the amazing dress, and the lace, and the PHOTOS – wow the photos!

Just a shame it is little and underfunded, it is fascinating to see how our forebears lived.

Hey – here is a thought: why not devote some of the park to a recreation of a Koori campsite? Grow some indigenous shelter trees, and plant examples of edible plants – native dandelion, for instance were used like a yam and the roots were roasted…that sort of thing.

Coach said :

Those clever people were smart enough to take over the shop next door, renovate and double the size of their shop, and it is always full.

Hmmm, see my comments above to explain why it’s always full (of Canberrans)!
The decline seemed to come shortly after the reno.

@Im a country member – like I alluded to above, some retail shops seem attractive to me but I’ve never been so curious that I would stop to look. At the moment the main road seems totally geared towards briefly stopping through traffic. Obviously the trick is making it a destination rather than just another town on the highway – capitalise on the proximity to Canberra; promote short-travel-time romantic weekends to time-strapped, over-worked, under-sexed public servants!

Even so the quality of the accommodation, the shopping, the cafes/bakeries or even time with the wife might not be enough to attract everyone! For me personally you’d need to highlight outdoor pursuits, adventure, camping etc.

I use Braidwood as one of the “destinations” (point to aim for) when I go out for a spin on my motorbike. Always stop off at the bakery for a cuppa, and usually pick up one of their “high top” loaves.

Bakery still rocks.
My partner likes the lolly shop too.
Shirl’s Burgers are a hidden treasure – burgers of that size and quality are a rarity in Canberra.

Maybe you need to look at ways to lure Canberrans to the Braidwood area for sunday drives etc. or weekends away. Things like boutique accomodation seem to work well from what i can tell.

I know many people who will go to places like Orange and Mudgee for food and wine weekends.
Braidwood is so close most could leave saturday morning and spend a good time in and around the area. If there are quality moutain bikie trails and bushwalking trails that would be another good way to get people to visit.

The only shop I’ve ever stopped at in Braidwood, was the model cars shop.

The Braidwood Alpaca shop gets my non-food related retail vote.
But word to the wise.. keep your alpca beanies hidden from your hot-clothes-washing feind of a parent. Had to make a return trip to Braidwood for a pre-shrunk one.

* Just to clarify, before the squeals of RA indignation come a’floodin’ (yes, I’ve been watching you people) I do not live with my parent. She does not do my laundry. I have my own washing machine. and so on.

If I’m driving, I usually just pass through, as it’s still too close to Canberra for a stopover. However, if I’m riding the cruiser, then I always stop as I’m then in a more, um, cruisy mode.

Usually at the bakery, although nifty’s comments above show that this may not be the case next time.

I think people associate craft with country town charm.

Craft is very popular these days. Have you considered hosting craft fairs. Another popular activity are crafting weekends. Generally people (mostly women) will go and stay somewhere for two nights and all meet together to work on their craft. These weekends generally run multiple workshops on new crafting techniques and hold small competitions as well. Some organisers arrange for a retail outlet to come and set up a temporary shop for the duration.

niftydog said :

Hiking, caving, camping, horse riding, mountain biking… these are the things that might attract me to stay a few nights, and it seems most are already available in the district but they’re just not promoted.

PS: riding fire trails in National Parks doesn’t qualify as mountain biking!

YES! Bring on the mountainbiking. I would definitely visit for good mountainbiking trails. I reckon this might be a good market for you with the rapidly growing comunity in Canberra. Is there a club there?

Wow – what a response to my post!

It’s interesting to note that most comments relate to food, however it appears that so many food outlets don’t see the benefits of opening hours that are somewhat more convenient for their potential customers.

Some interesting comments about festivals – couldn’t agree more!

What about retail other than food?

We have some truly interesting and unique retail outlets here. I won’t list any for reasons of impartiallity – do you have any experieces; good or bad!

PURSUTE said :

No offence, but “unique and aesthetically pleasing” are not really terms I would use when describing Braidwood. Yes, it is a rather pleasant little country town, but it is no different to hundreds of others in NSW.

+1.

“Deliverance”.

Sorry.

When you have kids, a stop on the way to the coast is mandatory. When I was growing up, we always stopped at The Mill in Braidwood.

Now its the bakery. I can’t go past a place that makes a reasonable coffee and sells almond cresaunts. No one has to ask in my car. They all know that dad will always pull in at the bakery.

Those clever people were smart enough to take over the shop next door, renovate and double the size of their shop, and it is always full.

I do feel sorry for people whose life is so tight and tense, that they would not stop for fear of loosing their spot in the race.

Longevity is directly linked to our emotional resilience, and our stress levels. All stress is perceived, and thus self imposed.

Worrying about a slow truck ahead on a trip to and from the coast is not a good sign for ones future health.

