[3][4] The settlement began as a private subdivision known as Baldry, which was first put up for auction in January 1875.

[5] It subsequently adopted the name of Leighton, which was the name of a family of early settlers in the area.

[7][8] The Baldry (later Leighton) Wesleyan Church opened in the 1870s; its date of closure is unknown.

[4] The former school's World War I honour roll is now preserved at the Booborowie Institute.

[16] The locality is zoned for use in primary production, mainly for agricultural uses, with a small amount of land used for grazing livestock.