Toodyay, Western Australia

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Toodyay, Western Australia
Surname/tag: Western_Australia

History of : Toodyay : Latitude 31° 33' S Longitude 116° 28' E

The townsite of Toodyay is located on the Avon River in the central agricultural region, 86 km north east of Perth and 26 km north west of Northam. It is one of the earliest inland towns in the state, and was surveyed in 1833 following the settlement of the Avon region.
However, the townsite's location on the Avon was subject to flooding, and in 1860 an alternative site about 5 km higher up the Avon was gazetted as a townsite and named Newcastle (probably named after the Duke of Newcastle, Secretary of State 1853).
The focus of development in the area then became Newcastle.

In 1909 the Prime Minister wrote to the state government requesting consideration be given to changing the name of Newcastle because of duplication with Newcastle in New South Wales. The Prime Minister suggested the name Toodyay be considered. The Newcastle Municipality at first opposed the change, but following a referendum of residents the name change to Toodyay was supported. The change was gazetted in May 1910, and at the same time the Toodyay townsite was renamed West Toodyay. Toodyay is an Aboriginal name of uncertain meaning. In 1836 the name was referred to as "Duidgee", and some references refer to it as possibly named after the Aboriginal Toodyeep who was the wife of the Coondebung who accompanied Moore & Dale in exploring the area in 1831.

Another origin for Duidgee is that Duidgee most likely mimics a birdcall whose song once reflected the rich seasonal habitat of the bulrush-fringed pools and creek-lines of the Toodyay Valley. Next time you walk along the river or creek after the first rains of autumn and you see the acrobatic and energetic movements of the Restless Flycatcher as it hawks its insect prey, keep your ears open and you might hear the familiar sound of duigee-duigee, especially towards sundown'. The complete article can be found at here.

Was once Named : Newcastle, Western Australia | | and some there : http://members.iinet.net.au/~nbradley/Martin-o/pd31.htm#i4041 | and
Toodyay : http://members.iinet.net.au/~nbradley/Martin-o/pd41.htm#i4197 |

St Stephen's Anglican Church on Stirling Terrace, Toodyay, Western Australia, was one of the earliest significant public buildings constructed in the town then named Newcastle.. . . . more . . Wikipedia® (It has memorials inside for First and Second War Remembrance.)