Newcastle Gaol and Connors Mill - Toodyay

Historic Toodyay is one of Western Australia’s oldest towns and is located less than an hours drive from Perth. Enjoy learning some fascinating early WA history wandering through town and visiting these beautiful heritage buildings which are now Museums.

Newcastle Gaol Precinct

The Newcastle Gaol Precinct includes Newcastle Gaol, the Police Stables, the 1907 Lock-up and the Wicklow Shearing Shed. After falling into disrepair the gaol buildings were restored and opened as a museum in 1962, with the stables restored in 1975.

The Newcastle lockup was built in 1865, replacing two previous lockups in the area. It was upgraded to Gaol status in 1879 and is one of only five remaining convict built gaols in Western Australia.

You can enter all of the tiny cells, each of which has themed displays reflecting local history including the tale of Moondyne Joe. You get a real feel for the deprivation the prisoners suffered!

Go back over 150 years in time and discover the legend of Moondyne Joe, Western Australia's most famous bush ranger. Toodyay celebrates this legend on the first Sunday in May with a re-enactment of Moondyne Joe’s various escapades, his arrests and mock trials at the Moondyne Festival.

Connor's Mill

Connor's Mill Museum houses historic machinery in working order so you can see and hear the process of turning wheat into flour. Built by Daniel Connor it reflects the importance of agriculture in Toodyay's early history. The Museum also tells the stories of early settler families and life in colonial Toodyay.

Toodyay Living History Walk Trail

You can walk around town to discover many other interesting heritage buildings. The bins have information panels so you can read the history as you go.

Culham Church

Culham Church (1852) is a short drive out of Toodyay on the Bindi-Bindi Toodyay Road and while it is not a Museum it is a gorgeous old building surrounded by historic gravesites and remains an active Anglican Church and cemetery.

Don't forget to call in to the many shops in Toodyay to pick up a special gift or keepsake and enjoy a meal at one of the pubs or at the Historic Cola Cafe (also a Museum packed with Coca Cola memorabilia) or grab a pie and a coffee and some artisan bread from the fabulous Toodyay Bakery.

To read more blogs go to:

https://www.outandaboutfnc.com/blog-1

To read more about Toodyay including Fairytale Farm, Pelham Reserve and Cobbler Pool go to

A Day in the Country - Toodyay: https://www.outandaboutfnc.com/post/2018/06/04/a-day-in-the-country-toodyay

For the Bilya Walk Track along the Avon River in Toodyay: https://www.outandaboutfnc.com/post/bilya-walk-track-toodyay

In the spirit of reconciliation Out and About- Family Nature Connection acknowledges the traditional owners of the Wadjak boodjar (Perth land) and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.