Chippers Leap facts for kids

Approach to Chippers Leap in 2006

Chippers Leap, also known as Chipper's Leap, is a large granite rock formation located on Greenmount Hill in Perth, Western Australia. It sits on the northern side of the Great Eastern Highway, close to the areas of Swan View and Greenmount. This natural landmark is known for a historical event that gave it its name.

What is Chippers Leap?

Chippers Leap is a striking granite outcrop, which means it's a part of a rock formation that sticks out from the ground. It's a significant natural feature in the landscape of Greenmount Hill. It has been a landmark for many years, visible to travelers passing through the area.

The Story Behind the Name

The name Chippers Leap comes from an event involving a man named John Chipper. On February 3, 1832, John Chipper was traveling with an 11-year-old boy named Reuben Beacham. They were driving a cart from Guildford to York along the old York Road. when they were attacked by Noongars. Chipper was speared once in the side before turning around to escape. A second spear pierced his shoulder as he jumped from the rock in order to save himself.

Chipper, in his statement dated 5 February 1832, said,

I heard him [Reuben Beacham] scream out, and I looked back, but did notice him; but perceiving a number of the natives gaining ground upon me, I turned short round the shoulder of the same hill, and ran off at my utmost speed [...].

Chipper then ran for about 4 miles (6.4 km) until he reached the home of Governor James Stirling at Woodbridge. This escape is why the rock became known as Chippers Leap.

Reuben Beacham, the young boy with John Chipper, was killed during this attack. His body was found with twelve spear wounds and a severe head injury. His death was never formally registered. His grave was never recorded.

Remembering the Event

In the early 1930s, there were plans to build a new road, which later became the Great Eastern Highway. The original route for this road would have gone right through Chippers Leap. However, the Western Australian Historical Society stepped in. They asked for the plans to be changed. Their efforts helped ensure that the road was built close to the rock, but not over it. This decision not only saved the rock but also made it more visible to everyone. The highway itself was completed in the 1960s.

Exactly 100 years after John Chipper's leap, on February 3, 1932, the Western Australian Historical Society dedicated a plaque at the rock to remember the event. About 200 people gathered for the ceremony. The plaque tells the story of John Chipper and Reuben Beacham. It describes the events of that day. It explains how Chipper managed to escape by leaping from the rock.

The plaque reads:

On the 3rd of February 1832. John Chipper and Reuben Beacham a boy of fourteen, while driving a cart from Guildford to York, were attacked by natives near this spot. Beacham was killed but Chipper although speared, escaped and leaped from this rock, now known as Chipper's Leap, and eventually reached Governor Stirling's house at Woodbridge

The plaque celebrated Chipper’s survival but gave Reuben the wrong age and made no meaningful acknowledgement of his death. Not everyone at the time agreed the story deserved commemoration.

For many years, especially from the 1960s to the late 1990s, the rock featured different painted messages, like "All have sinned" and "Please Turn Over."

Chippers Leap Today

Today, Chippers Leap is recognized as a heritage place by the Heritage Council of Western Australia. While it doesn't have special legal protection, its historical importance is acknowledged. You can find other similar historical plaques placed by the Western Australian Historical Society, like one at the Round House in Fremantle.

Visiting Chippers Leap

The plaque at Chippers Leap is located next to a very busy highway. Because of this, it's not the safest place for pedestrians to stop. There is a small parking area about 100 meters (328 feet) to the west, just before a sign for Perth Hills. This allows people to view the rock from a safer distance.

Natural Surroundings

Chippers Leap is part of a beautiful natural area. There are many other similar granite outcrops in the Darling Scarp. You can find these impressive rock formations in places like John Forrest National Park to the north. To the south, you'll find more outcrops near Darlington and Boya, Western Australia. These areas are great for exploring Western Australia's unique geology.