Commonwood Farm is a volunteer-run incorporated association that was created to help care for and enhance the historic Braidwood Common, a 20Ha site on the edge of Braidwood, NSW.
A short history
One of Commonwood Farm’s first projects was creating the walking trail beside Flood Creek on Braidwood Common. But, at that time, the Common was privately leased, which created liability issues around open public access. To solve this, an arrangement was made so that Commonwood Farm members were able to use the walking trail under the group’s insurance cover. However, in 2023, Commonwood Farm asked Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council to create an s355 Committee to manage Braidwood Common. This request was granted and the Braidwood Common is now formally managed by this s355 committee. This change has allowed QPRC to provide all members of the public with full access to the Flood Creek walking trail.
Since then, Commonwood Farm has begun simplifying its membership structure and its role to be more like a standard incorporated association. We see ourselves as similar to a landcare group, but with the goal of creating a resilient food-producing community-owned landscape as our core focus.
Our mission
Commonwood Farm’s mission is to support the Braidwood Common s355 committee, and collaborate with other local groups and organisations, to help manage the Common for long-term community benefit. Commonwood Farm encourages its volunteer members and our wider community to engage in a range of activities that support local ecological resilience and sustainable food production on Braidwood Common.
Sustainable use of community land
Commonwood Farm is a socioecological experiment in the use of community-owned land whereby any food it helps to produce is intended primarily for consumption by members of our community and not for economic returns. From the beginning, we have collaborated with the Braidwood Central School and the Braidwood Life Centre to support educational activities for local kids, and help provide food for locals in need. We see the Braidwood Common as an essential part of our community that can provide many diverse benefits, rather than simply an income-generating farm asset. We are keen to work cooperatively with QPRC, the Braidwood Common s355 committee, and other groups and organisations wherever we can to integrate multiple uses and achieve a range of positive outcomes.
Not for profit
Commonwood is an incorporated not-for-profit association whose conduct is based on the rules and guidelines for Incorporated Associations as set out by the NSW Department of Fair Trading. These rules include strict proscriptions and penalties that prevent members drawing a pecuniary interest from the Association. Any and all financial income and assets of the association are managed to benefit Commonwood Farm Inc, its mission, and the Braidwood Common itself.
Commonwood Farm Braidwood 