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History of country town names - L


The following information is a summary of the origins for towns names in rural Western Australia. Please select the first letter of the town you wish to see.
Please note: The names of all rural towns are being added progressively to the database.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

LAKE BIDDY

Latitude 33° 00' S Longitude 118° 56' E

The townsite of Lake Biddy is located in the central agricultural region, 422 km east south east of Perth and 14 km north west of Newdegate. The townsite is named after the nearby lake of the same name which was first recorded during a survey in 1920. It is said to have been named by Surveyor E T Morrow after his daughter, Christine, (nicknamed `Biddy'), who was reputed to be the survey camp cook.
Settlers in the North Sub-branch of the Newdegate Progress Association first requested the Government declare a townsite here in 1923, because of the large number of settlers in the area. Some lots were surveyed in 1924, following the fixing of the position of the railway line to Newdegate. The townsite was gazetted in 1925.


LAKE BROWN

Latitude 30° 57' S Longitude 118° 20' E

Lake Brown is a townsite in the central agricultural region, 307 km north east of Perth and 14 km east of Mukinbudin. The town derives its name from a lake of this name situated about 19 km south west. The lake was named during exploration of the area by Surveyor General J S Roe in 1836, and it is believed to be named after Peter Brown (Broun), Colonial Secretary of Western Australia 1829-1846.
When the railway was extended from Mukinbudin in 1923, a site for a siding was selected at the 223 mile post, and the name Kalkalling, the name of a nearby prominent hill, was chosen. It was gazetted as the townsite of Kalkalling a year later in 1924. In 1926 the railway station was changed to Lake Brown, and the townsite name also changed shortly after.


LAKE CAMM

Latitude 32° 58' S Longitude 119° 36' E

The townsite of Lake Camm is located in the central agricultural region, 442 km east south east of Perth and 20 km north north west of Lake King. The townsite derives its name from the lake located a few kilometres to the west . The name of the lake was first recorded by a surveyor in 1931, and the name honours J P Camm, Surveyor General of Western 1923-1938. In 1938 the Lake Camm Progress Association requested the declaration of a townsite, the townsite being gazetted in July 1939.


LAKE CLIFTON

Latitude 32° 49' S Longitude 115° 41' E

Lake Clifton is a townsite on the Old Coast Road 38 km south of Mandurah and 112 km south of Perth. It is adjacent to the lake of the same name, the lake being named in 1842 in honour of Marshall Walter Clifton (1787-1861), Chief Commissioner of the Western Australian Company's settlement at Australind and later a member of the Legislative Council.

The townsite at Lake Clifton came about as a result of the W A Portland Cement Co. seeking to mine a lime deposit in Lake Clifton. A railway was built from Waroona to Lake Clifton in 1920, and the Lake Clifton Progress Association sought the declaration of a townsite for the Company's employees. The townsite was gazetted as "Leschenault" in March 1921, but the name was soon seen as confusing because the name Leschenault was associated with the Bunbury area. R Cecil Clifton suggested alternative names "Fouracre" (after earliest settler), "Peppermint Grove" (after Fouracres Homestead) and "Garbanup" (a native name recorded by J S Roe). It was amended to "Garbanup" townsite in April 1921. In 1923, the Railway Department, which had purchased the railway in 1922, objected to Garbanup because of similarity to Dardanup. The name was amended to Lake Clifton in 1923. For a short time Lake Clifton was a busy company town, but the lime mining only lasted a short time, and the mine closed at the end of 1923. The railway line closed in 1924 and was removed and used in construction of the Lake Grace-Newdegate railway.


