Leeman, Western Australia
| Leeman Western Australia | |
|---|---|
 Town jetty and boat ramp, 2013 | |
  Leeman | |
| Coordinates | 29°57′S 114°59′E / 29.95°S 114.98°ECoordinates: 29°57′S 114°59′E / 29.95°S 114.98°E |
| Population | 356 (2011 census)[1] |
| Established | 1961 |
| Postcode(s) | 6514 |
| Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Shire of Coorow |
| State electorate(s) | Moore |
| Federal Division(s) | Durack |
Leeman is a small coastal town in the Shire of Coorow in Western Australia.
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 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 the Waeckende Boei in search of the wreckage. He was in charge of the shore party which 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]
References
- ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Leeman (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
- ↑ Leeman Monument plaque, 31 January 1983, retrieved 25 November 2015
- ↑ van der Krull, Peter. "Abram Leeman van Sandwick". Retrieved 15 August 2015.
- ↑ Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names – L". Retrieved 20 September 2008.
- ↑ "Shire of Coorow – Heritage". Retrieved 13 July 2008.
- ↑ Ambrose, Melenie (8 February 2015). "Mandy McElhinney: from flirty Rhonda to iron-willed Gina Rinehart". Perth Now. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
External links
Media related to Leeman, Western Australia at Wikimedia Commons- Leeman Primary School