Biography.guide
Home › People › Thomas Hudson Beare
Portrait of Thomas Hudson Beare

Thomas Hudson Beare

1792 – 1861

Settler in South Australia

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Thomas Hudson Beare

Lived 1792 – 1861 (aged 68).

Thomas Hudson Beare (30 December 1792 – 7 November 1861), commonly referred to as T. H. Beare, was an early settler of South Australia, regarded as the colony's first storekeeper. His daughters Elizabeth and Arabella have each been cited as the first of the fleet to set foot on South Australian shores, and his wife Lucy as the first white woman to die in South Australia.

History Thomas H. Beare of Netley, Hampshire, his wife Lucy, and their four children arrived at Kangaroo Island, South Australia aboard , one of the "First Fleet of South Australia", on 27 or 28 July 1836. Lucy, who had given birth on board the ship to a daughter who died shortly after, died within six weeks of giving birth again, this time to a healthy daughter, Mary Ann Beare (1837–1907).

Charlotte Hudson Beare (c. 1782 – 16 December 1875), a sister of Thomas, was also a passenger. She married Samuel Stephens (1808 – 18 January 1840), the Colonial Manager, on 24 September 1836. This marriage, the second in the Colony and the source of much gossip on account of their age difference, was performed by Captain George Martin aboard the anchored at Nepean Bay.

Shortly after arrival, Beare, William Giles and Henry Mildred imported a batch of Merino ewes from Van Diemens Land to Kangaroo Island, some of the first brought into the colony, though stock losses on the unusually long trip aboard the were considerable.

In 1838 he purchased section 101, Hundred of Adelaide, and named it Netley, by which name the modern suburb is known.

He supported his brother-in-law John Wrathall Bull in his claim against John Ridley as the true inventor of the stripper, having built the prototype.

Family Thomas Hudson Beare (30 December 1792 – 7 November 1861) married Lucy Ann Loose (c. 1803 – 3 September 1837) in 1819. Their children included: William Loose Beare JP (7 February 1826 – 16 July 1910) married Agnes Charlotte Alston (1833 – 29 May 1892) on 17 July 1854. He is remembered for using John Wrathall Bull's stripper, built by Samuel Marshall, to harvest wheat at "Netley", his father's property, and testifying to Bull's priority. He farmed at "Bungaree" station, then lived in Clare, where he built a fine house later owned by John Christison, retired to Glenelg. Agnes Maria Christina Beare (1855–1942) married Adolphe Carnie (died 1909) in 1870 Emmy Lucy Charlotte Beare (1857–1934) married George Klewitz Soward (died 1941) in 1880 Violet Dora Beare (1859–1910) William George Douglass Beare (1861– ) Charles Alston Beare (1863–1935) married Catherine Amy Howard (died 1930) in 1893 Nellie Laura Beare (1866– ) attended Miss Steele's Seminary. (Margaret) Doris Beatrice "Dody" Beare (1875– ) married Archie Maclagan Noel Gilbert Beare (1878– ) Lucy Anne Beare (1 March 1827 – 12 October 1861) married Francis Duval (c. 1819 – 21 October 1856) on 28 December 1843 and lived at Mypolonga. A report that she married again in 1860, to Thomas Howell Plummer, Arabella Charlotte Beare (27 Jul 1831 – 7 November 1905), claimed to be first of the new settlers to set foot on Kangaroo Island, married G. H. Williams, solicitor, of Auburn, and Quorn. married solicitor George Edwin Williams (1824 She died from burns sustained at "Netley" when her dress caught fire Girl child, name unknown, was born 1836 aboard , perhaps in South Australian waters, died on the same ship some time between 5 May 1836 and 27 July 1836. Mary Ann Beare (21? 26 August 1837 She acted as nurse to her step-mother.

Beare married again on 24 October 1840, to Lucy Bull (c. 1819 – 16 September 1887), by whom he had nine children. She had emigrated with her brothers Joseph Bull and John Wrathall Bull and his family aboard Canton, which arrived in May 1838. Thomas Henry Beare (14 November 1841 – 10 March 1848)

Emily Beare (17 June 1844 – 28 May 1925) married Robert Henry Edmunds in 1863

John James Beare (1 March 1850 – 17 November 1884) married Sarah Edmunds ( – 1 July 1925) in 1875. He was a solicitor at Moonta. (Martha) Elizabeth "Bessie" Beare (10 August 1852 – 25 December 1941) married W. J. Kennedy; in later years lived with her youngest daughter, Mrs L. G. Harrison, at the Gap, Naracoorte. Edwin Arthur Beare (23 June 1855 – 7 March 1912), married Charlotte Jane Downing ( – 10 August 1933) on 15 June 1897. He was a solicitor at Kadina, and Mayor of Wallaroo. Thomas Hudson Beare (30 June 1859 – 10 June 1940) married Louise Newman ( – 1954) on 24 December 1885. He was a famous engineer and academic

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Also known as
Thomas Beare

People in Thomas Hudson Beare's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Thomas Hudson Beare's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Thomas Hudson Beare?

settler in South Australia

When was Thomas Hudson Beare born?

Thomas Hudson Beare was born on 30 December 1792 in Netley.

When did Thomas Hudson Beare die?

Thomas Hudson Beare died on 7 November 1861 in Myponga.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Thomas Hudson Beare

· Wikidata: Q28228746

· DBpedia: Thomas Hudson Beare (pioneer)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Hudson Beare. https://biography.guide/thomas-hudson-beare/

MLA: "Thomas Hudson Beare." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-hudson-beare/.

Chicago: "Thomas Hudson Beare." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-hudson-beare/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:19 UTC