LAKE GRACE

Latitude 33° 06' S Longitude 118° 28' E

The townsite of Lake Grace is located in the central agricultural district, 347 km east south east of Perth. The area was first taken up for agriculture around 1911, and in 1913 a school was established here and named Lake Grace after the nearby lake. In 1914 the government planned to extend the railway network from Kukerin to Lake Grace, and local settlers lobbied for a townsite to be declared at the terminus. The railway was constructed in 1916, and terminated close to the site of the existing school. The townsite of Lake Grace was gazetted later in 1916.
The lake after which the townsite was named was given the name Lake Grace by Marshall Fox, the District Surveyor, in 1910. It is named after Grace Brockman, the wife of the then Surveyor General, Frederick S Brockman. Grace Brockman became famous in 1876 when she, as Grace Bussell, and her stockman Sam Isaacs, rescued many people from the wreck of the "Georgette" near the mouth of the Margaret River.


LAKE KING

Latitude 33° 05' S Longitude 119° 42' E

The townsite of Lake King is located in the central agricultural region, 462 km east south east of Perth. In 1935 the Lake King Progress Association requested the Government to declare a townsite, but it was felt this was premature at the time. The Progress Association then lobbied the local member of parliament, and the Surveyor general agreed to a townsite being declared. It was gazetted in 1936,
Lake King derives its name from the nearby lake of the same name. The lake was named by Marshall Fox, the district surveyor at Narrogin in 1922, and honours Henry Sanford King, Surveyor General of Western Australia from 1918 to 1923. Lake King is recorded as also being known as Lake Damnosa, but nothing is known of this name.


LAKEWOOD

Latitude 30° 48' S Longitude 121° 32' E

Lakewood is an abandoned goldfields townsite, located 10 km south east of Kalgoorlie. In 1903 the area was known as Lakeside, and the Secretary of the Progress Association wrote to the Government seeking the survey of lots for residential purposes. Lakeside was then at the terminus of the railway, and close to Hannan Lake, from the proximity to which the name was derived. Lots were surveyed here in 1903, but when considering a name for the townsite Lakeside was ruled out because it was duplicated in Queensland.

The Kalgoorlie Road Board suggested the name "Gnumballa" for the new townsite but when it was gazetted in 1904 it was spelt "Ngumballa" in line with spelling rules adopted by the Department of Lands and Surveys. The name is the Aboriginal name for Hannan Lake. In spite of the gazettal of the name Ngumballa, the railway station remained as Lakeside, as did local usage , and in 1909 the name was officially changed to Lakeside. By 1938 there was another Lakeside near Wiluna, and the school and post office at Lakeside were changed to Lakewood to avoid confusion, but still retaining the lake association in the name, and linking to the firewood company which by then was the only business in the area. For nine years the place was now officially known as Lakeside, but locally Lakewood, before the Government finally accepted this name and changed the townsite to Lakewood in 1947.


LANCELIN

Latitude 31° 01' S Longitude 115° 20' E

Lancelin is a coastal town located on the west coast 127 km north north west of Perth. It derives its name from the nearby Lancelin Island which was named by the French expedition under the command of Captain Baudin in 1801. The name honours P F Lancelin, scientific writer, author of the World Map of Sciences and works on the planetary system and analyses of science.
Interest in the Lancelin Island area in the late 1940s for camping and as a port for the lobster fishery resulted in a townsite being declared in 1950. Lancelin was not considered a suitable name, and "Wangaree", an Aboriginal word for fish was chosen when the townsite was gazetted. Although the official name was Wangaree, local usage was Lancelin, and in 1953 the Gingin Road Board requested the townsite be renamed Lancelin. The name change was approved in 1953 and gazetted the following year.


LATHAM

Latitude 29° 45' S Longitude 116° 27' E

Latham is a townsite in the northern agricultural region, midway between Wubin and Perenjori, and 309 km north of Perth. It is on the railway between Wongan Hills and Mullewa which opened for service in 1915. When the railway was being planned in 1913 the Public Works Department decided that the site of Latham was appropriate for a townsite. The District Surveyor, S E Smith, agreed after inspecting the area, and nominated two possible names for the townsite, Merriedale and Latham. Latham was selected, and was also used for the name of the proposed railway station from 1913. The townsite was gazetted in 1917.
Latham derives its name from Latham Rock, a large granite rock about 3 km south east of the townsite. The rock was first recorded as Latham Rock in 1909, and honours Mr.F.A.Latham, an early pastoralist of the region and who established a watering place here for stock being droved through the district


