C George Leake - Portsmouth

Placename

Portsmouth, England

Type

Other

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Location notes

Selected location near the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, though have not pinpointed the exact dock that the Calista departed from.

Date notes

Biographical information

George Leake was born in 1786 in England, the son of Anne Heading and Luke Leake. In 1813 he married Anne Grouse [6]. She has also been recorded as 'Anna Grownes (Growse)'. [8] They had one daughter, Ann Elizabeth. His wife Anne died in 1815. [1] He went on to marry again later in life, marrying Georgiana Mary Kingsford on 7 October 1840. [8] On 5 March 1829, Leake left for the Swan River colony aboard the Calista. [2]

Links to slavery

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

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Images notes

Link to People Australia entry

https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/leake-george-2343/text3055

References

[1] ADB, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/leake-george-2343 [2] https://passengers.history.sa.gov.au/node/1003600 [3] Jenny Chapman, Perseverando. The Leake family in the political, economic and social life of W.A. 1829-1902 [4] Jane Roberts, Two Years at Sea, London, Richard Bentley, 1834 [5] Ann Elizabeth Leake, Letter, 1830 Jan. 3 [manuscript], State Library of WA, ACC 1099A [6] SLWA 1955A/64 [7] SLWA 1955A/68 [8] The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians, 'George LEAKE' [9] Heritage Council of Western Australia, Register of Heritage Places - Assessment Documentation: Henry Bull's Cottage, 6 February 1998, http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Admin/api/file/05586898-23ec-eee2-5ab1-8f6eddc65c7b [10] http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/22a9fb54-9ea6-4a31-b2c6-ad1058d1a5c9 [11] George Leake at Sea, Journal of Proceedings of the 1831 [12] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/639980?searchTerm=%22bank%20of%20western%20australia%22` [13] Michael J. Bourke, 1987, On the Swan: a History of Swan District, Western Australia, UWAP for the Swan Shire Council

Sources

C George Leake - Walyalup

Placename

Walyalup (Fremantle) / Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River)

Type

Other

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Date notes

Biographical information

Leake arrived on the Calista at Fremantle on 5 August 1829. Two and a half months later his mother, his daughter and his brother Luke arrived on the Atwick.

Links to slavery

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Images notes

Link to People Australia entry

https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/leake-george-2343/text3055

References

Sources

C George Leake - Ellen Brook

Placename

Ellen Brook

Type

Other

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Location notes

We have selected this location as it is the site of Henry Bull's cottage, which sat within Leake's 15,000 acre land grant (see 'Biographical information')

Date notes

We are yet to obtain the original land grant to check the date Leake officially started occupying this land. This date is therefore an estimate.

Biographical information

Leake had considerable wealth - he came to the colony with six servants and property valued at £1,116/10/4, and so was granted nearly 15,000 acres of land. [1] He was later granted 10,000 and 20 acres. [8] A report by the Heritage Council of Western Australia explains that rather than immediately residing and working on his first 15,000 land grant, 'Swan Location 1', Leake instead lived and worked in Fremantle while newfound partner Henry Bull worked on the land: 'In July 1831, he formed a partnership with Henry Bull in which Bull would improve Leake's grant in return for half of it. In this way, Leake could ensure that the necessary improvements were made on the property within the stipulated four year period in order to gain title to the land.' [9, p 4] It was on this land that Bull built what is today known as Henry Bull's cottage. [9] In 1836 Leake and Bull dissolved their partnership, and in 1838 Leake transferred title of half the land (7443 acres) to Bull. Leake kept the southern portion for himself, including the house and the mill. [9]

Links to slavery

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Images notes

Link to People Australia entry

https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/leake-george-2343/text3055

References

Sources

C George Leake - Walyalup

Placename

Walyalup (Fremantle)

Type

Other

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Location notes

We do not know the exact location of Leake's home in Fremantle

Date notes

We do not know the exact date Leake moved to Fremantle, however an early reference is a letter written by his daughter, Ann Elizabeth, detailing the family's Fremantle home. [5]

Biographical information

A report by the Heritage Council of Western Australia states that 'He did not work his [Ellen Brook] grant himself, nor reside on it. A financial return from agricultural production could take several years to achieve, so Leake set himself up in a more profitable business, as a merchant at Fremantle.' [9, p 4] A letter written by his daughter, Ann Elizabeth Leake, to her former governess Miss Sykes on 3 January 1830 from the Swan River reads: 'I think you would laugh to see how we live here in a square place made of rushes which we have dignified with the name of house, but inside we are very comfortable, at least I think so in comparison with some of our neighbours ... There are three towns here, the one in which we live, is called Fremantle, which is composed of houses made of rushes or of wood and there are also a great many tents; it is situated at the sea-shore.' [5] The Leakes' home in Fremantle had many visitors and guests. [3] In Two Years at Sea, Jane Roberts describes the Leakes' home in Fremantle as 'the best in town' [4, p 86]

Links to slavery

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Images notes

Link to People Australia entry

https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/leake-george-2343/text3055

References

Sources

C George Leake - Perth

Placename

Perth

Type

Other

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Location notes

Though Leake would have been in various parts of Perth regularly for different business and roles (see biographical information), we have a specific record of him being present at the Hodges Hotel on 18 May 1837. [12] According to the Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians, the Hodges Hotel was built 'on John Hodges' land Perth Town Lot L7, near Esplanade at foot of William St.' [8, p 1497]

Date notes

On 18 May 1837 Leake was recorded at a meeting of the Provisional Commitee and proprietors of the Bank of Western Australia. [12]

Biographical information

Leake held various roles relating to colonial administration, politics and business. He financed many colonists in the early years during financial struggle. He was one of the founders and original directors of the Bank of Western Australia, established in 1837. In 1839 he was appointed a magistrate of the territory, a chairman of the Perth Town Trust, a commissioner to act as guardian to emigrant minors sent out by the Children's Friend Society, and a member of the Legislative Council (the latter position he held until his death). He was also an early director of the Agricultural Society and chairman of the General Roads Trust. He died on 31 May 1849. [1]

Links to slavery

Attitudes around race

Attitudes around labour

Images

Newspaper notice of Leake's presence at Bank of Western Australia meeting at Hodges Hotel, Perth: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/639980?searchTerm=%22bank%20of%20western%20australia%22

Images notes

Link to People Australia entry

https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/leake-george-2343/text3055

References

Sources