Dreming - 1770
Over 500 Aboriginal nations occupy specific areas of Australia.
1794
First land grants in the Leichhardt area.
1806
Major George Johnston received a land grant (present-day Annandale).
Land grant to Martha Moore.
Land grant to Ensign Fugh Piper and to his brother, Captain John Piper.
1831-32
Captain Piper sold four large portions of his estate to J.Forster, A.hearn, P. de Mestre and D.Ramsay.
1834
James Norton purchased Elswick Estate.
James Norton, member of the first Legislative Council (Marion St was named after his second wife).
1846-47
Walter Beames purchased ‘Piperston Estate’and renamed the property ‘Leichhardt’ after his friend the explorer, Ludwig Leichhardt.
1849
Beames subdivided his property. At this time the area was still part of Petersham.
1862
The Non-vested National School of Petersham opened with 53 pupils.
1868
Balmain Cemetery opened in Norton Street.
1869
A new school building was erected on the corner of Marion and Norton Streets. The Non-vested National School of Petersham was renamed Leichhardt Public School.
On 14 December, Leichhardt became an incorporated area, this included present-day Leichhardt, Annandale and Lilyfield.
The municipality’s first mayor was Frank Beames.
1873
80 pupils at Leichhardt Public School.
John Wetherill sold ‘Elswick’ to Excelsior Building Society.
Police station built in Marlborough Street.
Leichhardt Council requested that a post office be established in Leichhardt. 1883
First official Post and Telegraph Office was opened at 9 Short Street. Leichhardt West School opened – now called Orange Grove Public School.
All Souls Anglican Church built.
Leichhardt Presbyterian Church opened.
St Martha’s Industrial Girls home opened in Elswick house.
Leichhardt Town hall opened, in 1897 the clock was added.
1889
New post office built, corner of Wetherill and Norton Sts.
1890s
Volunteer fire station opened.
1894
360 acres known as the East Ward of Leichhardt became the Municipality of Annandale.
1898
St Columba’s Catholic Church/School opened.
1902
Permanent fire station built.
1904
School of Arts built.
1905
Leichhardt Swimming Baths opened.
1907
Public telephone installed at the post office.
1908
Leichhardt Boy Scouts established.
1914
Leichhardt Trades School built.
1917
Italian Nationals came to Australia and settled in Leichhardt.
192J
The Leichhardt Municipality held its Jubilee Carnival.
1928
First road concreting – Norton and Marion Sts.
194J
Balmain Cemetery became a public park and was named Pioneer’s Memorial Pk.
1946
Capuchin Order arrived in Leichhardt to attend to the needs of the Italian community.
1947
Increase in Italian migrants.
1949
The Municipalities of Annandale and Balmain amalgamated with Leichhardt Municipality.
1954
Associazione Polisportiva Italian-Australiana (APIA) founded.
1957
APIA Club established its base in Norton Street.
1958
Buses replaced trams.
1994
Leichhardt Municipal Council adopted officially as corporate name.
2000
Italian Forum shopping complex opens on Norton Street.
2016
Census recorded 14,625 people living in Leichhardt.
64.2% were born in Australia, 5.0% England, 3.2% Italy, 2.5% New Zealand, 1.1% China and 1.0% Ireland.
The information for this historical timeline of Leichhardt, was taken from the Local History Files at Leichhardt Library.