Cricket has been played in Newstead district since the early 1850s Gold Rush brought tens of thousands of people to the area.​

The earliest known games of cricket held in Newstead took place behind the Newstead Hotel on the river flats adjacent to the Loddon River. Matches were played against rival teams from the settlements of Joyces Creek, Strangways, Welshmen's Reef, Green Gully, Green Valley, Tarrengower, Clydesdale, Chewton, Maldon and Castlemaine. Social matches were also played between Married v Singles.