AA Co Traditional Cache
SuperMoosie: Looks like this has gone missing again.
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This Cache is a film canister hidden on a historical structure just a few metres from your car.
I have moved this cache slightly to avoid the muggles and remove it from the weather. On a hot day, go for a swim at the free pool, its where I learnt to swim. There are also picnic tables and BBQ's behind the pool and next to the creek across the road from the cache.
The Australian Agricultural Company (AA Co) had a very significant place in the history of Australia. The AA Co was formed in 1824 at the instigation of the Macarthur's, a prominent family in the early colonial development of Australia. Sensing an opportunity of obtaining cheap land and labour the company aimed at producing fine wool and crops for the English market. A grant of 500 000 acres made to the AA Co between the northern shore of Port Stephens and Taree in 1826. Robert Dawson, the company's first superintendent, so impressed with the area that he decided to establish the township of Stroud as early as November 1826. This became Australia's first company town. Stroud was named after the English town of the same name as the area evoked, for him, the countryside of Gloucestershire. By 1836 Stroud housed most of the AA Co's convict labour force and was functioning as the company's principal storage site and headquarters
A fence one-mile square was build around the township with gates across the road at both ends of town. At the time there was a 10 o' clock curfew due to concerns about Aborigines and convicts. The gate at the northern end of town has recently been rebuilt.
In 1847 ether was used as an anaesthetic for the first time in Australia at the Stroud hospital, which stood opposite St John's Church.
The company did not have a great deal of success in the area so tried various other ventures such as coal mining and silkworm farming. The lack of success of the farmers due to a lack of trace elements in the soil resulted in most of the sheep being moved to Tamworth in 1856. The AA CO still owns large parcels of land in the NT and Northern Queensland and is well known on the stock exchage.
If you attempt this Cache in Mid July you may find it a bit busy as nearby showgrounds holds the annual International Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing Contest together with Stroud namesakes in the UK, the US and Canada. Competitors have to throw the 5lb bricks or 2lb rolling pins as far as they can and the international results are then compiled.
Also of Historical note is Captain Thunderbolt, NSW's last professional Bushranger was married at the local Anglican Church with the local school given time off to watch the wedding. Captain Thunderbolt escaped goal with his wife's help and spent 6 and 1/2 years ranging from southern Queensland to the Hunter Valley, from Stroud, across the Liverpool Plains, west to Bourke and Mudgee and, for the last two years of his career, around Armidale and Uralla
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Zvqqyr bs tngr, ernpu hc haqre wbvag
Treasures
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