Stroud & To-do

Stroud has a unique charm, as though time itself has bypassed it. This small, historic town is home to picturesque old buildings nestled in the peaceful Karuah Valley. Located 219 km north of Sydney, 75 km northeast of Newcastle, and 40 meters above sea level, Stroud offers a serene escape in the heart of the countryside. The town’s current population is just 550.

The Karuah Valley forms part of the vast 1,000,000-acre grant awarded to the Australian Agricultural Company (AA Co.) in 1826. The company, founded in 1824 at the urging of the influential MacArthur family, sought to develop the land for wool production and crop cultivation aimed at the English market. Robert Dawson, the company’s first superintendent, was tasked with overseeing this vast area. He was so taken with the land that he described it as ‘beautiful and picturesque, consisting of low undulating hills… I thought at the time I had never beheld so sweet a spot.’ Dawson’s admiration led him to establish Stroud as early as November 1826, naming it after the English town of Stroud, which reminded him of the Gloucestershire countryside—hence the naming of nearby Gloucester.

In 1830, Arctic explorer Sir Edward Parry replaced Dawson as superintendent and played a pivotal role in building Stroud’s infrastructure. Under his leadership, the town established key institutions in education, law, and religion, fostering a strong sense of community. By 1836, Stroud housed most of the AA Co.’s convict labour force and became the company’s primary storage site. The town’s development continued: in 1847, ether was first used as an anaesthetic in Australia at the Stroud Hospital, located across from St. John’s Church. In 1849, the town saw its first subdivision, with land sold to private buyers, many of whom arrived from England starting in 1850.

For more information, visit the Stroud Historical Society and AACO website.