LAVERTON

Latitude 28° 37' S Longitude 122° 24' E

The townsite of Laverton is located in the eastern goldfields 957 km north north east of Perth and 124 km ENE of Leonora. Gold was discovered near here in 1896, and one of the early promoters of gold mining in the area was Dr C W Laver, after whom the townsite is named. The "Craiggiemore" mine was one of the most successful, and by 1897 a residential and business area had been established on the west side of the mine. When the lots were surveyed in 1897 the surveyor, J H Rowe noted the Aborigines call this place "Buckanoo". The residents were unanimous in wishing the proposed place to be called "Laverton", and it was known by this name in 1898 In 1899 the Laverton Progress Committee applied to the Surveyor General to have blocks surveyed and a townsite declared at Laverton. The original area was by then unsuitable for settlement, and the miners sought permanent tenure and a townsite about 3 km from the original lots. Lots were surveyed in July 1899, and the townsite gazetted in July 1900.


LAWLERS

Latitude 28° 05' S Longitude 120° 31' E

The townsite of Lawlers is located in the eastern goldfields, about 992 km from Perth. It is also about 32 km from Leinster. Gold was discovered here in 1894 by Patrick J Lawler ("Paddy Lawler"), a prospector who was rewarded for his discovery in 1899. In 1896 the Government decided to survey a townsite at Lawlers, the land being surveyed in April and the townsite was gazetted later that year.


LEDGE POINT

Latitude 31° 07' S Longitude 115° 22' E

Ledge Point is a fishing town located on the west coast 120 north north west of Perth. It is 17 km south of Lancelin. The townsite derives its name from Ledge Point, a coastal feature first shown on maps in 1875 from a Royal Navy hydrographic survey. The Point takes its name from rocky ledges in the vicinity.
In 1937 the Government reserved land in the area for camping and recreation following a request from the Gingin Road Board. By 1952 there were three squatters' houses in the reserve close to the beach, and when a road to Lancelin was constructed close by in 1953 there was interest from others to lease land here and build holiday cottages. The Government decided to subdivide and declare a townsite, Ledge Point being selected as the name. The townsite was gazetted in 1955.


LEEMAN

Latitude 29° 57' S Longitude 114° 59' E

Leeman is a small coastal fishing town 295 km north north west of Perth. The government decided in 1961 to subdivide land here, and the Nomenclature Advisory Committee selected the name of Leeman for the proposed townsite. It was gazetted as Leeman in June 1961. The place had previously been known as "Snag Island" after the feature of that name situated a short distance offshore.
The townsite was named after Abraham Leeman, under steersman of the Dutch ship "Waeckende Boeij" (Watchful Buoy), Captain Volkersen, which sailed the W.A. coast in 1658 in search of wreckage from the "Gilt Dragon" lost two years earlier. Leeman was in charge of a party that put ashore to search and was abandoned by the main vessel when bad weather blew up. After an epic open boat voyage lasting nearly six months, he and three of his companions reached Batavia in their small craft on 23 September 1658.


LEINSTER

Latitude 27° 55' S Longitude 120° 42' E

Leinster is a mining town in the eastern goldfields, 968 km north east of Perth and 135 km north north west of Leonora. The town was established in the late 1970s to support the Agnew nickel project, and was the subject of a special lease to Western Mining Corporation for the purpose of "Townsite" for a term of 21 years from 1977. It was gazetted a townsite in 1981.
The townsite derives its name from the Leinster Downs pastoral station within which it is located. The station is in turn named after the Leinster gold find of the 1890s. Gold was discovered here around 1892 by Julius Anderson, and the Leinster workings developed in 1899-1900 for commercial production. The main production period was 1900-1906. Leinster is a province of Ireland, and this is most likely the origin of the name.


