Thomas Goode (pastoralist)

Thomas Goode (15 April 1835 – 22 July 1926) was a pastoralist in the Colony of South Australia.

Thomas Goode was born at Pigeon House farm, Kyre Magna, near Tenbury, Worcester, a son of William and Catherine Goode. From the age of 14 he managed his father's farms, and for two years at Felton Court, the home of his uncle Matthew Goode, who was a successful breeder of Hereford cattle, then left for South Australia on the Hope with brothers Henry Abel Goode (1838 – 12 February 1921), William (ca.1840 – 28 January 1910) and Benjamin Powell Goode (ca.1841), arriving at Port Adelaide on 19 February 1858. William, Henry and Benjamin Goode ran a shop at YankalillaCharles Rufus Goode (1844–1913) came out in 1860, Another brother, Matthew (1847–1831) arrived on the South Australian in 1868.

Six weeks after his arrival in Adelaide he and a young man named Bruce rode the 120 miles (190 km) to Canowie station with horses and cattle. His cousins Charles (afterwards Sir Charles), Samuel, and Matthew Goode, had country near Mount Remarkable, and they wished him to gain experience at Canowie before taking over Mount Remarkable for them. He was engaged at Canowie by the proprietors Abraham Scott, J. Frederick "Fred" Hayward and (Richard) Boucher James. A few weeks later Goode was sent to Willunga with an aboriginal stockman to get 92 cattle. Other work involved hunting for horses that had strayed from Canowie, and were found as far south as Anlaby Station (near Kapunda) and Shea-oak Log, 60 or 70 miles (100 or 110 km) away. Around 1858 Goode was made manager of Canowie station.

Within 10 years from the time of his getting the 92 cattle from Willunga, with the aid of an imported bull and judicious mating, the Canowie Shorthorn cattle were winning prizes at the Adelaide Show, and continued to do so for many years. The sheep also were, with the aid of some imported and John Murray rams, very greatly improved. Canowie rams, under Goode's management, secured the highest prices at Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney sales, and Canowie sheep at the Adelaide show took 22 out of 32 prizes, including five cups, all the first, and every prize for ewes in one year. During this time selected flock rams worth £24,000 were sold off Canowie in one year. As many as 72,000 sheep were shorn there, and in one year Canowie wool brought the highest price in the London market for both fleece and lambs' wool. During the great drought of 1865 Goode reared a fine bull at Canowie, which won the Champion prize at Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney shows. The sheep and cattle from the Canowie estate played an important part in the improvement of the flocks and herds of Queensland. Goode was the first to get water by sinking bores on the Belalie Plains. Goode managed the station until December 1890. After leaving Canowie he was general manager for the estate of (the late) J. H. Angas for ten years, having charge of Hill River Station (which became his base station). From 1903 to 1907 he was in charge of the Petherton estate (which was then sold to the Government for closer settlement) and in 1906 he and two sons, Albert Powell Goode and Clarence Goode purchased Mintadloo station at Farrell's Flat six miles from Clare, and set about improving it.

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