Lockerly Arboretum Foundation has served the Milledgeville and surrounding areas for forty years. Lockerly’s rich history includes the following benchmarks in time:

1839:

Richard J. Nichols constructed the mansion originally known as "Rose Hill" due to the abundance of Cherokee roses that grew in the area.

1927:

R. W. Hatcher purchased "Rose Hill" and the name was changed to "Lockerly Hall" after a castle in Great Britain.

1965:

Mr. Edward J. Grassmann of Elizabeth, New Jersey, a frequent visitor to the area and local kaolin industry developer, purchased Lockerly Hall with 25 acres surrounding the mansion. Lockerly Hall was separated from adjoining property and used as a private guest house of his kaolin business. He designated the Arboretum grounds to provide Milledgeville and the Middle Georgia area outstanding ecological, horticultural and historical education in order to promote preservation and stewardship of the environment.

1965:

Lockerly Arboretum Foundation, Inc. was chartered as a private, nonprofit, 501 c (3) foundation.

1997:

The seventy-five acres of high ground and wetland on the Oconee River in Washington County was received from Engelhard Corporation is the perfect area for advanced studies and research. It is subject to wet lands mitigation restrictions; therefore, it will remain a natural, primitive area.

1998:

Lockerly Arboretum Foundation acquired Lockerly Hall from English China Clay International.

1999:

Colonel and Mrs. Oliver N. Worley donated 193 acres of ancestral land for an environmental, botanical and nature study center available to students in Putnam County and surrounding areas in middle Georgia.

2005:

Lockerly Arboretum Foundation Board of Trustees approved and began implementing a comprehensive Master Plan for development and preservation of the site facilities and amenities.