David Gailey (1807–1881) was one of a number of Enrolled Pensioner Guards (EPGs) who came to colonial Western Australia between 1850 and 1868.
The Gaileys, whose family had increased with the birth of two daughters, Anna in 1851 and Ellen in 1856, were allocated one of the first three cottages to be completed.
Canon Raffaele Martelli, who had been appointed in 1855 by Bishop Salvado to look after Toodyay’s Catholic community, occupied one of the cottages for a short time.
When more Pensioner Guard families arrived at the Depot, Martelli had to vacate the cottage and return to the townsite, where he was offered Gailey’s straw hut as temporary quarters.
Martelli kept regular correspondence with Salvado and in one letter he thanks the bishop for sending a jar of butter that he wanted to give to Gailey.
[3][4] Now I find myself, as I mentioned in my other letter to you, living in the straw hut of this excellent man Mr Gailey.
He offered[clarification needed] to take in the Quinlan children, Timothy (born February 1861) and his sister Mary when their mother died while giving birth to twins.