The area was subject to flooding by the River Torrens, which originally ran into an area named "The Reedbeds" in the upper reaches of the Port River. In the 1930s the Torrens Channel, also named Breakout Creek, was cut through the coastal dunes to Gulf St Vincent, to drain the wetlands and eliminate the flooding. A large part of Lockleys is within a bend of the River Torrens. Hence, prior to subdivision, the area was renowned for its rich soil, market gardens and greenhouses. The name comes from a property owned by Charles Brown Fisher, then Edward Meade Bagot and Gabriel Bennett, who built a course there for amateur horse racing. The property was rented by trainers J. Eden Savill and C. Leslie Macdonald for their Lockleys Stables where many good racehorses were prepared. The area was subdivided for housing. The Hank family had substantial holdings; the Hank brothers were footballers for West Torrens Football Club, with Bob Hank winning the Magarey Medal in both 1946 and 1947. The suburb is the home of the "EDS request management" and "EDS credit services" in the former John Martins bulk store on Pierson Street. Prior to EDS's conversion of the warehouse, this was used as a storage location for the floats used in the John Martin's Christmas Pageant.
Lockleys North Primary School is a coeducational grades R-7 school located on Malurus Avenue. Students come from a wide variety of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds due to the demographics of West Torrens area.
History
With the expansion of the western suburbs of Adelaide the school was built in 1960. The school celebrated its 50th anniversary with an open day for old scholars and old staff on 14 November 2010. Lockleys North Primary was one of 20 schools around Australia,, invited to participate in the Microsoft Innovative Schools Forum in 2011.
Facilities
The school houses the Lockleys North Gymnasium and up to date access to technology. There are sports fields on the grounds of the school and a range of outdoor learning areas. Lockleys North Primary School received $3,200,000 under the National School Pride program and Primary Schools for the 21st Century element of the Building the Education Revolution. In August 2010 Lockleys North Primary School built two new buildings – "Tirkandi" and "Torrens". The library was opened by Steve Georganas, MHR for the seat of Hindmarsh. The school grounds also has a soccer pitch which not only used by the school but also other clubs. The gymnasium is also used for badminton by outside clubs. Bicycle riding is offered in Physical Education classes as there are extensive paths along the River Torrens which is close nearby.
Special programs
Specialist programs are offered in science, physical education, music, German and Greek.
