Stroud Court House

Stroud Court House Exterior

Founded in 1826 by the Australian Agricultural Company (AAC), Stroud is the nation's oldest surviving 'Company' town. 

A gated community in early times, the beautiful historic town of Stroud still has at its heart four significant buildings erected by the Company to form the towns' educational, social and religious hub.  These buildings remain today as a living, working memorial to the convict and free settlers who built Stroud and helped found corporate agriculture in Australia. These buildings are grouped together on the prestigious Register of the National Estate. Stroud Court House is one of these special buildings.

The first Stroud Court House was constructed on this site in the 1840s. The present, convict built, building was completed in 1876 and remained in regular use until 1974, with the police residence and cells having been removed in the 1930s. The Stroud Court House now serves the district as an historical museum, open by arrangement with the Stroud Historical Society. The courtroom is still intact with its original features and red cedar furnishings and fittings, as well as housing detailed local family history records, photographs and historical material - particularly concerning the unsolved McAskell murders which were investigated here in 1878.

At the back of the court house, there are two sheds which contain many historical relics with examples of old machinery and tools used in bygone days.

Great Lakes Council works in close collaboration with the Stroud Historical Society to preserve and maintain this historic building. 

Location

67 Cowper Street, STROUD 2425  View Map

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