Lockley started in the book trade working as a 'message-boy' for the Sydney bookseller William Maddock. He subsequently managed the Sydney Book Club when it was established in 1895 and also edited the
Amateur Gardener magazine. He wrote several gardening books, and using the pseudonym 'Redgum', 'wrote delightfully on gardening and kindred subjects for many years in the
Sydney Morning Herald.' (James Tyrrell.
Old Books, Old Friends, Old Sydney
p.73).
