Arthur Cyril LEEVERS was born on the 9th of March 1866 at Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, England. His parents were John LEEVERS and Mary Ann RATHY. In 1872 he travelled to New Zealand with his parents and brothers. He married twice, 1st to Isabella HEBLY in June 1886 in Wellington, New Zealand and 2nd to Alma Beatrice GRAHAM in Westonia WA in 1924.
Arthur Cyril LEEVERS – Coolgardie c 1897 – Photo SLWA
Arthur C Leevers first hotel, The Exchange (on far left) in Bayley St, Coolgardie 1894 – He took over the hotel from Evan Wisdom – Photo SLWA
The Lady Shenton Hotel, Menzies – Photo SLWA (Now the Menzies Visitors Centre)Arthur was to take over the Lady Shenton Hotel in the main street of Menzies in 1897. However by 1899 he was declared bankrupt having spent all of his earnings.
North Coolgardie Herald and Miners Daily News-22-June-1899
Arthur was to join the AIF in 1916 at the late age of 44 years. At the time of his enlistment he was working at the Perseverance Mine in Boulder and his occupation was as a plumber and he was a widower. His next of kin was his brother, William Thomas Leevers, also at the Perseverance Mine. Arthur volunteered to serve overseas with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). He embarked at Fremantle, Western Australia aboard HMAT Port Melbourne on 30 October 1916. He was a member of the Field Company Engineers.
At the time of his second marriage Arthur was aged 58 years and his bride Alma was 20 years. Arthur and Alma were to have two children, Arthur Graham born 1924 and Donald Ian born 1925.
Yilgarn Merredin Times 11 November 1922, page 2
WEDDING BELLS.
LEEVER – GRAHAM.
A very pretty wedding was celebrated in the Methodist Church, Westonia, the contracting parties being Mr Arthur Cyril Leevers, motor mechanic, of Bruce Rook, and Miss Alma Beatrice Graham, daughter of Mr Archie Graham, formerly underground manager of the Central mine. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. A. J. Hodge, of Southern Cross The church was most tastefully decorated by friends of the bride and and was well filled by the many who witnessed the pleasing event. Promptly at 3 p.m. the bride leaning on the arm of her father entered the church to the solemn strains of ” The voice that breathed o’er Eden ” The bride, who was given away by her father, looked very beautiful in crepe de chene and georgette trimmed with pearls, a beautiful embroidered veil, and the conventional garland of orange blossom, whilst in her hand she held a lovely bouquet of white roses and ferns enriched with silk ribbon streamers and lucky horseshoe attachment.
The bridesmaid, Miss Stella Mann, of Bullfinch, was exquisitely dressed in pale pink crepe de chene and carried a bouquet of pink roses and maiden hair fern. Two flower girls, Miss Florence Carvosso and Miss Jean Graham, sister of the bride, each wearing rose pink crepe de chene, black ribbon and velvet sashes, bouquets with streamers of pink and black ribbon, added to the pleasing effect. Mr Leevers, brother of the bridegroom acted as best man. After the ceremony the happy couple left the church amid showers of rice and confetti by motor for tbe residence of the bride’s parents, where the wedding breakfast awaited the bridal party. The Wedding March was played by Mrs E. Mason, Between 20 and 30 guests sat down to a sumptuous repast, After the usual toasts were honored the happy couple left at 6:30 by motor car for the Caves. The bride’s travelling dress was brown jersey silk, saxe blue and beads to match, covered by an Assam silk dust coat. The presents were both numerous and costly.
Southern Cross Times 20 February 1904, page 2
The Biggest ‘Shout’.
I am reminded of Arthur Leevers, one time prosperous Coolgardie and Menzies publican, whose big ” shout” in Adelaide on the occasion of a trip to the East, is said to be the largest publicans over there were ever called upon to execute. He invited them all in, one blistering summer’s morning, and regaled all and sundry on beer and champagne to the tune of £127.
Poor Leevers! He had the ‘boodle’ then, and distributed it with a lavish and generous hand. When the writer knew him last, about three years ago, at Laverton, Arthur looked rather forlorn squatting on the end of a barrel in the main street. He was working as a camp cook.
“Wish I had some of it now,” was his remark when the famous shout” came up for discussion.
Arthur C Leevers died in Perth WA on the 6th September 1932 aged 66 years and is buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery. His wife outlived him by 55 years dieing in 1987 in the ACT.
Moya Sharp
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