In October 2025, Council considered renaming Ballalaba Bridge as Alma Bridge. We received strong community feedback not to rename the bridge, and Council resolved to keep the existing bridge name.
Council also resolved to seek community feedback on an appropriate landmark to name in honour of the significant Braidwood and District heavy horse, Alma.
Following discussions with the Braidwood and Districts Heavy Horse Association and key stakeholder groups including Braidwood Museum, Braidwood Showground Reserve Trust, Braidwood Community Association, and the Braidwood and Villages Business Chamber, three options have been developed to honour Alma.
We are now asking the community to rank the three options.
Options
The first option of road naming is the simplest as it incurs minimal risk and funding. The second and third options will require the identification of suitable structures and funding to procure an artist to deliver.
- Alma Lane
The laneway from Duncan Street to the rear of the QPRC Braidwood Depot, and the site of the future Braidwood car park, does not currently have a name. The name ‘Alma Lane’ satisfies the Geographical Names Board’s requirements and could be submitted for a formal assessment. - Alma Rock
This involves replicating the large rock that is adjacent to Kings Highway approximately 5km west of Braidwood and is commonly referred to as ‘Birthday Rock’ (because of the birthday wishes and messages regularly painted on it). A suitable rock or stone structure could be identified or positioned somewhere near the Nithsdale property and could carry a mural or etching of Alma along with some interpretive signage explaining Alma’s history. It could become known as ‘Alma Rock’. - A mural of Alma on a water tank or large rural structure
This option involves partnering with a landowner to paint a mural of Alma on a prominent rural structure, like the mural in Captains Flat which features ‘Captain’, a large bullock for which the town of Captains Flat is named.
About Alma
Alma was a Clydesdale stallion who won the ‘Best two-year old stallion for agricultural purposes’ at the Royal Agricultural Society Show in Carlisle (UK) in 1855. The Hon. Hugh Wallace, for whom the main street of Braidwood is named, purchased Alma and transported him to Australia in early 1856.
Regularly referred to in articles and advertisements as an ‘imported prized stallion’, Alma stood at stud at the Nithsdale property near Braidwood. This was at a time when heavy horses were the backbone of transport, construction and agricultural industries, before the advent of heavy machinery.
Alma was in the Braidwood district for more than 13 years and was provided to draught horse owners to improve their stock.
Rank the options until Thursday 9 July 2026 by completing the question below.
