Dig below the surface of the peaceful environs of St. Leonards and you will unearth a plethora of colourful stories of the past.
Dig below the surface of the peaceful environs of St. Leonards and you will unearth a plethora of colourful stories of the past.
The St Leonards Heritage Trail captures some of these tales of the township's history - of the people who shaped it, and of those who have enjoyed its charm, relaxed nature and natural beauty.
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Look at the map to understand where the heritage sites are and where the walk will take you. See link below - 'A History of St Leonards Victoria' by Peter Munster.
The original St Leonards Hotel was built in 1860 by George Ward Cole. The venue quickly became the town's social meeting place, serving local residents and the many visitors who arrived on ..........
St Leonards has long held a reputation of being a choice place for campers and holiday makers. Families from Geelong camping along the foreshore from St Leonards towards Indented Head were .....
Despite losing a leg in a railway accident as a young man, Adolphus achieved fame as an acrobat, aerialist and triple horizontal bar performer. He also managed the Circus and was a skilled ....
The Pier was built in the late 1950s when wharf and steamship owner George Ward Cole seized upon an opportunity to meet a demand for firewood in Melbourne. In the Government Land Sale of 1857 he ....
The children's playground is named in honour of King Dan Dan Nook (Jerry), an Aboriginal boy who grew up to be leader of the Barrabool Tribe a notable athlete and enthusiastic games participant....
Coffee Palaces were an Australian institution that first appeared in the 1880's. Primarily a place that enabled the community and visitors with a place to meet socially without alcohol being served..
The first small store in Murradoc Road (near the site of the Catholic Church) was managed by a Mrs Holden in the late 1920s, however the Santa Maria general store was not established until soon ....
For many years, the arrival and departure from St Leonards has been heralded by the sighting of the town's iconic Cypress Trees. Local residents and visitors alike - and especially children .....
The first enduring Primary School building was established on the current site October 1874 on a half acre block of land donated by St Leonards founder George Ward Cole. The opening of the school ...
The St Leonards community, like so many others, farewelled for the last time many sons who enlisted for service in World War 1. The St Leonards Progress Association honoured those who served by .....
The strength of horses was needed to physically transport the Anglican Church building in 1914, but the faith of the people has been a constant long before and after this event. ....
John Batman, founder of Melbourne, established a temporary encampment here in St Leonards in 1835....and escaped convict William Buckley made contact with the European visitors for the first time.....
Fishing has been a constant in St Leonards from its very beginnings. Generations of local families handed down the skills and knowledge of how to land the 'big catch'. Big catches by local ....
Some of earliest settlers in St Leonards were Chinese immigrants... arriving in 1860s and a number of them began making their living as fishermen.. In 1875 the town reported eight resident...
In many cases, a visit to St Leonards left such a wonderful memory that families purchased their own patch of soil and began a new adventure. Holiday houses really began appearing on the .....