Nicholas Colston Lockyer CBE ISO (1855 - 1933)

Born 6 Oct 1855 in Woolloomooloo, New South Wales (Australia)

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Juliet F Le (Eagar) Lockyer — married 1885 in Sydney, New South Wales (Australia)

Husband of Winifred Mary (Wollaston) Lockyer — married 1901 in Victoria, Australia

Died 26 Aug 1933 at age 77 in Toorak, Victoria, Australia

Biography

Nicholas Lockyer CBE ISO is Notable.

Sir Nicholas Lockyer CBE ISO was a senior Colonial and Australian public servant, best known for his time as head of the fledgling Commonwealth Department of Trade and Customs.

Nicholas Lockyer CBE ISO was born in the Colony of New South Wales (1788-1900)

Nicholas Colston Lockyer was born on 6th October 1855 in the family home in Bay Street, Woolloomooloo, New South Wales (Australia) and was christened in St James' Church of England (now Anglican Church), Sydney. He was the older son of Edmund Lockyer, soldier and explorer, and his third wife, Eliza Colston. ^[1] His father passed away when Nicholas was just four years of age. His mother married again in 1871. Nicholas was educated at Fort Street Model School and the Lyceum Academy, Sydney.

At thirteen years of age, the usual age at the time to graduate from school, Nicholas joined the civil service (now known as the public service) as a cadet and two years later was appointed clerk to the Treasury Department of New South Wales. In September-November 1883, still in his teens, he was an inspector of public revenue accounts; in the December he was appointed receiver of revenue.

Nicholas married Mary Eagar in 1885 in Sydney. ^[2] Making their home in Glebe, the couple had two daughters and a son, however, Mary passed away in 1898 in Sydney's St George district. ^[3]

In 1896, Nicholas was appointed to the combined positions of collector of customs and first commissioner of taxation in New South Wales. After federation, in January 1901, Nicholas took his children to Melbourne, Victoria, which was then the seat of federal parliament and government. He transferred to the newly-established Commonwealth Public Service.

Nicholas married a second time, to Winifred Wollaston, eldest daughter of Sir Harry Wollaston (with whom he would be working), in 1901 in Melbourne, Victoria. ^[4] The couple do not appear to have had any further children together.

In 1908 Nicholas was appointed assistant comptroller-general of customs, to his father-in-law. Together with C C Kingston and his father-in-law he had been responsible for framing the first Federal customs tariff. Nicholas was appointed Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO) on 29th July 1906 for his earlier service as Collector of Customs for New South Wales. ^[5]

Between 1911 and 1913, Nicholas was appointed Comptroller-General of Customs and permanent head of the Department of Trade and Customs; succeeding his father-in-law, Sir Harry Wollaston.

During six months furlough in 1916, with the honorary rank of Major, Nicholas was honorary comptroller of the Australian Imperial Force's (AIF) garrison institutes in Australia, troopship canteens and prisoner-of-war canteens. From 1917, as first controller of repatriation, he was largely responsible for the organisation of the Repatriation Department. In 1920-33 he was chairman of the AIF Canteens Funds Trust and of the Sir Samuel McCaughey Bequest for the education of soldiers' children. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) on 4th October 1918 for his service with the Garrison Camps and Canteens'. ^[6]

He retired from the public service in 1920, aged 65 years.

Nicholas was created Knight Bachelor in the New Year Honours 1926 for his service as Chairman of the Forces Canteen Trust Fund. ^[7]

In 1926 he was appointed special representative of the Commonwealth Government to inquire into the financial position of Tasmania. His candid report revealed the serious condition of Tasmania's finances and the urgent need for assistance from the Commonwealth. In 1929-31 he was a Commonwealth representative on the board of Commonwealth Oil Refineries.

Aged 77 years, he passed away after a long illness on 26th August 1933 at his home in Toorak. ^[8] He was survived by his wife, and his son and daughters, and their families.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #4056/1855 V18554056 42B
2. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #50/1885
3. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #15770/1898; registered at Rockdale
4. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #6401/1901
5. ↑ Australian Honours: ISO; accessed 4 Dec 2023
6. ↑ Australian Honours: CBE; accessed 4 Dec 2023
7. ↑ Australian Honours: Knight Bachelor; accessed 4 Dec 2023
8. ↑ Victoria Death Index #6908/1933

See also

• McDonald, D I. 'Lockyer, Sir Nicholas Colston (1855–1933)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 7 Dec 2013.
• Wikipedia: Nicholas Lockyer; accessed 4 Dec 2023.