Leeman, Western Australia

Leeman is a small coastal town in the Shire of Coorow in Western Australia.

Leeman
Western Australia
Town jetty and boat ramp, 2013
Leeman
Coordinates29.95°S 114.98°E / -29.95; 114.98
Population352 (2016 census)[1]
Established1961
Postcode(s)6514
Elevation7 m (23 ft)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Coorow
State electorate(s)Moore
Federal Division(s)Durack

Land was first surveyed and sub-divided in 1961 and the townsite was gazetted in 1961 as Snag Island, a name that is still in common use. Snag Island is a rocky island a small distance off-shore from the town.

The town was named after Abraham Leeman van Santwits,[2] a Dutch sailor. He was second officer on the Dutch East India Company ship Vergulde Draeck (Gilt Dragon) which was wrecked in April 1656 just south of Ledge Point, 107 km (66 mi) north of what is now Perth. Leeman was sent with a party of seven by captain Pieter Albertszoon to Batavia (now Jakarta) for help; they arrived there in June 1656.[3] In 1658 Leeman returned as first officer on board Waeckende Boei in search of the wreckage. He was in charge of the shore party that was abandoned when a storm blew in. Leeman and his crew then took a six-month open boat voyage to Batavia via Java.[4]

In 1971 the Western Australian Education department opened the Leeman Primary School, and the town adopted the new name.[5]

The actress Mandy McElhinney grew up in a caravan park in Leeman.[6]

There is a Leeman Football Club.[7]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Leeman (State Suburb SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  2. Leeman Monument plaque, 31 January 1983, retrieved 25 November 2015
  3. van der Krull, Peter. "Abram Leeman van Sandwick". Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  4. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names – L". Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  5. "Shire of Coorow – Heritage". Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  6. Ambrose, Melenie (8 February 2015). "Mandy McElhinney: from flirty Rhonda to iron-willed Gina Rinehart". Perth Now. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  7. "Leeman Football Club". Our Community Pty Ltd. Retrieved 17 July 2018.


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