Joe's Cage

Author

Shire of Toodyay

Place Number

24717

Enlarge Map

Show Property Street View

There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

off Sapper Rd Moondyne

Location Details

Avon Valley National Park

Local Government

Toodyay

Region

Avon Arc

Construction Date

Constructed from 1861, Constructed from 1855

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
Heritage List	Adopted	01 Dec 2012

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted		Category 1	Category 1 A place of exceptional cultural heritage significance; provide the highest level of recognition and protection available. Recommended for entry into the the State Register of Heritage Places; provide maximum encouragement to the owner to conserve the significance of the place. (TPS procedure also relevant).

Statement of Significance

The place has historic value as it is associated with Joseph Bolitho Johns (Moondyne Joe)
who was a wellknown bushranger in the district.

Physical Description

Joe's Cage is located within the Avon Valley National Park in a landscape of native vegetation consisting of trees and shrubs. A rough path leads to the site from the access road. The bush timbers which formed the animal enclosures are in poor condition havingt been subject to termite attack and the elements. It is possible to determine the method of construction of the enclosure by the remaining posts with holes cut for the positioning of horizontal timbers. Some former horizontal bars of the structure are still evident leaning into the holes of the timber uprights, others are on the ground. In some cases it is difficult to determine if the timbers on the site are from the former structure or have been introduced to the site at a later date.

History

The cage was one of many constructed between 1855 and 1861 by pardoned convict turned outlaw Joseph Bolitho Johns (1827?‐1900), better known as Moondyne Joe' to capture wild horses and cattle as they came to drink at nearby springs in this remote and rugged valley. These structures originally measured 20m long by 10m wide and were hand built out of local
timber. Joe lived in this valley in between prison terms served mainly for petty theft and escaping legal custody. His determination to be a free spirit and escape from prison earned Joe admiration from early settlers. John Forrest surveyed the site in 1878 during his survey along the Avon Valley from Walyunga to Toodyay.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Low
Authenticity: Low

Condition

Poor

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Present Use	VACANT\UNUSED	Vacant\Unused
Original Use	FARMING\PASTORAL	Stockyard

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Other	TIMBER	Other Timber

Historic Themes

General	Specific
OCCUPATIONS	Grazing, pastoralism & dairying

Creation Date

22 Jan 2013

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

19 Apr 2021

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.