Lockier Burges

Who was Lockier Burges?

Lockier Clere Burges was an early settler in colonial Western Australia who became a leading pastoralist in the colony, and a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council.

Lockier Burges was born at Fethard in Tipperary, Ireland around 1814. In 1829, he emigrated to Western Australia with his two brothers William Burges and Samuel Evans Burges. The three brothers sailed for the Swan River Colony on board the Warrior, arriving in March 1830. Until 1837 the brothers farmed at Upper Swan, before taking up land at York. In 1850, Lockier Burges moved to the Champion Bay area. For a short time he was manager of the Geraldine mine. From 1851 until 1867 he was part-owner and manager of a number of pastoral properties in the area. In January 1860 he visited Ireland, returning to Western Australia in November 1862.

On 14 January 1879, Lockier Burges was nominated to the Western Australian Legislative Council. He held the position until 2 July 1884. In his final years he retired to Perth, where he died, unmarried, on 31 July 1886.