Lockier Burges (Australian politician) facts for kids
- Two people named Lockier Clere Burges have been prominent in Western Australia. For the Lockier Clere Burges born in 1841, see Lockier Burges (1841-1929)
Lockier Clere Burges (born around 1814 – died July 31, 1886) was an important early settler in colonial Western Australia. He became a leading pastoralist, which means he raised a lot of livestock like sheep and cattle. He also served as a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council, helping to make rules for the colony.
Contents
Lockier Burges: A New Start in Australia
Lockier Burges was born in Fethard, Tipperary, Ireland, around 1814. In 1829, he decided to move to Western Australia with his two brothers, William Burges and Samuel Evans Burges.
The three brothers sailed to the Swan River Colony on a ship called the Warrior. They arrived in March 1830, ready for a new life.
Settling Down in the Colony
The Burges brothers first settled on 300 acres (about 120 hectares) of untouched land. This land was located where Ellen Brook and the Swan River meet, in a place called Upper Swan. They lived there until 1837.
After that, they moved to York and took up a much larger area of 5,600 acres (about 2,266 hectares). They named their new property "Tipperary" to remember their home in Ireland.
In 1849, Lockier and William Burges moved to the Champion Bay area. Samuel stayed behind at Tipperary. Lockier briefly worked as the manager of the Geraldine lead mine.
Building a Big Farm Business
In 1851, Lockier Burges chose the spot for his homestead, Irwin House. It was on the Irwin River, about 18 km (11 miles) inland from where Dongara is today.
Burges joined forces with Edward Hamersley, Samuel Pole Phillips, and Bartholomew Urban Vigors. They formed a group called The Cattle Company. This company was given permission to use huge areas of land for grazing. They had about 60,000 acres (about 24,280 hectares) along the Irwin River and Greenough Flats. This gave their company almost complete control over the land in that area.
A Trip Home and Scientific Discoveries
In January 1860, Burges went back to Ireland for a visit. He returned to Western Australia in November 1862.
Lockier Burges is also known for his help in studying birds, which is called ornithology. He collected bird specimens (examples of birds) in York. These specimens were given to John Gilbert and later recorded by John Gould in his famous book, Birds of Australia.
Among the birds he provided were a pied honeyeater (Certhionyx variegatus) and the very first example (called a type specimen) of the grey falcon (Falco hypoleucos).
Serving in Government
On January 14, 1879, Lockier Burges was chosen to be a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council. This council was a group of people who helped make important decisions and laws for the colony. He held this position until July 2, 1884.
Later Years
In his final years, Lockier Burges retired to Perth. He passed away there on July 31, 1886. He never married.
