George Leek’s life began in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, in 1813, one of nine children born to George and Margaret Leek. Trained as a locksmith, he possessed a skilled trade and the prospect of a steady future. That future changed dramatically in March 1835 when he was convicted of burglary and sentenced to death.
The sentence was later commuted to transportation after a petition bearing twenty-four signatures was presented on his behalf. It described the offence as his first and noted that he was the only one of his siblings to have fallen into crime. Although the gaoler described him as being of bad character, those who travelled with him told a different story. During the voyage to Australia, fellow passengers recorded his kindness and attentiveness to those who were ill.
George arrived in Tasmania aboard the Moffatt on 21 February 1836. He received a pardon on 26 January 1843. Three months later he married Mary Hart, beginning a partnership that would shape the rest of his life. Few could have imagined that the young locksmith once condemned to death would later wear the uniform of the law. George became a constable and eventually rose to the position of Chief Constable at Colac from 1 January 1849.
He served the community for many years before dying on 13 August 1880 from cancer of the eye.
George Leek’s story is one of redemption and second chances. Sentenced to death as a young man, he rebuilt his life through hard work, public service and determination, earning the respect that had once seemed beyond reach.

Research by Nicole Prince
Story by Nicole Prince


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