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Araluen (35°39′S 149°49′E) is a small town near Braidwood in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, in Palerang Council. It lies in the valley of Araluen Creek, that joins the Deua River at roughly the midpoint in its course. On Census night 2011, Araluen had a population of 293 people. The name 'Araluen' meant 'water lily' or 'place of the water lilies' in the local aboriginal language. At the time of European settlement Araluen was described as a broad alluvial valley with many natural billabongs covered with water lilies. Unfortunately, no such billabongs exist in the Araluen valley today. As with most river and creek valleys in south-eastern Australia, the natural landscape of Araluen Creek and its valley were destroyed by rampant and extremely destructive gold mining during the 'gold rush' in the latter half of the 19th century. The town experienced a decline after a flash flood in 1860 virtually destroyed the town, killing 24 people.