Origin of the name Toodyay The meaning of the name is uncertain, although it is probably
indigenous Noongar in origin. In an 1834 reference it is transcribed as while maps in 1836 referred to
Duidgee The
Shire of Toodyay's official website says that; This meaning appears to be a long-standing belief in the local community, but may be based on an interpretation of an explanation by an Aboriginal guide about the value of the location rather than the literal meaning of the word. An alternative meaning was ascribed by a research project headed by
Leonard Collard which provides the meaning as "today it is misty and foggy". Yet another version was more recently postulated by local anthropologists Ken Macintyre and Barb Dobson, who provide a very erudite analysis which says that the name most likely mimics a birdcall, possibly the
restless flycatcher or one of that family. The Avon River at Toodyay was a key site for food supply for the Ballardong, as was revealed to botanist and new landholder
James Drummond as soon as he arrived in the area. The site was also located along the route taken by the river serpent, the
Wagyl, in his seasonal underground travels between the spring at Bolgart and Burlong Pool. leading to further exploration by settlers including James Drummond, Francis Whitfield and Alexander Anderson. The first village of Toodyay was established in 1836, one of the earliest inland settlements in Western Australia. Drummond established his homestead
Hawthornden a few kilometres to the north.
Newcastle, 1860–1910 The original townsite was subject to flooding, which led to its abandonment in the 1850s, and a new townsite was established on higher ground upstream. This was proclaimed by Governor
Arthur Kennedy on 1 October 1860 as
Newcastle and the original settlement came to be referred to as
Old Toodyay. The Newcastle Gaol, in Clinton Street, completed in 1864, was in use as a state prison until 1909. It is now preserved as a heritage building and tourist attraction, the
Old Gaol Museum. In 1870, a steam-driven flour mill,
Connor's Mill, was built on
Stirling Terrace by George Hasell. The mill was also used to generate electricity in the early twentieth century. Saved from demolition in the 1970s, and restored to demonstrate the milling process and machinery, the mill now forms the museum section of the Toodyay Visitor Centre.
Toodyay since 1910 In May 1910, due to confusion with the
New South Wales city of
Newcastle, a name-change to
Toodyay was proposed Some of the buildings are also listed on the
Australian Heritage Database. They include the
Freemasons Hotel, the
Victoria Hotel, and
Urwin's Store on Stirling Terrace, and
Butterly's Cottage on Harper Road. The current
Toodyay District High School was established in 1954, replacing an
older building constructed in 1886. In 1986 the town was the location used to film the movie
Shame. ==Notable people==