Convict-turned-bushranger Moondyne Joe an unlikely hero celebrated in ToodyayBy Eliza BidstrupABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic:History10m ago10 minutes agoSat 3 May 2025 at 2:15amJoseph Bolitho Johns, nicknamed Moondyne Joe, has become a local hero in the Wheatbelt town of Toodyay. (ABC Education)Convict-turned-bushranger Moondyne Joe celebrated at Toodyay festivalabc.net.au/news/bushranger-moondyne-joe-celebrated-in-toodyay/105229674Link copiedShareShare articleOn the first Sunday of May each year, the streets of a small town in Western Australia's Wheatbelt are transformed into scenes from the 1860s to celebrate an unlikely hero: an escape artist and bushranger nicknamed Moondyne Joe.The legend of Moondyne Joe, born Joseph Bolitho Johns, lives on in Toodyay, 90 kilometres east of Perth, with the annual Moondyne Festival that attracts more than 12,000 visitors. Joe was sent to WA from his home country of England in 1853, as part of the Swan River Colony, after he was convicted of stealing food.He worked on public infrastructure before being given a conditional pardon for good behaviour and settling in the Toodyay district, known as Newcastle at the time, and working as a stockman. The re-enactment of Moondyne Joe's trials and prison sentences are a drawcard for festival visitors. (Supplied: Neville Hoypoy)Serial escapeeIn the 1860s he was jailed at the Newcastle Convict Hiring Depot for illegally branding a brumby. This marks his first-known escape from custody, taking the horse of the local magistrate. He was recaptured days later and sentenced to three years at Fremantle Prison. This was not the last Joe would see of the jail.After being handed a 10-year sentence for killing an ox, he escaped three times in four months.Loading...Upon his recapture, 300 kilometres from Perth, he was housed in an escape-proof cell and told by the governor that if he managed to escape again he would be forgiven for his crimes. As legend has it, Joe chipped his way through the wall of the prison while doing some work outside and was on the run for two years before being caught and serving out the rest of his sentence. The governor told Joe that his promise would not be upheld as Joe did not escape from his cell but from the prison yard.After completing his sentence, Joe lived throughout Western Australia before passing away in 1900 at the age of 71.During Joe's escapades, newspapers at the time dubbed him Moondyne Joe, after the Aboriginal word for the Toodyay region he lived in and often escaped to, Moondyne.A parade of characters fill Toodyay's main street for the festival on the first Sunday of May each year. (Supplied: Neville Hoypoy)Putting Toodyay on the mapIn a bid to boost tourism to the town, organisers of the Moondyne Festival identified Joe as an interesting historical figure with links to the region.During the first event in 1984, the town had 600 visitors.More than four decades on, the event has evolved into a whole community effort to create an immersive experience for visitors. Festival organisers estimate crowds at the event, first held in 1984, have grown to about 12,000 people. (Supplied: Neville Hoypoy)The committee rents out costumes in the month leading up to the festival to encourage locals to get involved and help paint the scene for visitors to town.A festival parade sees characters including "coppers" and orphans walk down Toodyay's streets, while Joe and his gang run around and escape capture.Each year Toodyay locals rent outfits to take part in the festival parade and re-enactments. (Supplied: Neville Hoypoy)On the main stage, re-enactments of Joe's court trials take place, depicting his multiple escapes, recaptures and sentencings.A handful of committee members work nine months of the year to bring the event to life.Moondyne Festival committee chair Neville Hoypoy said they had established a strong following around the state.Neville and Julie Hoypoy dress as the mayor and mayoress of Toodyay for the annual event. (Supplied: Neville Hoypoy)"The community buy-in and commitment to dressing up is what makes the event such an attraction," Mr Hoypoy said. "The whole point was to bring people to the Avon Valley so they could spend money in town and support our local businesses."By the whole town getting on board, everyone is able to benefit from the thousands of people in town."It does certainly give strength and a dynamic to the community, and a reason for being here."Locals dress as characters such as police officers and temperance rioters for the festival. (Supplied: Neville Hoypoy)Anticipation builds each year among locals as to who will be depicting Moondyne Joe at the festival.But Mr Hoypoy said the role was not an easy one. "We had our son take up the role of Joe the first year we got on board because we knew he was fit and up for the challenge," he said."Moondyne Joe can do up to 30 kilometres of travel throughout the day as he runs about town stealing from shops and causing mischief, while being stopped for photos by spectators."It's a full-on day for poor old Joe."An unlikely heroFrom bar staff dressing in their best 1800s attire, to the local bakery's Moondyne Joe pie, the serial escapee has captured the imagination of Toodyay locals.So what is it about this bushranger that resonates with the town's residents? Mr Hoypoy said his admiration for Moondyne Joe came from a historical lens."If nothing else, you can look at the life Joe came to in Toodyay that was hot, dry and [had] long working hours, and appreciate the lives we live now," he said."They pushed through, and why did they push through? Because they thought this is the new land and the new world."ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt — local news in your inboxGet our local newsletter, delivered free each ThursdayYour information is being handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement.Email addressSubscribePosted 10m ago10 minutes agoSat 3 May 2025 at 2:15amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesBudgy smugglers, dogs and last-minute election pitches at the polling boothsLIVEPhoto shows four people in swimming costumes with their back to the camera cast their vote in bondi beachAustralia deserves a politics more courageous than populismLAnalysis by Laura TinglePhoto shows anthony albaneseOver a five-week campaign, the fortunes of Dutton and Albanese were turned on their headsTopic:ElectionsWhat time will a winner be called tonight?Topic:ExplainerPhoto shows Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese smiling on rainbow background.Pro-Russian influence operation targeting Australia in lead-up to electionTopic:Disinformation and MisinformationPhoto shows A man's hand controlling chat robots with strings attached to his fingers, with the Russian flag in the background.Related storiesA policeman identified his killer. 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