John McCleery and Abraham Moise Josephson were Fremantle merchants who purchased Fremantle Lots 828, 829, 830 (in Beaconsfield) 23 March 1886, and subdivided them to create many smaller lots. Leah Street (now Baker Street, in Beaconsfield) was created to provide road access to the new properties that were sold between 1886 and 1891. Baker Street was originally named after Josephson's daughter of that name; the name being changed in 1908/09. Josephson and McCleery both have streets named after them, McCleery's in Beaconsfield, where he had property, and Josephson's in central Fremantle where he owned some cottages, near the Park Hotel which he also owned. When Josephson died in Hastings in 1907 it was found that he had bequeathed a diamond ring, diamond pin, and diamond sleeve-links to John McCleery. In the 1893 Post Office Directory, McCleery's ('merchant') office was in Cliff Street near the southeast corner with High Street (next to the NSW Bank), while Josephson's ('pearl merchant') was right next door.
Caldwell:
McCLEERY—The firm of McCleery & Josephson was in existence in the ’nineties as general merchants in premises which are still standing next door to the old Bank of New South Wales building in Cliff-street. John McCleery, who was the son of a Belfast surgeon and died in 1911, owned land near the street named after him in Beaconsfield.
Erickson:
McCLEERY, John. Merchant 1873. Fremantle, owner of cutter Annie 1870 & steamship Georgette 1876 bt. from Conner. Trustee of affairs of John McGIBBON bankrupt 1874. Auctioneer 1879-1889. Director of Frem. Benefit & Building Society. Employed 2 T/L men 1872 &1879.
Caldwell, Kate 1931, 'Fremantle street names', Early Days, vol. 1, part 9: 45-57.
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