 The town of Wasleys is now situated on an area first known as "Ridleyton" which was named after John Ridley, who laid out the village of Ridley in 1873.In 1869, the Peterborough railway line was built through the region and a railway station was erected on the land purchased by Josiah Wasley, one of the first settlers to the area.The township was advertised to attract people seeking good agricultural land as "Ridley Township - Wasleys Station".