Thomas Austin (pastoralist)
Thomas Austin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1815 Baltonsborough, Somerset, England |
| Died | 1871-12-15 |
| Occupation | Pastoralist |
| Known for | Introducing rabbits into the wild in Australia |
Thomas Austin (1815 – 15 December 1871) was an English immigrant to Australia, best recognized for releasing rabbits into the wild in 1859, although rabbits had been brought earlier by the First Fleet in 1788.
Personal life
Austin was born in Baltonsborough, Somerset, England and migrated with his family to Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land (present-day Tasmania) in 1831. He played a role in establishing the inaugural ferry service across the Derwent River at the location now known as Austin’s Ferry. After engaging in agriculture near Ouse, he and his brother James became pastoralists in Victoria’s Western District starting in 1837.
In 1845, Austin wed Elizabeth Phillips Harding in Melbourne, and together they raised eleven children.
Barwon Park
From 1837 onwards, Austin purchased land close to Winchelsea, Victoria where he developed a pastoral estate named Barwon Park, specializing in sheep grazing and horse breeding. The construction of a bluestone mansion on this property was completed in 1871; this residence is currently preserved by the National Trust of Australia and accessible to visitors. Austin passed away six months after finishing the mansion. His wife went on to become a prominent philanthropist, playing a significant role in establishing Melbourne’s Austin Hospital as well as women’s shelters in Geelong.
Introduction of species
As an active participant in Victoria’s Acclimatisation Society, Austin introduced various English animals such as hares, blackbirds, thrushes, along with breeding English wild rabbits and partridges. In October 1859, he liberated 24 breeding rabbits on his property for hunting purposes. Although initially welcomed by settlers, Austin is largely regarded as responsible for initiating Australia’s widespread invasive rabbit population. A genomic analysis conducted in 2022 verified that all feral rabbits across Australia descend exclusively from the population he introduced.