“Unsure of origin of photo”
William Henry Locke was born on 11 April 1874 in London, England, the son of John Locke and Mary Ann (née Searle). He was baptised shortly afterwards on 24 May 1874 at Christ Church, North Brixton, where the parish register records his parents as John and Mary Ann Locke.
Early Life in England
By the time of the 1881 England Census, William—recorded as William H. Locke—was living with his mother at 1 Merrow Cottage, Avondale Road, Camberwell, aged six and attending school. The census lists his birthplace as Lambeth, Surrey.
In the 1891 Census, William, then sixteen, was still residing at 35 Avondale Road, Camberwell, and working as a clerk/accountant. His birthplace is recorded as Brixton, Surrey.
Migration to Australia
At the age of eighteen, William departed England aboard the Orizaba on 8 May 1891, bound for Melbourne. He arrived in Victoria on 1 June 1891, as confirmed by the Victorian inward passenger lists.
Life in Australia
By 17 August 1894, William was living in Ryde, New South Wales, as noted in the New South Wales Government Gazette.
On 27 March 1900, he married Alice Henrietta Westcott at Mt. Erica Wesleyan Church, Melbourne, Victoria. Together they had seven children:
- Walter Reginald Locke
- Aubrey William Locke
- Winifred Mary Locke
- Alice Rosalie Locke
- Charles Herbert Locke
- John Locke
- Helen Locke
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, William is documented in various residences around Sydney. In 1926, he was living at Kooyong, Hastings Road, Warrawee, and in 1927 he is mentioned in connection with a family wedding in Warrawee.
From the early 1930s onward, electoral rolls consistently place William at Sunbourne, Pittwater Road, Narrabeen, in the Warringah district. He appears there in the rolls for 1933, 1935, 1936, 1943, 1946, and 1949, often listed with the occupation manager.
Around 1939, he is again recorded as residing in Narrabeen.
Later Life and Second Marriage
William married Lillian Lucy Morgan in 1944 at Manly, New South Wales.
Death
William Henry Locke died on 7 September 1950 in Narrabeen, Warringah, New South Wales, Australia.
Alternate Names Found in Records
Across various documents, William appears under several name variations, including:
- William Lock
- William H. Locke
- Mr. W. H. Lock
- Wm Hy Locke
- William Henry Lock
Wayne and Sandra's Family History 