MAN-MADE DUBAI ISLAND NAMED AFTER LEOPOLD

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LEOPOLD, a town of less than 9000 people near Geelong, does not have a pub, bank or library - but it is representing Australia on The World stage.

It is the namesake of two of 300 man-made islands off the coast of Dubai, collectively forming a map of the world.

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Rod Stewart, David Beckham and Richard Branson are among celebrities rumoured to have already bought pieces of The World.

This month the future of the Aussie section, in the bottom-right corner of the development, was unveiled.

Australia, New Zealand, and the brightest star, Sirius, are all represented in the 22 islands making up Oqyana - Arabic for Oceania.

The islands are complete and soon work on turning them into an archipelago worth more than $5 billion, with luxury homes and hotels, will begin.

But why Leopold will be part of it has bemused some locals. Security door-maker Kevin Robilliard, 64, has lived in Leopold for more than 50 years and said: "I don't see what's outstanding about it."

Leopold's best-known export, photographer Darryn Lyons, was also at a loss.

"It might have been pulled off the internet because I'm a very well-known figure in Dubai these days. Perhaps someone who knows me dropped Leopold in there," Mr Lyons, who owns a home on neighbouring island development, Palm Jumeirah, said.

Oqyana spokeswoman Bahaa Hamadi said Leopold was chosen as a representative "city of Victoria" and that all island names had been inspired by "Australasian places, rivers and landmarks".

And milkbar owner Houta Elsikmani said her town was worthy of recognition.

"I think it sounds better than Melbourne Island," Mrs Elsikmani, 28, said.