H. A. and W. Goode

H. A. & W. Goode was one of the largest regional department stores in the early days of South Australia, with stores in Yankalilla, Aldinga, Willunga, then finally and most notably in Port Pirie. Its principals were three brothers, Henry Abel Goode, William Goode and Benjamin Powell Goode, all born at Kyre Magna, in Worcestershire, sons of farmer William Goode.
The Goodes who emigrated from Kyre Magna (also called Kyre Wyard, and now just inside Herefordshire) were: Thomas Goode of Canowie Station, Henry Abel Goode, William and Benjamin Powell Goode on the "Hope" in 1858, Charles Rufus Goode (of Port Pirie) on the "Princess Helena" in 1860, and Matthew Goode (of Willunga) on the "South Australian" in 1868. Also on the "South Australian" was their sister Ann. Another brother, Samuel (d.1878) and a sister Elizabeth (c. 1837 – 1912) remained behind. Elizabeth married Alfred John Prince Porter, a master tailor, moved with him and her brother Samuel, also a tailor, to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, and had ten children. Her second child Alfred John Porter joined the Goodes in Australia in about 1883. The youngest, Eva, married one David Herbertson: their descendants subsequently moved to Australia.
Matthew Goode (c. 1820–1901) of Matthew Goode and Co, Thomas Goode (1816–1882) of Goolwa, and Sir Charles Henry Goode were cousins. Matthew Goode married a Miss Jones before leaving England. She died, and Matthew married her sister Elisabeth Jones ( – 19 May 1902) in 1853. Three other sisters married the three principals of H. A. and W. Goode: Frances (c. 1845 – 1 February 1930) married Benjamin Powell Goode on 19 June 1867; Emily Georgeanna Jones (October 1845 – 17 October 1932) married Henry Abel Goode on 19 August 1868 and Marion Jones (c. 1853–1929) married William Goode in 1873. The Jones sisters were daughters of Edward Jones (c. 1792 – 29 January 1880) of Haywood, Herefordshire, later of Finniss Point, South Australia then Hutt Street, Adelaide.
History.
Three brothers, Thomas, Henry, and Benjamin arrived in South Australia in 1858, after a voyage of 122 days in the sailing vessel "Hope". William found employment in the wholesale and retail drapery business Goode Bros., on Rundle Street (where Charles Birks & Co. later stood), owned by his cousins Matthew and Charles Henry Goode. The wholesale business moved to Stephens Place, and later became Matthew Goode and Co. William and his brother Henry were with the firm for six years.
On leaving his cousin's employ William and Henry bought general stores at Aldinga and Yankalilla, (licences granted in 1879) employing their brother Benjamin to manage for them at Yankalilla. Business boomed and Benjamin was admitted to the partnership. A second shop was bought in Aldinga, and one at Willunga, and the four establishments returned a profit.
In 1878 the partners bought out Brown, Wood, & Scrutton, who ran a small store in Port Pirie, and improved the business year by year until it assumed large proportions. In 1896 they sold the southern businesses and in 1905 the replacement two storey store, one of the architectural features of Ellen Street, was completed. The premises occupied a frontage of nearly 80 ft. by a depth of 95 ft. In 1909 they sold the business to Mrs. Robert Knox and William Miller, of Wilcannia, but it carried on as "H. A. & W. Goode" (later "Goode Brothers"), and was one of the largest concerns outside Adelaide.
In 1914 a limited liability company was formed to run the business, with Knox and Lance Goode as directors and W. E. Wainwright as Chairman. In 1916 the business again changed hands, with J. B. Johnston, H. W. Goode, and Mrs. Frances Goode as the new proprietors. Mrs. Goode died in 1930, and in 1932 the business was purchased by the family of H. A. Goode, with Lance Goode as managing partner. Its trading name reverted to the original "H. A. & W. Goode".
In 1923 the store's magazine was forced open and some gelignite stolen. A subsequent attempt to blast open the strongroom failed, but the ensuing fire created a great deal of damage. No-one was ever charged with the offences.
Henry Abel Goode.
Henry Abel Goode (1838 – 12 February 1921) was born at Kyre Magna, Worcestershire, in 1838. He embarked for South Australia by the sailing vessel "Hope" in 1857, and reached Port Adelaide after a voyage lasting 152 days. Six years later, with his brother, William Goode, he founded the firm of H. A. & W. Goode, in which, subsequently, their brother Benjamin P. Goode, of Port Pirie, became a partner. The business, which was conducted at Aldinga and Port Pirie, grew to large dimensions. In 1909 Mr. Goode relinquished his connection with the firm, and lived in retirement. During his business life he did a considerable amount of stock valuing, and was recognised in commercial circles as an expert.
Family.
Henry Abel Goode married Emily Georgina Jones (October 1845 – 17 October 1932), a daughter of Edward Jones, of Finniss Point, on 19 August 1868. Their children included:
He died at his residence "Strathclyde" at 99 Mitchell Street, Hyde Park, South Australia after a long illness.
William Goode.
William Goode (c. 1840 – 28 January 1910) was a businessman in the early days of South Australia, with interests in Yankalilla, Aldinga, Willunga, but was most notable in connection with Port Pirie.
Character.
William Goode, in an obituary in the "Port Pirie Recorder" was described as the finest natural orator the editor had known, a man of great tenacity and steadfastness of purpose; not an analytical thinker but a fine organiser and generous friend, an imposing figure with "towering forehead, craggy brows, and deep-set, piercing grey eyes ... determined mouth and square jaw ... at social gatherings he always seemed to say the right thing and in the happiest words ... he had a fine sense of the fitness of things, and frequently saved an awkward situation ... Mr. Goode's hostility and implacability in the contentious field of politics was to some hard to reconcile with his nobility of character socially and privately. ... It will be years ere we shall look on his like again".
Family.
William Goode married Marion Jones (c. 1853–1929). Their children included:
B. P. Goode.
Benjamin Powell "Ben" Goode (3 July 1842 15 August 1914) was born at Pigeon House, Kyre Magna Worcestershire and with brothers Tom, H. A., Charles and William, emigrated to South Australia on the sailing ship "Hope", arriving in 1850 after a long and protracted voyage. He secured a position as assistant at a general store in Shea-Oak Log but after 18 months contracted typhoid fever and was obliged to return to Adelaide to recuperate. He next worked at Mount Barker then to Goolwa. In 1866 he was appointed to control his brothers' shop at Yankalilla, which had just been purchased from Messrs. Allen and Jones, of Aldinga. Three years later he was admitted as a member of the firm, but did not move to Port Pirie until 1880.
Unlike his brother William, he did not readily take to public utterances, though on occasion he proved himself a forceful and effective speaker. Like his brothers, he was a large man and had a powerful baritone voice, leading the Pirie Methodist Church choir for 14 years. He was several times elected as auditor for the Town Council, but otherwise had a low public profile. He was one of the founders of the Port Pirie Institute, and was made a life member. He made a study of homeopathy and was frequently called upon to assist in cases of infantile illnesses.
He suffered a debilitating stroke in 1909 and another in 1910 but he remained gravely ill for another four years.
Family.
He married Frances "Fanny" Jones (c. 1845 – 1 February 1930) in 1867. Among their children were:
Their home for many years was "Flinders House", Port Pirie.