Leopold 3224 |
Leopold, a residential and rural district on the Bellarine Peninsula, is 10 km. east-south-east of Geelong. Originally name Kensington, it was renamed Leopold in 1892 after Queen Victorias son, the Duke of Albany. Confusion with the Melbourne suburb of Kensington was a reason for the change.
In 1852, 526 ha. of land was subdivided and offered for sale as the "Princely Domain of Kensington."A neighbouring estate at Moolap was subdivided and named Flemington, presumably inspired by the association between Flemington and Kensington, the Melbourne suburbs. Whilst the subdivision did not create a village, it provided a name.
Settlers depended on the Anglican church and school in Hays Road, Point Henry, established in 1849-50. Extension of an Anglican church to Kensington occurred in 1859, and St. Marks on the Hill is on the Victorian Heritage Register.
By 1865 Kensington also had the short-lived Bellarine Hotel and a community of 300 persons, mostly engaged in agriculture. A government primary school (1872) replaced the Anglican school (1854). The free library (1852) was replaced by a larger building when it burnt down in 1893. The railway from Geelong was opened in 1879.
Leopold continued as a rural community until the 1960s, when industrial development at Moolap and Point Henry made Leopold a convenient dormitory suburb. Its population doubled during 1961-71 and doubled again during 1971-81. The population growth, howe'ver, was not accompanied by a strong provision of community or shopping amenities, apart from a public hall, kindergartens and the Memorial Park with ovals and courts.
The township is both sides of the Bellarine Highway, with small shopping areas in each part. Population growth reached a level in the early 1990s where a larger centre would normally be developed.
Although Leopold is elevated, it has several waterholes and swamps around its perimeter. One has been made into the Gateway Sanctuary reserve, beside the highway on the Geelong side of the town.
The median house price in Leopold was $76,500 in 1987 and $117,250 in 1996.
Leopolds census populations have been 362 (1881), 377 (1954), 633 (1961), 1,444 (1971) and 4,432 (1991).
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