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 were: Thomas Goode of Canowie Station, Henry Abel Goode, William and Benjamin Powell Goode on the Hope in 1858, Charles Rufus Goode on the Princess Helena in 1860, and Matthew Goode on the South Australian in 1868. Also on the South Australian was their sister Ann. Another brother, Samuel and a sister Elizabeth 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.

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, 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, 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", 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 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, 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 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.
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. Their children included:
Benjamin Powell "Ben" Goode 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 in 1867. Among their children were:
Their home for many years was "Flinders House", Port Pirie.