Charles James Locke

Western Mail – Feb 26 1915

In Australia Newspapers

This document is a biographical sketch and portrait from a published source, likely a Western Australian newspaper, trade journal, or magazine, dating to around 1914 or 1915. It was created to highlight the election of Mr. C. J. Locke as the president of the Western Australian Chamber of Manufactures. The text provides a rich narrative of his life, detailing his English origins, his trade background, his migration to Australia during the economic downturn following the Melbourne land boom of 1891, and his subsequent business success in Western Australia.

Principal Individual:

  • Name: Charles James Locke
  • Role in Document: Subject of the biographical sketch
  • Birth: August 1, 1867, in Brockley, London, England
  • Parents: Third son of the late John Locke
  • Education: Shoreham Grammar School
  • Occupation: Cabinet maker, furniture manufacturer, and warehouseman. President of the Western Australian Chamber of Manufactures (1914-15).
  • Career: Apprenticed in cabinet making; worked for Messrs. Trollope and Sons in London; assisted in fitting the White Star liners Teutonic and Majestic in Belfast. Co-founder of C. and H. Locke.
  • Migration: Left England at age 24, arriving in Melbourne, Australia in 1891. Relocated to Western Australia.

Associated Individuals:

  • Name: John Locke
  • Role in Document: Father of the subject
  • Biographical Details: Deceased at the time of publication. Formerly of Ryhall, Lincolnshire, England, and later of Brockley, London.
  • Name: H. J. Locke
  • Role in Document: Brother of the subject
  • Biographical Details: Joined his brother Charles in Western Australia in 1893 to establish the firm C. and H. Locke.

Transcript of Article

MR. C. J. LOCKE.

Mr. Charles James Locke, president for 1914-15 of the Western Australian Chamber of Manufactures is the third son of the late John Locke, of Ryhall, Lincolnshire, England, and later of Brockley, London. Here Mr. Locke was born on August 1, 1867. He was educated at the Shoreham Grammar School, and on leaving school was apprenticed to cabinet making, which trade he has followed ever since. Having completed his apprenticeship, he entered the employment of Messrs. Trollope and Sons, Belgrave Square London. During his time there, Messrs. Trollope and Sons obtained the contract for furnishing the White Star liners Teutonic and Majestic, and Mr. Locke journeyed to Belfast to assist in the fitting up of same. At the age of 24 Mr. Locke left England for Australia, landing in Melbourne in the bad times at the end of the land boom in 1891. Finding no suitable opening there Western Australia was tried, and in 1893 being joined by his brother, Mr. H. J. Locke, the firm of C. and H. Locke, manufacturers and furniture ware-housemen was established. The factory is established at South Fremantle with showrooms in Fremantle, Perth, Bunbury and Geraldton. For some time Mr. Locke has taken an interest in the Chamber of Manufactures, and after serving two years on the executive committee and one year as vice-president, he has this year been elected president. Mr. Locke is very enthusiastic for local manufacture, and it has always been the principal of his firm not to import any line that can be manufactured locally.

MR. C. J. LOCKE, PRESIDENT OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF MANUFACTURES. (See letterpress above.)