The death of George Frederick Sugden, of Elsternwick, Melbourne, and late of Woodsome Lees, Tocumwal, New South Wales, occurred on the 5th May, in Melbourne, at the age of 81 years.
Mr. Sugden was a very well-known man in wool circles, especially in Riverina, where most of his long life and interesting career had been spent. Born in Yorkshire in 1842, he arrived in Australia in 1848, and a few years later, while still a boy, accompanied his father to Kilmore, in Victoria, and here helped him to form the station known by the same name. At the age of 20 he travelled up with his father to Tubbo station, in New South Wales (then owned by Mr. John Peters), and there classed the sheep for the owners.
At 21 years of age he got his first job on his own as a sheep and wool classer, doing the work for Widgiewa, then owned by Sir Samuel Wilson and Mr. James Cochrane. The sheep from Coonong and Big Yanko were shorn at the one shed in those days, and Mr. Sugden classed this wool. A little later he accepted an appointment as manager of Bundure, near Jerilderie, but the station was shortly afterwards sold, and the owners went out to Mossgiel, where they took up a large tract of country, which Mr. Sugden helped to form into what was known as Mossgiel station, managed by Mr. E. Robertson. Shortly after this Mr. Sugden returned and managed Yamma for Mr. C. M. Lloyd. This properly is now owned by Mr. A. S. O'Keefe.
At the age of 27, Mr. Sugden left Mr. Lloyd and went to Tocumwal and took up 80 acres on the Murray, and it was here that he erected his first stationary woolscouring works, as up to this time he used to travel round the stations with a very complete portable plant, and erect it on the station, handy to a creek or river. Making a success of the woolscour at Tocumwal, he later on opened the same class of works at Corowa and Narandera.
It was in 1869 he started the Tocumwal plant, and commenced to build his home, and at this time he married. For 45 years Mr. Sugden resided at Woodsome Lees, and when he found his health giving out he decided to sell, having by this time made a very comfortable home, and put together about 12,000 acres of freehold, which he had improved to a very high standard.
Mrs. Sugden predeceased her husband by 16 years. There are six daughters and four sons living, the latter being, Mr. J. H. Sugden, of Sydney; Mr. G. F. L. Sugden, of Melbourne; Mr. Frank Sugden, of Canada; and Mr. Clive Sugden, of Queensland
'Sugden, George Frederick (1842–1922)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/sugden-george-frederick-949/text950, accessed 19 April 2024.