BRAIDWOOD Braidwood is one of those towns to visit that will for most, be an out and back decision; The ACT region being the users of the highway that heads to the coast. That said the ‘diversion’ is well worth the effort. Braidwood is an ‘historic’ town that is managing that heritage admirably. Lots of advice on what was has gone before and information on the buildings. The area was first settled by Europeans in the 1820s, and the town was surveyed in 1839. The village was located near the headwaters of the nearby Shoalhaven River. The town was named after Dr Thomas Braidwood Wilson. He had been the Doctor in charge of ships taking convicts to New South Wales. He was first granted land in Van Diemen's Land in 1824, which he exchanged for land near Lake George in 1825. Braidwood was the subject of the nation's first Royal Commission in 1867, inquiring into the activities of police officers and managers in the district, concerning the extent to which bushrangers had been shielded and assisted by police connivance and inactivity. Gold was discovered in 1851, and for the next two decades the district's population swelled to about 10,000. Lots of history remains on display from that era. There is plenty of evidence that many a hotel was operating in Braidwood, but the times have changed and many a pub building has a new use. The Museum in Braidwood gives a great insight to that colourful past. The Braidwood War Memorial is located in the cbd. The Churches in Braidwood are magnificent and old classic 150 year old buildings. Jus magnificent detail. The traveler will need to arrive early to get the best out this great historic town.