LENNONVILLE

Latitude 27° 58' S Longitude 117° 50' E

Lennonville is an abandoned gold mining townsite in the Mount Magnet area. It is located about 13 km north of Mount Magnet and 582 km north east of Perth. Gold was discovered here in 1894 by the prospectors Lennon and Palmer, the town being named after the former. The area had rich quartz reefs, and in 1896 a request was received from the Lennonville Progress Committee for a townsite to be gazetted. The townsite was gazetted in 1898, a railway station being also opened the same year. Lennonville was a first known as the "Eight Mile", as it is eight miles from Mount Magnet.


LEONORA

Latitude 28° 53' S Longitude 121° 20' E

Leonora is a townsite in the eastern goldfields 833 km north east of Perth and 237 km north of Kalgoorlie. The townsite takes its name from nearby Mount Leonora which was named by the explorer/surveyor John Forrest in 1869. Forrest named the hill after a lady friend of his, Miss Phylis Leonora Hardey of Grove Farm on the Swan River near Perth.
Gold was discovered in the Leonora district in 1894 by a prospector named Morrissey, but further rich finds in 1895/96 resulted in rapid development and drew attention to the area. The Gwalia and Sons of Gwalia mines brought Leonora to the attention of the world. The Government sought to establish a townsite here in 1897, and following survey the townsite was gazetted in 1898, although by the time of survey and gazettal there were already many residences and businesses established. By 1902 Leonora and Gwalia were connected by a steam tramway.


LINDEN

Latitude 29° 18' S Longitude 122° 26' E

Linden is an abandoned townsite in the eastern goldfields, 75 km south of Laverton on the southern side of Lake Carey. Gold was discovered in this area in the mid 1890s, and in 1896 Warden Owen suggested a townsite be created. Owen used the name Griffithston for the place, but departmental officers in the Department of Lands and Surveys felt this name unsuitable, and suggested Linden instead. Mount Linden is located just to the south of the townsite, and has been shown on maps since 1897. It is not known who the name commemorates, although it was probably a prospector. The townsite of Linden was gazetted in 1897.


LOMOS

Latitude 32° 21' S Longitude 117° 36' E

The townsite of Lomos is located in the great southern agricultural region, about 200 km east south east of Perth between Brookton and Corrigin. In 1913 the government planned to build a railway line between Brookton and Kunjin, and one of the proposed stations was a "Lomos Siding", located near Lomos Rock. The line was opened in 1915, and in 1918 the government decided to create a small townsite at the station. Lomos townsite was gazetted in 1920. The townsite derives its name from nearby Lomos Rock Soak, first recorded by a surveyor in 1906. It is not known who or what the soak was named after.


LONDONDERRY

Latitude 31° 05' S Longitude 121° 07' E

Londonderry is a townsite in the eastern goldfields, 14 km south south west of Coolgardie, just west of the Coolgardie-Norseman railway. Gold was discovered here in early 1894 by a party of six prospectors who named the find after the home town in Northern Ireland of one of the prospectors. It was a rich find which was taken over by Lord Fingall in September 1892, but the gold soon petered out. A townsite was gazetted in 1895. The townsite is now abandoned.


LOWER KING

Latitude 34° 57' S Longitude 117° 56' E

The townsite of Lower King is located in the south coastal region, about 8 km north east of Albany. It was gazetted a townsite in 1959, although the area was settled as early as the 1830s. The towsite is on the lower reaches of the King River, hence the name. The King River is named after Captain Philip Parker King RN, who was in command of the "Mermaid" which called in here in January 1818 during a hydrographic survey of portions of the Australian coast.


LYNTON

Latitude 28° 13' S Longitude 114° 19' E

Lynton townsite is located in the northern agricultural region, near the coast 40 km north west of Northampton. It is situated near the mouth of the Hutt River. The townsite was gazetted in 1854, and it is believed it is named after a residence of this name built here for Captain H A Sanford in 1853. The origin of the name is unknown.
Lynton townsite was created at the same time as the townsite of Pakington which is located at Port Gregory, and is now named Gregory. The towns were to support the Murchison mining industry and the associated convict labour system, but very little development ever occurred.

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