Location

You can access our MyLogan tool to find local schools, closest public transport options and more.

History

George Hawkins and Will Elworthy took up land at Stockleigh on 1 September 1863 and named the area in memory of Elworthy's home in Devon. George's wife Mary Ann was Will's sister. The Hawkins family planted willows from St Helena along the Logan River. Mary Ann provided midwifery services to local women and her daughter often rowed them both downstream to Logan Village to deliver babies. George conducted church services and funerals from his home. The family initially lived in a slab hut, but in 1885 built a substantial house named Sunnyside.

Other residents of the Stockleigh region included Fred Richardson, Richard Evans, T Flood, John Garsden, William Walsh, George Carter, William Norris, J Gibbons, Christopher Thompson and Andrew Banning. Catholic Priest Benedict Scortechini lived between Stockleigh and Logan Village.

Residents of the Chambers Flat area established a school in the home of John Garsden in 1872. This was a short-lived venture and a provisional school was established in Stockleigh from 1873. The school was built to service families on both sides of the river. In 1877, a new school building was constructed. An additional school building was constructed by Mr Leitzow in 1899.

Another family with links to Stockleigh in Devon were the Traces. James and Sarah Trace initially settled in Coopers Plains and moved to Stockleigh in 1878, shortly after the birth of their eighth child Richard. Richard married Chambers Flat girl Agnes Hayes in 1901 and the families have remained in the area for generations.

Stockleigh remained a dairying region into the 20thcentury, with local farmers Hawkins, Carter, and Holloway taking out shares in the Kingston Butter Factory. The Stockleigh school closed in 1935 and the building was sold off in the 1950s.