Joseph Bolitho Johns, better known as Moondyne Joe
Beautiful historic Toodyay is situated in the hills one hour’s drive east of Perth and each year on the first Sunday in May, the town is transformed for the Moondyne Festival.
Born Joseph Bolitho Johns, Moondyne Joe was Western Australia’s only bush ranger and was a very colourful character. The story is that he was transported to the colony in 1853 and later granted a conditional pardon.
He lived in the Toodyay area but had ‘trouble’ with the authorities, branding a ‘clean skin’ horse that wandered into what is known as “Joe’s Cage” in the bush. In 1865, a lockup was built in Toodyay (now a ruin in West Toodyay) to keep Moondyne Joe under lock and key. It didn’t work and Joe escaped, taking the local magistrate’s horse and bridle with him. He was free and continued to create mayhem and frustration for the law authorities for a number of years. The locals regarded Joe as something of a hero as he continued to run rings around the establishment and thumb his nose at the ruling class of the day.
A new gaol was built specifically for Joe in Toodyay but he was never incarcerated there. This building was used for many years as a gaol and other purposes in more recent times. It is now a top class museum.
The Governor, frustrated by Moondyne Joe’s apparent ease of escaping at will, ordered a special cell built at the Fremantle Prison to keep him locked up. The Governor was so confident that Joe would finally be confined at last that he make a promise that if Joe should escape from this special cell, he would be allowed to remain a free man. Of course Joe escaped, again, and the Governor was made a laughing stock in the colony.
Toodyay's Moondyne Festival - relive the legend on the first Sunday in May.
The Moondyne Festival brings Joe and his various escapades back to life. Joe and his gang run riot throughout the town of Toodyay holding up anyone they think might have money, or cozying up with the floozies that seem to follow him everywhere. Joe must do battle with those pesky temperance ladies and evade the local constabulary who are intent on catching him and locking him up.
Joe is caught and put on trial but yet again, escapes to create even more chaos.
The day is a wonderful display of life in another time with many locals and stall holders dressing in period costume.
The spectacular 1860 Regiment with their authentic uniforms and old rifles demonstrate how battles were fought 150 years ago.
The swaggies come into town and cook damper and kangaroo stew over a log fire for those who are hungry while the blade shearer shows how it was done in earlier times.
There are vintage cars, bush poets, the moustache and cleavage competitions, face painting, spinning and weaving, glass blowing and a great variety of stalls with delightful wares to tempt you into buying.
The Moondyne Festival is a wonderful day out in Toodyay for the whole family with something for everyone.
