The Queen's Head, Toodyay

The Queen's Head was a hotel in West Toodyay in Western Australia in the latter half of the 19th century.

A shrewd businessman, he had placed his hotel within easy reach of the Enrolled Pensioner Guard Barracks, which, for the time being, continued to be maintained at the original site of the Toodyay Convict Depot.

He had left his wife and three children behind in England, only one of whom, George, ventured to join him in Western Australia.

Toodyay resident magistrate, Joseph Harris, was of the opinion that two public houses were sufficient.

[2]: 135–136 In November 1856, Governor Kennedy gave the order to close the Toodyay Convict Hiring Depot, which had been relocated three miles upstream.

The corps of Enrolled Pensioner Guards was no longer required and the Government therefore chose to put it up for sale.

[2]: 158 In November 1858, on the day after the Toodyay Show, Everett hosted an elaborate tea party.

In 1860, after the demise of the Royal Oak and the closure of the Highland Laddie, all the social events of the Agricultural Society were held at the Queen's Head.

In 1861, he was denied the renewal of his publican's license due to the fact that there was no longer a police presence in the old township of Toodyay.

The police had been transferred to the newly established township of Newcastle and it was considered unwise to operate a hotel under such circumstances.

[2]: 159, 161–162 For a number of years, Everett continued operating his former hotel as a shop offering a wide range of goods.

He acquired further land grants and pastoral leases and soon derived added income as a farmer and stockowner of cattle, horses, bullocks and a few sheep.

Moondyne Joe was most irate when he discovered that his horse traps, from which he derived a living, now stood on privately held land.

Two weeks later, Moondyne Joe was recaptured and sent directly to Fremantle Gaol, where a specially prepared and secure cell awaited him.

The Queen's Head was now a long narrow structure containing about twelve rooms[5] and many an occasion was celebrated under its roof.

[7] This article incorporates text by Alison Cromb available under the CC BY SA 2.5 AU licence.