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Monday 10am - 3pm Tuesday 10am - 3pm Wednesday 10am - 3pm Thursday 10am - 3pm Friday 10am - 3pm Saturday 10am - 3am Sunday 10am - 3pm

Newcastle Gaol Museum

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Newcastle Gaol Museum

Step back in time and into Toodyay's past at the Newcastle Gaol Museum precinct. Convict labour was used to construct this historic building in the 1860's.

Step back into the era of Moondyne Joe, Western Australia's most infamous bushranger. Spending less than an hour here in Toodyay can transport you back one hundred and fifty years! The old Gaol is a sturdy stone and mortar structure built to retain and deter the repeated escapes by slippery characters such as Moondyne Joe (Joseph Bolitho Johns). Enjoy the authentic surroundings and original artefa

cts. Have fun exploring the tiny cells. Wander through the old Police stables. Retrace Toodyay's colourful history.. will you discover some secrets?

07/09/2026

Spotted at Connor's Mill recently.

Hi to Sharron and Graeme, visiting from Perth. 🖐️

09/07/2026

One of our regular bus tours from Mercy Care, Belmont recently enjoyed exploring the Newcastle Gaol Museum.

Ramps in the gaol courtyard helped with access for those with limited mobility.

06/07/2026

In 2023 the Noongar Kaartdijin Aboriginal Corporation and the Shire of Toodyay were joint winners of an indigenous project category at the Museum and Galleries National Awards. The aim of the project was to incorporate Aboriginal history and perspectives into the Shire's museums.

The truth telling aspect of the collaboration can be found in one of the cells at the Newcastle Gaol Museum.

22/06/2026

Local Volunteers Help Recover Hidden History

In 1999, a well was uncovered next to the Police Stables opposite the Newcastle Gaol Museum when earthworks were underway for the re-siting of the Wicklow Shearing Shed.

Approximately 107 bottles were recovered by community members at the time. Some of them are the subject of our new display in the stables.

Photo caption: Digging out the Police Stables well are believed to be Kevin, Bruce & Vaughan Smith

16/06/2026

🚂 Toodyay Railway Staff 🚂

During the mid-20th Century around 1,200 people worked for the railways across the entire Northam-Toodyay-Avon district.

Who were they? In our new Railways exhibition at the Newcastle Gaol, we have dates and information about nearly 300 railway staff working in the Toodyay district and environs from the 1890s through to the 1980s.

*Thanks* Beth Frayne for sharing your research!

photo: Toodyay District Railway Cricket Team 1935:
Back row L-R: Joe Purser, Les Thompson, George Brown, Harry Cooper, Bill Stewart, Wesley James, umpire Bill Meredith. Front row L-R: Joe Bates, Ray Taylor, Sandy Allardice, Laurie Wilkie, Dudley Davies. (Possibly Ted Parker taking the photo)

21/04/2026

𝙏𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙮𝙖𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨: 𝘼 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨

This striking photo, taken in 1934, captures a vanished piece of Toodyay. Looking down what was then Clinton Street (now Piesse Street), we see the aftermath of the Avon River breaking its banks, with river rocks scattered across the road and rail lines.

You can spot several local landmarks: the edge of Connor’s Mill on the left, St Stephen’s Church in the distance, and the Freemasons’ Hotel (now Toodyay Hotel) stables to the right.

This rail crossing was closed in 1966 when the Standard Gauge line opened, but it remains a site of deep significance for our community. It was here, just three years prior to this photo, that a tragic collision between a school bus and a train claimed the lives of five local children. A powerful reminder of how much our landscape, and our safety, has evolved.

🚂 For more information on the exhibition launch, please visit the link below
https://australianheritagefestival.org.au/event/34606110-a/toodyay-railways-a-tale-of-two-lines?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ4ULdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFyeFZEazBDOU9NYm52alVXc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNTE0NzcxNTY5MjI4MDYxAAEe8MHMyAsByiN1TAiptCuxq_LA2Fjb7F63PgzcgBBP9ljl0kLrRlkSYvC-hg8_aem_OiEKWn_9tg8YEJwPOkD-XA

15/04/2026

𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙤, from 11-13th April 1986, a horse-drawn vehicle trek from 𝙂𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙 to 𝙏𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙮𝙖𝙮 was undertaken to commemorate 150 years of 𝙀𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 in the Toodyay district. Wheelbarrow pushers also took part. Participants camped by the roadside for two nights. 🐴 ⛺️

Held in the museum collection is a booklet and journal completed by Pam Masters, and photos from the event.

14/04/2026

𝙏𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙮𝙖𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨: 𝘼 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨

Join us for the official launch of our newest exhibition at the Newcastle Gaol Museum! As part of the National Trust Heritage Festival, we are diving deep into the history of the railway lines that have shaped Toodyay since 1887.

This exhibition is proudly presented in partnership with the Toodyay Historical Society.

For more information, contact Toodyay Museums at (08) 9574 9380, email [email protected] or visit the link below
https://australianheritagefestival.org.au/event/34606110-a/toodyay-railways-a-tale-of-two-lines

11/04/2026

𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩, 𝘽𝙮𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙣𝙚: 𝙏𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙮𝙖𝙮'𝙨 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙠

With Transwa fares to Toodyay now at half price, there has never been a better time for an autumn getaway! Join us for a free 45-minute guided walk to discover how the arrival of the Standard Gauge railway transformed our town 60 years ago.

Fitting perfectly between the arrival and departure of the MerredinLink service from East Perth, enjoy the perks of a complimentary morning tea and entry to the new “A Tale of Two Lines” Exhibition.

This walk is proudly presented in partnership with the Toodyay Historical Society.

For more information, contact Toodyay Museums at (08) 9574 9380, email [email protected] or visit the link below
https://australianheritagefestival.org.au/event/34556734-a/built-bypassed-and-gone-toodyays-railway-walk

07/04/2026

𝙏𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙮𝙖𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨: 𝘼 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨

Did you know that in 1981, one of the largest passenger trains in our history visited Toodyay?

Over 800 passengers came to Toodyay on the Sunday Times Blanket Appeal Train! During their 3-hour visit, the crowd enjoyed a picnic lunch and explored various town attractions such as the Moondyne Joe display at Connor’s Mill.

🚂 For more information on the exhibition launch, please visit the link below
https://australianheritagefestival.org.au/event/34606110-a/toodyay-railways-a-tale-of-two-lines

Address

13 Clinton Street
Toodyay, WA
6566

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 3pm
Tuesday	10am - 3pm
Wednesday	10am - 3pm
Thursday	10am - 3pm
Friday	10am - 3pm
Saturday	10am - 3am
Sunday	10am - 3pm

Telephone

+61895742435

Website

http://www.toodyay.com/

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