Stroud, New South Wales

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Stroud is a small country town one hour north of Newcastle, New South Wales. It is part of the Great Lakes Council area. The major road through Stroud is the Bucketts Way.

Stroud Town Centre
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Stroud Town Centre
Stroud, NSW, Clock Tower
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Stroud, NSW, Clock Tower

The township of Stroud can trace its beginning back to the late 1820s when it became the headquarters for a public funded company known as the Australian Agricultural Company (A. A. Company). In 1824, this company received a grant of one million acres of land between Port Stephens and the Manning River. This land was to be used for agriculture.

Stroud was a self-contained village by 1832 and, as early as 1836, the Company's storehouses and much of the convict labour force were located there. By 1850, it had become the Company's headquarters. Land was subdivided for private settlement in 1849, with settlers arriving from England the following year to take up land grants there.

Many fine buildings were constructed at Stroud. Some of these are still in use today: Stroud House (1827-32); St John's Church (1833) and Quambi School House (late 1830s). Also worthy of mention are the underground grain silos, built by the A. A. Company for the storage of grain. Many other lovely old buildings can also be seen throughout the district.

[edit] Railway or lack thereof

It was not possible for the North Coast Railway of New South Wales to serve Stroud, but the nearest railway station was called Stroud Road.

[edit] Locality

Valley View Homestead B&B

[edit] Twin town

United Kingdom Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK

Coordinates: 32°24′S 151°58′E