The bakery WAS good, until it got sold not so long ago. It’s a shadow of it’s former self now. Burnt coffee, soggy pies, dry danishes, bready croissants…
eeeeuuuurrrrrrgggghhhhkkkk!
The only reason Canberran’s stop there is because they don’t know any better – what with the proliferation of utterly awful bakeries in Canberra.

As for the town – it’s only a waypoint for most people, not a destination, so like those above the most I’ve ever done is stop for an apple pie and some caffeine. I don’t even bother with that any more.

I see some things in the main street that seem kinda interesting, but usually you’re just keen to get to your destination or it’s late on a Sunday so you just plough on through. Most of Pelican’s suggestions (above) wouldn’t provide enough incentive for me to stop. An apple festival would pale in comparison to that which goes on in Batlow. Wineries are utterly ubiquitous. Decent gardens (and distilleries) take decades to establish. None of these things are particularly unique and most seem aimed at baby boomers with no sense of adventure.

I guess that’s my overall impression – it’s a place for grey nomads.

Hiking, caving, camping, horse riding, mountain biking… these are the things that might attract me to stay a few nights, and it seems most are already available in the district but they’re just not promoted.

PS: riding fire trails in National Parks doesn’t qualify as mountain biking!

churl said :

Speaking personally, we would happily stop there for something to eat, but everything closes too early.

Agreed. I often do day trips to the coast, and love stopping in at the bakery or the boiled lolly ice cream shop. On the return trip, we mention we should stop in at the ice cream store on the way home, before realising that even though the suns up and its 30 degrees, its 6:30pm so the shop is closed. I even make a point to fill up before I head home, because it seems everytime I didnt, the petrol stations would all be closed before dinnertime.

Maybe a 24hr servo could do your town well, or at least one open for (all of) the daylight hours.

I always stop on the way to the coast. I stop at the playground and have a picnic with my two small kids. Once there was this very nice antiques/brick a brack market that was very interesting too. I think I would go to Braidwood itself if there was something for the kids to do. It is a bit of a grown ups town otherwise. Can’t have little ones running around there too much and sitting and eating is just a bit dull for them. If there was a unique kids attraction we would probably go. WHat about something like Soverign Hill in Victoria, efor example? Something to show kids how people used to live in the country but also fun too.

troll-sniffer said :

I admire the thinking behind your post, but all I can say is… If your business model doesn’t fit the model of summer boom, winter bust, then nothing you can do for Braidwood will allow you to get over that hump.

Probably the single greatest opportunity for braidwood was missed 30 odd years ago when the far-sighted council knocked back a plan to line the main street with large shady trees, as it would have reduced main street parking. Anyone who has been to Yackandandah knows how welcoming their main street is, particularly in summer, and a lot of people are happy to park in a back street and walk the shady main street and get a coffeee or visit a gallery while there.

Too late now though.

I think you’ve made a very valuable and truthful comment – and I personally do have a business that works through winter through loyal customers that visit regardless, but of course one always wants to increase year round turnover!
You couldn’t be more correct about the town “missing the opportunity” and not only regarding the issue of trees 30 years ago – many opportunities since have been wasted! I know Yackandandah well and it’s a great example of what a small town can do. The Star Hotel is a gem! However, I have to disagree that it’s too late! If an individual business can pull in trade from Canberra during the down time, so too can the town as an entire commercial entity. I think the fault possibly lies with the business community and the council as a whole, but with important feedback like yours (troll-sniffer) and others, possibly something can be done to make it a more attractive place to hang out.

We always stop for a wee and a bite to eat when we’re going to and from the coast, and trade is pretty much exclusively with the bread shop, the pizza place and the lolly shop, although we had some marvellous hamburgers at the place near the old service station opposite the antiques shop last time through.

Mrs Snarky is a keen pottery purchaser and we’ve stopped at the little gallery just at the bend as you enter the town from Canberra, but that turned out to belong to a frightful god-botherer and we snuck out quietly…

There’s not a lot that could be done to make the place more attractive as longer visit now for us now because we’re generally still travelling with kids, and the essentials (toilets, fast food and confectionery) are all we’ll stop for. But I can see that post-children we’d like to stop a bit longer to explore the galleries and other bits and pieces hidden away in the town, and we’d probably stop in a B&B to do it. It wouldn’t be a regular thing – perhaps once every couple of years. And if there were theatre possibilities, exhibitions etc it’d be more often. HTH

🙂

We stop for a smoko and maybe a coffee or gelato.

Although we normally have the dogs and since they arn’t allowed at the park, we never stop long

> I would rather push on, then lose valuable position in the rat race.

There will always be another truck or crazy driver ahead of you regardless.

Yes, trees and semi-trailers are a much more effective means of breaking the journey when you’re tired! We see it frequently.

