Toodyay  Western Australia

The historically important town of Toodyay, about 85km north-east of Perth, has been classified by the National Trust because of some outstanding old buildings that have been lovingly-restored and maintained. There is just so much to see in and around this town, which enjoys a Mediterranean climate. Make sure you don’t miss the convict-built, stone and shingle Old Newcastle Gaol and museum, the three storey-high O’Connor’s Mill, which was built in 1870 as a steam-driven flour mill, the Old Police Stables opposite the gaol and the numerous colonial era buildings in the main shopping precinct. The scenery is beautiful around here, and so are the wildflowers when they bloom between July and September. First settled in 1831 by a chap named Ensign Dale, Toodyay's name is derived from an Aboriginal word 'duigee' that means 'place of plenty'. In the 1850s, Toodyay was abandoned because of continuous flooding of the Avon River. In 1861, a new town called Newcastle was built 2km further upstream but arguments about the rights of the name shared by one of NSW's largest cities resulted in the new town being rechristened Toodyay in 1911.