History
| Early History | Recent History |
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Early History of the Leonay Area
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The name Leonay comes from "Leo" Buring and his wife, whose nickname was "Nay". Hermann Leo Buring (1876 - 1961) studied viticulture and oenology at Roseworthy Agricultural College where he was dux in 1886. He went to Germany and France to further his studies. In 1916 he was appointed Winemaker at Minchinbury and worked there until 1919. After leaving he became one of the first wine Consultants in Australia and built his home on the banks of the Nepean River. His house still stands opposite the school. He called his estate "Leonay" and lived there with his wife until his death in 1961 aged 85.
Leonay was a 400 acre property with one and a quarter mile frontage to the Nepean River. He developed vast gardens, a vineyard, an 18 hole golf course and a zoo where be bred emus, wallabies, pheasants and peacocks for zoos around Australia and the world. Leo made his first wine in 1923, the casks having come from the Mulgoa property "Winbourne". He also grew asparagus for Edgells. In 1931 he formed Leo Buring and Company with Reginald Mowat of Great Western.
At "Leonay" Buring held court entertaining the cream of society with the best Australian wines in his cellar. Sir Lawrence Olivier and Vivien Leigh had lunch there in 1948. Their meal of oysters, baked snapper and strawberry flambe was washed down with Quellatler Grandfiesta Flor Sherry, 1944 Draytons Hunter River Semillion, 1920 White Hermitage from Dame Nellie Melba's Coldstream Vineyard. 1932 Coonawarra Red Hermitage, 1934 Hunter River Hermitage, 1893 Great Western hermitage and a 1940 Leonay liqueur brandy.
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Recent History of the School
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Until 1973 all of the students in the district had been attending Emu Plains Primary School. Leonay Primary School commenced the school year of 1974 in the grounds of Emu Plains Primary School with 180 students in six demountable classrooms. The current school site was finally ready and students moved in during the last week of the 1974 school year.
Mr. Owen Smith, our founder principal, designed our school badge and introduced the school motto "to do my best". School uniform and colours have been retained with only minor changes over the years.
During the early 80's student numbers rose to over 550 and there was a need to erect demountable buildings. Since this time, due changes in population, numbers have fallen back to 200.
Our sporting house name were chosen:
Forbes*: after Sir Frances Forbes
Jamison*: after Sir John Jamison
Buring: after Leo Buring, winemaker and owner of the "Leonay" vineyhard.
* The two earliest recipients of land grants in our area
