Historical information

This photograph is held in the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute Audio Visual Collection. Please contact BMI for all print and usage inquiries.

Arthur Leckie was born in Sebastopol on 16 August 1876. In 1878 the family moved into their newly built home, Blythewood Grange, in Sebastopol. Arthur attended Grenville College and commenced Ballarat College in 1893. He was Apprentice as an Ironmonger at 'The Present Day Ironmonger' in Bridge Street. He next worked for William Dawson, Ironmonger, in Sturt Street, next to old The Courier Office.

After the death of his father in 1893 the family moved out of ‘Blythewood Grange into Ballarat. Arthur and his brothers Robert and Harold built their own automobile in the sheds behind their house, commencing in 1899 and having it ‘on the road’ in 1901.