There are so many crosses and flowers within 1km either side of Braidwood that I sometimes wonder if the town somehow has a bad influence on vehicles. Sadly I saw yet another car wrapped around a tree east of town last Friday.

On the original topic, I find Braidwood a perfect spot to break the trip from Canberra to the Coast, for a stretch of the legs, or a pie at the bakery. Occasionally for something else food related.

I have also visited the lamp shops for lamp related products.

I admire the thinking behind your post, but all I can say is… If your business model doesn’t fit the model of summer boom, winter bust, then nothing you can do for Braidwood will allow you to get over that hump.

Probably the single greatest opportunity for braidwood was missed 30 odd years ago when the far-sighted council knocked back a plan to line the main street with large shady trees, as it would have reduced main street parking. Anyone who has been to Yackandandah knows how welcoming their main street is, particularly in summer, and a lot of people are happy to park in a back street and walk the shady main street and get a coffeee or visit a gallery while there.

Too late now though.

“I’m too tired to stop and just want to get home.
“

Yes, trees and semi-trailers are a much more effective means of breaking the journey when you’re tired! We see it frequently.

Speaking personally, we would happily stop there for something to eat, but everything closes too early.

Fantastic pizza shop. After several days hiking and camping up on mountains in the Budawangs, that pizza went down like ice cream.

Have to say that it’s a speed hump for me also. When I’m going to the coast, I just want to get there (and plus the trip is short why would you stop and break), and on the way back I’m too tired to stop and just want to get home.

We only ever stop if we REALLY HAVE TO use the toilet facilities. We would love to stop more often, albeit for the lack of overtaking lanes between the coast and Canberra. Hence when travelling between the two, it really isnt worth stopping if you manage to pass a truck, slow vehicle, tractor or eratic driver. I would rather push on, then lose valuable position in the rat race. Yes it sounds pathetic to be concerned over losing 15 minutes (in around a 1 hr trip) over a bunch of eratic or slow drivers, but the frustration is what annoys us. Having said that, we have stopped on other trips for a dinner/lunch break so that the “annoying” traffic is long gone before we continue our trip, inclusive of Braidwood on the rare occasion.

The bakery is tops. I’ll plan our trip to make sure we pass through Braidwood at lunch time. I’ll also go for a drive there to pick up some pies for dinner or to have lunch.

Hi
Our family loves Braidwood. We would at a guess visit Braidwood without going on further to the coast about five times a year for lunch and a look around usually buying something while we are there. This does not include the other times we stop on the way to the coast – probably about another 6 each year.

The main places we frequent for eating are the Bakery, Braidwood Deli, Cafe Altgenburg and we tried the Nambawan Coffee place for the first time recently. We have also had coffee at the Serrated Tussock (?) and at the Grapevine Cafe (I think it is called) the one with all the old books. If we are in a rush we tend to go for a pie at the Braidwood Bakery but when visiting for lunch will go somewhere nicer.

A few months ago we had lunch (mixed grill) at the yellow painted hotel on the corner near the park. Meal was delicious.

We also buy bread from Dojo Bakery, sweets at the lolly shop, plants at the nursery and visit the galleries and quilt shop with mainly small purchases. My husband and daughter like the car shop on the way out of town and have bought from them about three times.

We may not be your typical shoppers or eaters.

If you want to attract more people during winter some ideas:
– food and wine festival or a market for which Braidwood could become famous such as in Lismore
– a maze type garden such as that around Sheffield in Tasmania
– Wineries seem to attract people
– What about a whiskey distillery with tours?
– the shoalhaven for canoeists or fishing trips.
– an apple festival (might take a bit of time to establish) as I would think the climate good for apples with all the roadside trees around Araluen way.
– environmental expo for sustainable living
– attract businesses that can be located anywhere eg.IT – website developers,authors, online shops (depending on the quality of your communications network).

Sorry if this is a silly question but is there a train track through braidwood? If so what about an old train like the one that goes to Bungendore to bring people in. I have never noticed any tracks.

It would be a shame to get too commercial though as Braidwood is Braidwood because of its old worlde charm. Bungendore is being ruined by becoming another satellite town of Canberra with all those characterless McMansion estates on the increase.

Isn’t there a new Gold mining enterprise going in at Majors Creek? That may increase business through winter.

I just can’t believe you got away with using that as a user name. To quote Gough “we remember”….Although for accuracy I think you the accurate name would have been ‘I am just a simple country member”.

I’m sorry to say it, but Braidwood is just a speedhump for me.

As the length of my trip when I pass through Braidwood is almost always less than 3 hours, I rarely need to stop. I much prefer to do my resting at my destination on such a short trip.

No offence, but “unique and aesthetically pleasing” are not really terms I would use when describing Braidwood. Yes, it is a rather pleasant little country town, but it is no different to hundreds of others in NSW.