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LEAKE
May 31, 1849
George Leake, M.C.F.R.C.S., was born in 1786 and died about 5.10am on Thursday, May 31, 1849. Although the 63-year-old had been unwell for two or three weeks, alarming symptons only began to appear on Wednesday, May 23, after he had returned from an evening ride and felt so weak that he had to retire to bed straight away. From then on, he lay in an intermittently lethargic state until the night before he died, when he seemed much better and conversed cheerfully on and off until about 5.10am, when he fell asleep for the last time.
At the Governor's direction, the Colonial Secretary announced George Leake's death in the Government Gazette and invited all Government officers to attend the funeral which took place at 10am on Saturday June 2. Apart from the Governor and his officials, about 150 settlers and townsmen followed the remains to the Church of England cemetery at East Perth.
George was the son of Luke Leake and Anne (nee Heading). Luke Leake was his brother. He arrived in the colony aboard the Calista on August 5, 1829. His first wife, Anna Grownes (Growse), died in 1815, possibly after childbirth. On October 7, 1840, George married his second wife, Georgiana Mary Kingsford.
His daughter, Ann Elizabeth Leake, who was born in 1815, joined her father when she arrived aboard the Atwick on October 19,1829. She married Richard McBryde Broun in 1837.
Apart from describing him as an 'old and respected member of our community', the Colonial Secretary said George Leake had been a Member of the Legislative Council for many years, and had been 'distinguished by talent and the most unswerving fidelity to his trust'. Expanding on that theme, the Perth Gazette added that even though 'he may at times have thought it his duty to oppose the measures of the authorities in the Legislative Council', he always did it 'with courtesy, and from a high sense of the important nature of the trust confided to him'.
George Leake not only served as a Member of the Legislative Council from 1839 his death in 1849; but was also a Director of the WA Bank in 1837, and among other things, served as the Chairman of the Perth Town Trust.
He was initially granted 15,000 acres of land and later acquired additional parcels of
10,000 acres and 20 acres. Although he was described as a Merchant of Perth, he also acted as a
financier for many settlers in the Swan River Colony.
| Leake 1836-1888: Site 2.7m x 1.83m, eight interments. Two monuments A & B. Condition good. A. (North): Black slate slab cracked across. Inscribed lettering. B (South): Concrete slab with two white marble slabs. Top (West): Ornamental IHS design. |  |
Surround: Iron paling (spiked) fence on concrete kerbing.
[East Perth Cemetery: Resting Place of Western Australian Pioneers,
J.Richardson & D.Davies, 1986, vol.3, p.119]
| B (South): Sacred to the memory of George Leake M.C.F.R.C.S. Died 31st May 1849 aged 63 years. |  |
B (South): IHS, In the vault under this tomb, the body of John Arthur Leake awaits the resurrection to eternal life, Born 25 July 1858, Died 13 October 1864
"Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die."
A (North): Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Anne Leake, who died at Perth 1st Octr. 1836, in her 79th year.
Also to the memory of Luke, eldest son of the above who died on the 11th of July 1838 aged 56 years.
Also Mary Ann widow of the above Luke who died 14th May 1872 aged 71 years and their second son John Thomas who died in California 25 October 1850 aged 23 years.
Also George Walpole Leake, O.C. son of the above, Born 3rd December 1825, died 3rd October 1895, in his 70th year.
Also Rose Ellen, his wife, died 21st February 1888 aged 65 years.
Death of George Leake, Esq. M.C. It is our painful duty this week
to record the death, yesterday morning shortly after 5 o'clock of this
universally respected gentleman. Mr. Leake had been unwell for the last two
or three weeks, but no very alarming symptons were noticed until the evening
of last Wednesday week, when on returning from riding out, he felt so very
weak as to be obliged to retire at once, and from that time until Wednesday,
he laid, with intermissions, in a lethargic state, but on that evening he
appeared much better and conversed cheerfully at times until about ten
minutes past five yesterday morning, when he fell into a slumber from which
he did not awake. It is needless for us to enlarge on the great loss our
community has sustained by this melancholy event, which has deprived the
colony of the services of one of the most faithful supporters of its
interests, whether as a member of the Legislative Council, or as merely a
private settler.
His Excellency the Governor has directed the following circular to be
addressed to the respective Officers of the Government:-
Colonial Secretary's Office, Perth, May 31, 1849.
Sir,--It is with the deepest regret that His Excellency has directed me
to announce to you the decease of George Leake, Esq., an old and
respected member of our community, and for many years a Member of the
Legislative Council, in which he was alike distinguished by talent and the
most unswerving fidelity to his trust.
His Excellency feels assured that in inviting the officers of his
Government to join him in accompanying the remains of the departed to his
grave, he is but anticipating their wish to be permitted to pay this last
tribute of respect in common with all, to the memory of one so universally
respected. The Funeral will take place on Saturday morning, at 10 o'clock.
[Perth Gazette & Independent Journal of Politics & News, [Perth Gazette & Independent Journal of Politics & News, LEAKE, George, b. 1786, d. 29.5.1849 [sic], son of Luke Leake & Anne (nee
Heading) & brother of Luke, arr. 5.8.1829 per Calista, m. 1st Anna
GROWNES (GROWSE) d. 1815, m. 2nd 7.10.1840 Georgiana Mary KINGSFORD.
Chd. Ann Elizabeth b. 1815. She arr. 19.10.1829 per Atwick, m.
1837 Richard McBryde BROUN.
George L. was granted 15,000 acres & later 10,000 & 20 acres. Financed
many settlers. Director of WA Bank 1837. MLC 1839 until death. Chairman
Perth Town Trust etc. Merchant Perth. Widow employed a T/L man 1853. C/E.
[Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians:
pre-1829-1888, 
Your obedient servant,
R.H. BLAND,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
Fri. June 1, 1849, p2]
Fri. June 8, 1849, p2]
R. Erickson, 1988, vol.3, p.1822]