Request for West Leederville to be recognised as suburb approved

3/12/98

It's official - West Leederville really exists.

Although in use for many years the name did not have legal standing - until now.

Lands Minister Doug Shave said the Geographic Names Committee had approved a City of Cambridge request to have West Leederville recognised as a suburb.

"The Mitchell Freeway split Leederville when it was built and in 1994 it was further divided between the new local government areas of Cambridge and Vincent," Mr Shave said.

"West Leederville is that part west of the freeway while the area to the east, in the Town of Vincent, will keep the name of Leederville."

The change of address will affect residents of about 2,200 properties but they will continue to use Leederville's 6007 postcode.

"With two areas of the former Leederville in different local government areas some official distinction was needed," Mr Shave said.

A City of Cambridge survey of residents found that more than 90 per cent of respondents favoured the change to West Leederville.

Many people thought West Leederville was already an official name, as it had been in common use for many years. Schools, a post office, a railway station and businesses had all used West Leederville in their names.

The railway station, built in 1897, was originally known as Leederville but was renamed West Leederville in 1912.

Mr Shave said he was pleased the new suburb would contain the name Leederville, which was so much a part of Perth's history.

Leederville was named after William Leeder, the first European landowner in the area, who bought land near Lake Monger in 1833. Subdivision began about 1890 and the expanding district was already known as Leederville when declared a Roads Board District in 1895.

Media contact: John Clune 9213 6500