The Moondyne Polo Club is a Western Australian club and was formed in July 1996. Moondyne is located in the hills about an hour drive north of Perth. The name came from the outlaw Moondyne Joe (Joseph Bolitho Johns – Born 1831- Deceased 1900) who roamed the hills stealing horses. Moondyne Joe had been convicted for minor crimes when at 23 years of age he landed in W.A. from the United Kingdom on the convict transport ship “Pyrenees”. He received release less than two years later. Moondyne Joe was not known for blazing gunfights or robbing banks. It was the convict bushranger’s amazing ability to escape every time he was placed behind bars that won him fame and the affection of the early settlers.
Wearing a kangaroo-skin cape and possum-skin slippers, he roamed the wooded valleys and winding creeks at Moondyne Hills. But when he was arrested and charged in 1861 with stealing a farmer’s prize stallion, the colonial establishment was soon to find out that there wasn’t a gaol that could hold Joe! He had escaped from custody so often that in 1871 Governor Hampton promised Moondyne Joe freedom if he could escape from the special cell for absconders.
His legendary escapades lead to the creation of “The Ballad of Moondyne Joe” which follows : In the Darling Ranges, many years ago,
There lived a daring outlaw, by the name of Moondyne Joe.
He stole the squatter’s horses, and a sheep or two or three,
He loved to roam the countryside, and swore he would be free.
The troopers said we’ll catch him, but we know it’s all in vain, Every time we lock him up he breaks right out again.
Cause in he goes, and out he goes, and off again he’ll go,
There’s not a gaol in W.A. can keep in Moondyne Joe. He rode an unmarked horse to York, they gaoled him once again;
He said ‘I didn’t brand him, “cause he couldn’t stand the pain.”
From Toodyay to Fremantle his fame grew far and wide,
The Commissioner said “We’d spoil him if he’d only stay inside.”
The Governor called the gaolers and said “Goodness gracious me,
The next time Moondyne Joe escapes I’m going to turn him free.
Cause in he goes and out he goes and off again he’ll go,
There’s not a gaol in W.A. can keep in Moondyne Joe,
There’s not a gaol in W.A. can keep in Moondyne Joe.”
The “Ballad of Moondyne Joe” was written by Bryan Lynch.
Moondyne consist of five teams, these teams can play anywhere from A grade to C grade. We have junior and adult members in our club. The club plays the full season from October to April here in W.A. and from time to time we travel east as well as overseas.
Moondyne was the first and only club in W.A. to host international 15 goal tournaments. These tournaments were held in 1997, 1998 and 1999. We had several players from overseas and interstate attend. We also host around six tournaments a polo season at our own grounds located in the Moondyne Hills. The Moondyne polo field is considered one of the best fields to play on in the state.
Our club has the privilege of individual sponsors for each team. The team colors and their sponsors are as follows; 
The Moondyne Polo Club is sponsored by, The Claude Group, Griffin Coal, Devereaux Holdings, Instant Access, the Access Specialists, (Instant Access is represented by Geebung Polo Team) Carpenter Agriculture and W.R. Carpenter Land Holdings.
The Charles Cup, Gooch Cup, W.A. Open, and the Mercedes Benz are just a few of the prestigious trophies that Moondyne has won several times over the years here in W.A.
Geebung Polo Team, which is affiliated to the Moondyne Polo Club, has successfully played in England winning many tournaments including the Gold Cup, Queens Cup, Prince Of Wales Cup, Royal Windsor Cup and The Archie David Cup. Geebung has also competed in Spain and it’s successes there include the Gold Cup, Silver Cup and Bronze Cup.
 In all Moondyne is a family orientated club and is here to help support and promote the polo in W.A. Polo in W.A. is played every weekend from the beginning of November to the middle of April. You don’t even have to own a horse to play. You can just hire horses for the weekend. They will be delivered, saddled, unsaddled and taken home again. There are places that will hire you horses and give you lessons.
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