Leigh Creek

History

The area was named Leigh's Creek after its first settler, Harry Leigh, in 1856. Coal was discovered and small quantities mined from 1888 from an underground mine. The town to support the mine at that time was called Copley, after William Copley, an MP and Commissioner of Crown Lands. However the coal was not mined in a significant commercial manner until 1943 in an effort to make South Australia more self-sufficient for its energy needs, with less dependence on New South Wales. The premier Thomas Playford saw the need to be seen not to rely on interstate energy if he was to attract business to South Australia.

Most-observed species

• White-plumed Honeyeater

  Ptilotula penicillata (Gould, 1837) · Aves
  182
• Musk Duck

  Biziura lobata (Shaw, 1796) · Aves
  156
• Black Swan

  Cygnus atratus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  156
• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  153
• Eurasian Coot

  Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  143
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  139
• Crested Pigeon

  Ocyphaps lophotes (Temminck, 1822) · Aves
  135
• Black-faced Woodswallow

  Artamus cinereus Vieillot, 1817 · Aves
  133

Most recent

• M 2.9 — 2008-12-25
  South Australia
• M 2.7 — 2008-11-16
  118 km NNE of Quorn, Australia
• M 4.2 — 2008-11-16
  123 km NNE of Quorn, Australia
• M 4.7 — 2007-09-16
  115 km NNE of Quorn, Australia
• M 4 — 2007-01-28
  166 km E of Roxby Downs, Australia
• M 2.7 — 2007-01-01
  151 km NNE of Quorn, Australia