Est. 1886 · Barnet, England
Our
Our
Heritage
Five generations of craftsmanship, trust & family pride
From a watchmaker's bench in 1886 to stores across Western Australia — the Leon Baker story is one of precision, passion and an unwavering dedication to the art of fine jewellery. It is more than a business. It is a legacy.
Northam, Western Australia
First Generation
1886 – 1935
Douglas
Douglas
Harry Baker
It all began in 1886 in Barnet, England, where Douglas Harry Baker undertook an apprenticeship and quickly became a skilled watchmaker.
In 1911, he emigrated to Western Australia, settling in Geraldton — opening the first jewellery and watch repair shop in the region. His precision and integrity earned him a reputation for quality that would outlast him by generations.
His work focused on repairing watches and clocks while also offering fine jewellery to the growing town. From this single bench, a five-generation legacy was born.
Second Generation
1924 – 1958
Douglas
Douglas
Hubert Baker
Just a young boy when he began learning the trade from his father, Douglas Hubert was a trained watchmaker by 1924.
In 1935, he married Edith Annie Uren and moved to Northam, where he managed a jewellery store and later opened his own in 1940. The shop grew steadily under his care.
During World War II, Douglas Hubert served as an instrument maker in the Royal Australian Air Force while Edith managed the business with quiet strength. Together, they built a trusted name in town — and kept the family trade alive through extraordinary times.
Douglas Hubert Baker
Geraldton, Western Australia — 1978
David Leon Baker
1937 – 2009
Third Generation
1952 – 2009
David
David
Leon Baker
Born in 1937 in Northam, David followed in the family's footsteps — beginning his apprenticeship in 1952 and taking over the business in 1958.
Under David's leadership, the business expanded beyond Northam, opening a new store in Merredin. He emphasised watch repairs and grew the jewellery offering significantly over the following decades.
In the 1970s, David and his wife Yvonne sold their stores and returned to Geraldton, where they rebuilt from the ground up. In 1978, they opened the first store to carry the Leon Baker name in the Town Towers — the brand we know today.
David noticed the difference between customer types and ultimately focused on quality service over discount retailing. It was a principle that shaped everything that followed.
“Quality over discount — always.”
—
“Precision is not a skill — it is a tradition passed from hand to hand.”
—
Fourth Generation
2009 – Present
Elise & Shain Forth
In 2009, after decades of service, David sold the company to his youngest daughter Elise and her husband Shain Forth — officially passing the torch to the fourth generation.
Elise had worked at the shop since she was 16, and by 2007 she was already running operations. Together, Elise and Shain brought a new vision — remodelling the stores for a cleaner, more welcoming feel and introducing a strong online presence.
Shain added his creative touch too, launching fresh designs like the Coral Bay collection, inspired by Western Australia's coastline. Together they have kept the business modern while honouring its traditions.
3
Store locations
140+
Years of family history
Elise & Shain Forth
Fifth Generation
The Future
Ross Forth
And now the fifth generation has arrived. At just 17, Ross moved away from home to open and manage the Merredin store — which he built from the ground up, earning customer trust through dedication and skill.
Later, Ross launched the Busselton shop, blending clean contemporary design with old-school service values. He leads the legacy today with a passion for expert watch repairs, creating his own watch designs, and modern jewellery — grounded in the same core values of honesty, quality and service that defined every generation before him.
The Family
Five Generations.
Five Generations.
One Name.
I
Douglas Harry Baker
1886 – 1935Founded the first watchmaker & jewellery shop in Geraldton, Western Australia.
II
Douglas Hubert Baker
1924 – 1958Grew the business through war and peace, building lasting community trust.
III
David Leon Baker
1952 – 2009Named the brand and opened the first Leon Baker store in Geraldton's Town Towers.
IV
Elise & Shain Forth
2009 – PresentModernised stores across WA and launched the Coral Bay jewellery collection.
V
Ross David Forth
The FutureLeading the next chapter — watches, jewellery design and the same family values.
Est. 1886
From its roots in 1886, through wars, generations and massive change — Leon Baker Jewellers has always stood for craftsmanship, trust and family pride.
