The club pays a “peppercorn” rent to the Shire of Toodyay which owns the land occupied by the club building, bitumen car parks and two bowling greens, one of which is not used or maintained.

The club’s history dates back 117 years to when it started as a ‘gentleman’s club’ in Stirling House, now occupied by the Toodyay Spice and Grill restaurant.

THE TOODYAY CLUB also holds a liquor licence to sell beer, wine and spirits.
Bowlers have a separate 10-year agreement with the Toodyay Club to use the popular green for a $175 monthly fee.

It is understood the in-house agreement is due for renewal next year.
The Toodyay Club was originally established as a ‘Gentlemen’s Club’ in Stirling House – premises now occupied by Toodyay Spice and Grill restaurant in Stirling Terrace – and dates back 117 years.

A dining room at the rear of Stirling House contains eight marble floor inserts to support a full-sized billiard table, which is now located in the Toodyay Club’s games area in Oddfellow Street.

The historic table is thought to be one of only a few left in the Wheatbelt for a sport once popular among local ‘gentlemen’.

The Toodyay Club also has two pool tables, darts, a commercial kitchen and function area with tables and chairs which have been used for fund-raising events such as live music, birthday parties, Friday night dinners, wakes and other social gatherings.

It is understood the club found it had no option but to shut last month because the not-for-profit organisation was no longer able to pay bar staff and continuing debt, including power bills.

Most management committee members quit their elected roles last January, and the club president has also since resigned.

Several are understood to have urged the club to shut earlier this year because debts could not be paid, and “walked away” when others decided to keep it open.

“None of us wanted to see this happen but there was no other choice,” one prominent former committee member said.

“We need to find new ways to reopen the doors and keep going.”

“We also need to ensure our town continues to have a suitable venue for local bowlers and visiting bowling club members who spend their money in our town when they come here for tournaments.”

Saturday’s meeting is open to all Toodyay Club members and supporters.

It will include a call for those present to offer suggestions from the floor about how the club can pay off debt and resume trading.

The council was already operating with only eight members for much of last year because former Cr Bell was absent from most monthly council meetings, all committee meetings and most shire agenda briefings.

The shire received WA Government permission in March to leave his vacant seat empty until the next state-wide local government elections, due in October 2023.

The State Government announced last month that proposed new local government laws would cut shires the size of Toodyay to five, six or seven elected members.

The shire opposed an earlier State plan to reduce shires with less than 5000 electors – Toodyay had 3256 at last year’s elections – to five councillors.

It said five local councillors were too few to ensure adequate representation and efficient council operation.

Cutting the number of councillors from nine to seven would reduce the cost of shire elections and save ratepayers a total of $32,000 a year in sitting fees and allowances.

A shire discussion paper said there was a statewide trend towards smaller councils, particularly in smaller shires “with many finding that fewer elected members has improved their decision-making process”.

Disadvantages might include “a potential for dominance in the council by a particular group or a limited diversity of interests around the council table”.

It might also increase councillor workloads and reduce their effectiveness and efficiency.

The shire has advertised the proposal on Page 15, with public submissions closing on Friday September 30.

The agency says the efficiency of Wheatbelt supply chains are “determined by the performance of the weakest link”.

“Failure to maintain and improve productivity of the secondary freight network will reduce the international competitiveness of the Wheatbelt agricultural sector, which underpins employment and economic activity in the region,” it said.

“Transport links need to be improved if the productivity of this sector is to be supported.”

The shire says it will continue to press the issue with State ministers.