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.
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 The committee was elected to enable continuation of works after the convict parties were withdrawn.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.[1] Arthur Edwardes Growse was elected to the committee in 1870, taking over as chairman; funding for the committee activities was through a government grant.[2]
| Mayor | Term | |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Samuel Monger | 1877–1878, 1884–1886 | |
| 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 | |
| 1909–1912 |
Originally the position was Chairman until June 1887 when it was changed to Mayor.[3]
Leeder's term concluded on 19 November 1883, but no election to replace him was held until 19 March 1884.[4]
Name changed May 1910 along with the town to become the Toodyay Municipal council.
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.[5] 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1871–1872 | ||
| 1872–1873 | ||
| 1873–1878, 1880–1883 | ||
| 1878–1880; 1883–1895 | ||
| John Hugh Phillips | 1896–1900 | |
| 1901–1904 | ||
| Bernard Maurice O'Connor | 1904–1905 | |
| Obadiah Bull | 1905–1906 | |
| 1906–1907 | ||
| 1907–1912 | ||
| Charles James Cook | 1912–1921 | |
| Jonathon Somers | 1921–1928 | |
| Edmund Glover Hasson | 1928, 1930–1931 | |
| 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.
| 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- |
Firns resigned as shire president on 11 August 2010. Hogg was elected by councillors at a meeting on 19 August.[6]