Stroud is a small country town one hour north of Newcastle, New South Wales

Newcastle, New South Wales

The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...

. It is part of the Great Lakes Council

Great Lakes Council, New South Wales

Great Lakes Council is a Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia on the shores of Port Stephens, Myall Lakes and Wallis Lake...

 area. The major road through Stroud is the Bucketts Way

Bucketts Way

Bucketts Way is a country road linking Gloucester to Taree and Raymond Terrace, in New South Wales, Australia. It was named after the Bucketts, a prominent range near Gloucester...

. At the 2006 census

Census in Australia

The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...

, Stroud had a population of 669.

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

Australian Agricultural Company

The Australian Agricultural Company is a company which serves to improve beef cattle production through responsible natural resource and land use...

 (A. A. Company). In 1824, this company received a grant of one million acres (4,000 km²) 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.

Sport in Stroud

Over the years Stroud has had a number of sporting teams. In 2007 the Stroud Raiders a men's Rugby League team reformed. With strong performances through the year the Raiders are the Minor and Major Premiers for 2007. There is also a women's football (soccer) team called the Supercats. Stroud also has a Cricket Team. These teams share the Stroud Showground. Stroud has four tennis courts which are home to the Stroud Tennis Club and a twenty five metre pool which is usually open from October to April.

Events in Stroud

The Stroud Show is usually the first weekend after Easter.

The International Brick and Pin Throwing Contest is usually held on the third Saturday in July
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/21/1026898948284.html
http://www.gloucesteradvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/hundreds-vie-to-be-named-best-brickchucker/1173949.aspx.
This coincides with the same event in three other Strouds:
Oklahoma

Stroud, Oklahoma

Stroud is a city in Creek and Lincoln counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 2,758 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Stroud is located at ....

 http://www.cityofstroud.com/Quick/history.shtml, Gloucestershire

Stroud, Gloucestershire

Stroud is a market town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District.Situated below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, the town is noted for its steep streets and cafe culture...

and Ontario

Innisfil, Ontario

Innisfil is a town in Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe in Simcoe County, immediately south of Barrie and 80 kilometres north of Toronto...

.

The Stroud Rodeo which is usually the third weekend in September.

Education in Stroud

Stroud has a Primary school which was established in 1884. It would average 100 students a year.

Railway in the Area

It was not possible for the North Coast railway line

North Coast railway line, New South Wales

The North Coast Line is the primary rail route in the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales, and forms a major part of the Sydney-Brisbane rail corridor....

 to serve Stroud. A railway station was established at Stroud Road

Stroud Road railway station

Stroud Road was originally built on the North Coast railway line to serve the town of Stroud, New South Wales which was some distance away, as this was as near that the railway could get at affordable cost. Stroud Road eventually grew into a small town in its own right....

but this is now closed and the nearest station is at Dungog.