Historical information

This gold locket was presented to Thomas Edward Bostock on his retirement as Secretary of the Warrnambool Cricket Club on 1st August 1884. Thomas Bostock was a member of the Bostock family who had come from Tasmania to the Warrnambool district in the late 1840s. The Bostock brothers were prominent in the history of the area as pastoralists, shopkeepers, flour millers and Bond Store operators. They were all enthusiastic local cricketers. Thomas worked for the Bank of Australasia in the 1880s and was a keen footballer and cricketer. He moved to Geelong where he made his mark as a Councillor, Mayor and businessman, with several buildings and a street named after him.

Significance

This item is of very high significance because:-
1. It is an attractive and valuable gold locket from Victorian times
2. It has strong local significance as it was presented in 1884 to a prominent Warrnambool man, Thomas Edward Bostock
3. It has considerable social significance, demonstrating the customs of the time of a man carrying a locket containing miniatures of personal interest to the bearer and of the presentation of such an object by a sporting club.

Physical description

This is a gold locket with a monogram of T.E. Bostock on the front and an inscription on the back. The locket has a small ring at the top so that it could be attached to a watch chain. The locket opens to reveal two oval inserts (one with a blue background) suitable for small photographs or miniatures.

Inscriptions & markings

Monogram - T.E.B.
Inscription: ‘Presented to T.E. Bostock by the Warrnambool Cricket Club on retiring from Secretaryship, Aug 1st 1884’