West Toodyay facts for kids
West Toodyay (previously known as Toodyay; colloquially known as Old Toodyay) was the original location of the town of Toodyay, Western Australia. It is situated in the Toodyay valley, 85 kilometres (53 mi) north east of Perth. The Toodyay valley, discovered by Ensign Robert Dale in 1831, was opened up for settlement in 1836. The original site for the town of Toodyay was determined in 1836 and its boundaries were finalized 1838. The first survey of the town was carried out in 1849. After several serious floods, the decision was made to move the town of Toodyay to higher ground. In 1860, the new town of Newcastle was established 3 miles (4.8 km) further upstream. Newcastle was renamed in 1910 to Toodyay, and the original site became known as West Toodyay.
Old Toodyay
The town of Toodyay was established on the bank of the Avon River where the valley gave way to gentle slopes of fertile soils with hills on all sides. The main street was South Terrace, which was aligned to the river's course and was crossed by six streets. A second road paralleled South Terrace rising on to the ridge behind the town. The town had a number of home, stores, a school, a hall and two churches. The town also had three inns: The Queen's Head, The Royal Oak and The Highland Laddie. Flooding in 1862 washed away all trace of The Highland Laddie.
The Royal Oak was one of three inns in the town of Toodyay; it was the centre of social activity for the town. The Northam, Toodyay, and Victoria Plains Agricultural Society, later to be known as the Toodyay Agricultural Society, held it first meetings at The Royal Oak. During October the Society held its annual dinner, which was attended by the Governor of Western Australia, who would also attend the Toodyay Agricultural Show and tour the region.
In 1851 a convict establishment was set up to the east of the town. Following severe flooding in 1857 and 1859, a new town was established in 1860 near the convict settlement; it was named Newcastle, after the Duke of Newcastle.
West Toodyay
On 6 May 1910, it was declared that the town of Newcastle would henceforth be known as Toodyay, and the old town of Toodyay would henceforth be known as West Toodyay.
In 1920 the West Toodyay school was closed and its 24 students were transferred to the Toodyay school as part of the "consolidated schools" plan, an experiment based on practices in the US and Canada where larger schools were considered more advantageous to children's education. In 1928 the West Toodyay school building was sold by tender and removed.
