William Lock Armitage
ARMITAGE, William Lock AMIEAust (1862-1931)
William was born in Stockade, near Adelaide, South Australia, on August 1, 1862, the second son of valuer James Salisbury Armitage and his wife Sarah Rebecca Armitage (nee Lockyer). He grew up in Norwood and was a prominent member of the Norwood Chess Club.
In 1893, William travelled to Western Australia, setting up a party of three, to prospect for gold. He also took out a patent for Armitage’s Patent Combination Vehicle.
Arriving in Coolgardie he was offered work. He joined the Public Works Department in November 1893, when he took on the role of caretaker of Morrowing Wells during the chaotic Siberia gold rush out of Coolgardie. He became a Draughtsman on the Goldfields Water Supply in 1896 and an Assistant Engineer with the Public Works in July 1900. In 1905, he was the Resident Engineer, Broome, leaving the North West to return to Perth in April 1906.
He then joined the Metropolitan Branch of the Water Supply Sewerage and Drainage Department under Frederick Lawson in 1913.
William had married Amy Watkins on February 27, 1896, at St Andrews Church, in Coolgardie.
He was an active member of many associations including being Vice President of the Swan River Mechanics Institute, Vice President Civil Service Club WA and President of the Kelmscott Progress Association.
He was a chess fanatic and represented Western Australia in interstate telegraphic chess competitions. He assisted establish the Coolgardie Chess Club in 1894.
A founding Associate Member of the Western Australian Institution of Engineers in 1910 and of its successor the Institution of Engineers Australia in 1919, he transferred into the Metropolitan water Sewerage and Drainage Department with Lawson in 1920. He retired in 1926.
William died on May 21, 1931, at Parkside Hospital, Adelaide on May 21, 1931. He was survived by his wife Amy.
References:
Inquirer and Commercial News, 25.8.1893, p. 32.
Western Mail, 25.11.1893, p. 5.
Western Mail, 15.7.1905, p. 47.
Hedland Advocate, 28.4.1906, p. 4.
West Australian, 10.2.1908, p. 4.
Western Mail, 15.2.1908, p. 41.
Kalgoorlie Western Argus, 2.7.1912, p. 11.
PSL 1905, 1910, 1915, 1922.
