Toodyay

Toodyay is a historic town in the Shire of Toodyay in Western Australia's Avon Valley, about 85 kilometres northeast of Perth on the Avon River. Established in 1836 as Newcastle, it is one of the state's oldest inland settlements. Notable for its well-preserved colonial and Federation-era buildings, heritage museums, and scenic river and bushland setting, it serves as a popular day-trip destination for heritage, nature and cultural tourism.

Visitors can expect a compact historic town centre along Stirling Terrace with restored 19th and early 20th-century buildings, museums, galleries, cafes and shops. The Avon River runs through town with parklands and picnic areas. Surrounding bushland and reserves offer walking trails and viewpoints. Key sites such as the Newcastle Gaol Museum, Connor's Mill Museum and heritage walking trails can be explored on foot, with interpretive signage explaining the town's colonial history and natural environment.

Toodyay, originally named Newcastle, was established in 1836 as one of the earliest inland settlements in Western Australia. The first townsite was flood-prone and was moved to its present location in the 1860s. It served as a convict hiring depot in the 1850s, with the Newcastle Gaol (1864) and Connor's Mill (1870) reflecting its colonial and agricultural development. Many buildings from the convict and Federation periods remain and are state heritage-listed.

The area is on Ballardong Noongar country and retains cultural significance for Aboriginal heritage. The town showcases Western Australian colonial architecture and rural heritage, with museums, heritage trails and community events that interpret early settlement, agriculture and milling history. It is a key heritage destination within the Avon Valley.