Thomas Austin

Thomas Austin (1815 – 1871) was a pioneer settler in Van Diemen’s Land and Winchelsea, Victoria, Australia, and is generally credited with the introduction of rabbits into Australia in 1859.

Born at Baltonsborough, Somerset, England, the youngest son of John Austin and Nancy, née Lucas, he arrived with other members of his family in Hobart Town in 1831.

After farming near Ouse Thomas and his brother James crossed Bass Strait in 1837 and settled as pioneer pastoralists in the Western District of the Port Phillip District. Thomas took up land near Winchelsea, creating a run of 11,736 hectares known as "Barwon Park". In 1845 he married Elizabeth Phillips Harding (1821 – 1910) in Melbourne and they had 11 children.

As a member of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria, Thomas helped to introduce many species from England, including 24 breeding rabbits in October 1859 as game for shooting parties. While his efforts were praised at the time, he has borne the brunt of blame for introducing this pest to Australia. [http://www.sbs.com.au/gold/story.html?storyid=130]

In 1871 work was completed on the bluestone mansion that Thomas had designed and built on his property. This is now owned by the National Trust of Australia and is open to the public [http://www.nattrust.com.au/trust_properties/bellarine_peninsula/barwon_park] . Thomas died soon after the mansion was completed but his widow continued to live there and, as a philanthropist, helped to found the Austin Hospital in Heidelberg and the Austin Homes for Women in Geelong.

See also

*Rabbits in Australia

References

* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010542b.htm/ Australian Dictionary of Biography - Thomas Austin]
* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/AS10016b.htm/ Australian Dictionary of Biography - Elizabeth Austin]
* [http://www.heritageaustralia.com.au/magazine.php?issue=2&article=24/ Australian Heritage (Autumn 2006) article on Thomas Austin & rabbits]