The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Goldsbrough, Richard
Goldsbrough, Richard, was born at Shipley, near Bradford, in Yorkshire, in 1821. He was employed by a wool-stapler at Bradford, and subsequently went into business there on his own account. Struck with the superiority of the Australian wools, he went out to Melbourne in 1847, and after visiting Adelaide and other places established a wool business in Melbourne in 1848. In 1853 he joined with Messrs. Edward Bow and George Kirk in starting the stock and station business of Bow, Kirk & Co. Mr. Goldsbrough acquired large station property, principally in Riverina, but ultimately devoted himself solely to wool-broking. In 1852 his brother-in-law, Mr. Hugh Parker, came out from England and became a partner with him in 1857, when the firm was known as Richard Goldsbrough & Co. In 1873 Mr. John Sutcliffe Horsfall was admitted a partner in the firm, into which the son and nephew of Mr. Hugh Parker, Messrs. Arthur and David Parker, were admitted in 1876. Five years later Messrs. Goldsbrough & Co. amalgamated with the Australasian Agency & Banking Corporation, Limited, the whole of the immense combined business being formed into a company with a capital of £3,000,000 in 300,000 shares of £10 each, under the style of R. Goldsbrough & Co., Limited Mr. Goldsbrough did not live to see the further development of the business of the Company, which resulted from its amalgamation with the great Sydney firm of Mort & Co. in 1888. He died on April 8th, 1886