Toodyay Gaol Museum

The Old Newcastle Gaol Museum and Police Stables in Clinton street is a fine example of an historic local building being restored and put to useful purpose. Constructed in 1862 this stone and shingle building replaced the original brick prison depot in Fiennes Street. It was first used as a convict hiring depot and later as a police station until the new police station and cell block was built in Duke Street. The building was rented as a dwelling place until 1940, the last occupants being the Dorizzi family.

Form that time it fell into disrepair until, in 1962, the Toodyay Shire Council had the foresight to restore it and convert it to its present use as an historical museum. Although Western Australia was never a penal colony, convicts were brought in to supply labour and from 1850 to 1868 were used extensively on the building of roads, bridges and public buildings. With convicts came the need to provide lock-up facilities and in 1852 a gaol was built in what is now known as West Toodyay, the first inmates being mainly Aboriginals. However, escape seemed to be a simple matter, so after the Convict Hiring Depot was built prisoners were locked up in that building instead.

Today the Old Gaol serves as an interesting folk museum, providing an insight into our colonial past and development and is a popular tourist attraction.