Edmund Lockyer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edmund Lockyer (21 January 1784 – 10 June 1860) was a British major in the 57th regiment. He arrived in the colony of New South Wales in May 1825.

He was asked to lead an expedition to explore the Brisbane River and surrounds. On 2 September 1825 he sailed from Sydney in the cutter Mermaid, arriving at the settlement of Brisbane on the 7 September. Leaving the Mermaid at the river mouth he travelled by boat up the river. He arrived back in Sydney on the 16 October 1825 and on the Monday made a report to his Excellency the Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane

During 1826 Major Lockyer led an expedition to claim Western Australia for Britain. He sailed on the brig Amity, arriving at King George Sound. The new settlement was named Frederick's Town. Lockyer returned to Sydney during 1827.

The Sydney suburb of Ermington is named after Lockyer's residence, "Ermington House". Lockyer Creek and Lockyer Valley in Queensland were both named after Major Lockyer.

Lockyer established Australia's first smelter. In 1856 he was appointed New South Wales' first Usher of the Black Rod.