The local government area now known as the Shire of Toodyay was originally established on 24 January 1871 as one of the initial road districts under the District Road Boards Act 1871, with a chairman and councillors. In 1877, the Municipality of Newcastle followed. The latter was abolished and merged back into the road district on 27 February 1912. With the passage of the Local Government Act 1960, all road districts became shires with a president and councillors effective 1 July 1961.

History From the establishment of a convict depot in Toodyay, construction and maintenance of roads along with other public works fell under the responsibility of Superintendent of Convicts. When convicts ceased being transported to Western Australia the convict depots closed, and in 1869 a Toodyay Road Committee was established. The committee was elected to enable continuation of works after the convict parties were withdrawn. The first chairman was James Drummond Jnr, other members elected were Samuel Phillips, Francis Whitfield Jnr, Charles Dempster, Frederick Roe, Lionel Lukin, John Monger Jnr, Abraham Morgan and Ewan Mackintosh. Arthur Edwardes Growse was elected to the committee in 1870, taking over as chairman; funding for the committee activities was through a government grant.

Mayors of the Municipality of Newcastle

Mayor Term Charles Samuel Monger 1877–1878, 1884–1886 William George Leeder 1878–1881, 1882–1883, 1886–1888,1889–1890, 1891–1892,1893–1895, 1896–1897,1898–1899 Thomas Donegan 1881–1882 William James Stewart 1888–1889, 1890–1891,1892–1893 Joseph Ablett Wroth 1895–1896 Edward Holiday 1897–1898 Bernard Maurice Connor 1899–1903 Henry Davey 1903–1905 Frederick Treadgold 1905–1906 Abraham Myers 1906–1909 Jonathan Somers 1909–1912

Originally the position was Chairman until June 1887 when it was changed to Mayor. Leeder's term concluded on 19 November 1883, but no election to replace him was held until 19 March 1884. Name changed May 1910 along with the town to become the Toodyay Municipal council.

Chairmen of the Toodyay Road Board

The first election was held at the Newcastle Court House on 15 February 1871 for seven members. The resident magistrate (W. J. Clifton) presided, and Arthur Edwardes Growse was elected as the district's first chairman. Most elections from 1872 until the beginning of the 20th century were held on the third Friday in December in accordance with section 9 of the District Roads Act 1871. Later acts changed this to the third Thursday in March (Roads Act 1902) and the second Saturday in April (Road Districts Act 1919). Until 1919, chairmen were directly elected by ratepayers; after this, they were elected at the first meeting following an election by a majority of councillors.

Chairman Term Arthur Edwardes Growse 1871–1872 James Drummond 1872–1873 Samuel Pole Phillips 1873–1878, 1880–1883 Daniel Connor 1878–1880; 1883–1895 John Hugh Phillips 1896–1900 Barnard Drummond Clarkson 1901–1904 Bernard Maurice O'Connor 1904–1905 Obadiah Bull 1905–1906 Vernon Hamersley 1906–1907 Alfred Napoleon Piesse 1907–1912 Charles James Cook 1912–1921 Jonathon Somers 1921–1928 Edmund Glover Hasson 1928, 1930–1931 Ignatius Boyle 1928–1930 James Pollitt 1931–1938 John Cunliffe Phillips 1938–1943 Horace Charles Wood 1943–1953 Edward Davy 1953–1960 Dallas Edward Ludemann 1960–1961

Growse formally resigned in April 1871, but continued in office as no replacement could be found before January 1872 election. Drummond died in office on 8 February 1873. Phillips was elected chairman at a meeting on 27 February. Somers died in office on 5 January 1928. Hasson completed the term of office, which concluded at 14 April 1928 election. Pollitt resigned shortly before his death on 18 September 1938. Phillips (the son of John Hugh Phillips and the grandson of Samuel Pole Phillips) was elected chairman at a meeting on 17 September. Phillips died in office on 18 May 1943, aged 58. Wood was defeated in his West Ward seat at 18 April 1953 election.

Presidents of the Shire of Toodyay

President Term Dallas Ludemann 1960–1969 Joseph Charles (Mac) Wroth 1969–1971 Ian Murray 1971–1982 Geoff Ludemann 1982–1988 Bob Somers 1988–1994 Geoff Ludemann 1994–1995 Leslie Hoft 1995–1996 Adrian Bolton 1997–2001 Allan Henshaw 2001–2005 Charlie Wroth 2005–2009 Chris Firns 2009–2010 Kevin Hogg 2010-2013 David Dow 2013–2017 Brian Rayner 2017–2019 Bill Manning 2019-2020 Rosemary Madacsi 2020-2023 Michael McKeown 2023-

Firns resigned as shire president on 11 August 2010. Hogg was elected by councillors at a meeting on 19 August.

References