Obituaries Australia

George Gooch, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 November 1923

There passed away at the age of 67 years in London during September one of Western Australia's pioneer pastoralists, Mr. George J. Gooch, of Cheriton, Gin Gin, W.A.

The late Mr. Gooch, besides being a prominent pastoralist and successful stud Merino sheepbreeder, was a great friend to all visitors to Western Australia, and the writer will never forget the superb hospitality shown to him by the above-mentioned gentleman during his tour last year through the Gin Gin and Toodyay districts.

As is common with a great many of the Western Australian pastoralists, Mr. Gooch took a very keen and active interest in the welfare of his State. He was a member of the committee of the W.A. Stud Merino Sheepbreeders' Association, a vice-president and member of the W.A. Royal Agricultural Society, of which he was also at one time president.

He was part owner of Wandagee Station in the Gascoyne district, owner of Manberry Station in the same district, and Bacton in the Toodyay district. The former station is famed for its high-class clips of wool and for its drafts of wethers. Manberry, which was only purchased this year, is under the capable management of his elder son, Mr. Gordon Gooch, while Bacton, which was purchased after the sale of old Bacton at Mingenew, is under the charge of the younger son, Mr. Jack Gooch, on which property is maintained the well-known Bacton Merino stud flock, founded by the late Mr. Gooch in 1904 on pure Koonoona blood.

His untimely death was due to an internal complaint, which had been causing him some anxiety for the past few years. It was this trouble that was the deciding factor in promoting the trip to England, where specialists considered an operation essential, the results proved fatal. The late Mr. George Gooch was a gentleman who will be greatly missed by all, even amongst children, for whom he showed great affection.