Before I commence today’s blog – I have identified this beautiful insect as the Green Clerid Beetle (Eleale aulicodes) – a real gem of the kwongan heath. Thanks to GJ for the messages and interest.

Toodyay’s historic main street – Stirling Terrace has many fine old buildings. Toodyay is derived from the Noongar work ‘Duidgee’ which means ‘place of mist’.

In the morning, we visited Wongamine Reserve, the local Toodyay wildflower hotspot.

Blue Leschenaultia

Hakea

Isopogon

Donkey orchids

Jug orchid

Dianella

Daisy

Just out of Toodyay is an area on Wicklow Road. This area is possibly the Wicklow Hills area where family ancestors the Hannetts lived on their farm “Rockvale” in the 1850s and 1860s.

The farm name “Rockvale” seems appropriate.

Drummond Rose Hedge. These were planted in 1860 by an early settler and survive to this day.

Why are roses so popular? It just makes scents.

Hannett family history – St Phillips Anglican Church at Culham north of Toodyay. Our family ancestors William and Ann Hannett are buried here in unmarked graves. The original wooden crosses were decaying and were stored in the church for a time but have since rotted away. The church was built in 1850.

Historic buildings in Toodyay – Connors Mill 1870

Newcastle Jail in Toodyay – Toodyay was known as Newcastle between 1860 and 1910.

Toodyay Old Courthouse

Avon Valley National Park is west of Toodyay towards Perth.

We did a short walk and found these wildflowers – wattle above.

Banksia (one of the species formerly known as Dryandra)

Banksia seed capsules

Orchid

Grevillea

Noble Falls on the Perth – Toodyay Road flows over granite

We arrive in Perth after sunset staying at Northbridge adjacent to the CBD.