Talf Gooch and Family

Have you noticed the marble plaque on the wall of the Institute Hall, dedicated to Alfred (Talf) Gooch by the old-time dancers? Who was Alfred (Talf) Gooch or Alfred Leedham, as he was also known?

In 1857, at the age of five, he arrived in Macclesfield with his mother, Susannah and older brother Arthur. They came from Strathalbyn following Susannah’s second marriage to local man George Leedham. As a child, Alfred attended the Macclesfield Primary School along with his brother. As was common practice, the Gooch boys took their stepfather’s surname. In later years, both boys became blacksmiths. Alfred (Talf) was also a talented musician who played his violin for many years at regular dances and local concerts in Macclesfield.

As reported in the Southern Argus 9 Nov 1916, p 3, Jottings by JWE, ‘There were very few of the many regular dances given in the sixties and seventies that ‘Talf Leedham’, by which Mr Gooch was better known, very few dances that he was not present at as the inspiring musician, later on being joined by one of his brothers and still later by one of the Anderson boys’.

Woollard Gooch and his wife, Susannah (nee Crack), aged 23, and their sons, Arthur Crack Gooch, 2 years old, and Alfred Woollard Gooch, 1 year old, arrived in South Australia in July 1853 onboard the ship William Stewart. They came from Ixworth, Suffolk, England and Woollard Gooch aged 26, is recorded on the assisted passenger list as an agricultural labourer.

The family first settled in Strathalbyn, where Woollard died a year later. He is said to have been the first white man to be buried in the Strathalbyn Cemetery. Susannah was left with two young sons to care for. However, on 22 December 1857, she married George Leedham, a blacksmith of Macclesfield and moved there. It was also his second marriage.

Information gathered from the family history book of George Pearson and Maria Leedham, called ‘A Leedham line’, pages 118 – 120, includes the following: ‘After assisting his father on the property ‘Glouster’ at Greenhills, George Leedham worked as a blacksmith in Macclesfield. In 1849, he returned to Tasmania and married Elizabeth Barrett. They had one surviving child, George William Leedham, who was baptised at their home at Greenhills in 1850. Three other children died in infancy. Elizabeth died in Victoria at the age of 32’.

Alfred and Arthur Leedham were among the pupils listed on the books at the first annual examination at the newly built Macclesfield School. An interesting report in the SA Register, 23 Dec 1857, p3, describes this special event. ‘The Rev. Mr Harris took the chair at half-past 12 o’clock, and a number of the most influential ladies and gentlemen in the neighborhood evinced their interest in the cause of education by attending on the occasion. The pupils, of whom there are 71 on the books, were examined on general subjects by the teacher, Mr Winter. Some of them, considering the time the school has been established, exhibited great proficiency.

At half past six, a public tea meeting was held in the schoolroom in aid of the school fund. There were nearly 100 persons present. The materials of the feast had been kindly supplied by some of the local ladies. Afterwards, a further public meeting was held to discuss the financial statement and the debt owed on the building. Mr S Robinson, Treasurer, said that the meeting had heard the balance-sheet read, seen the state of the funds and all he could say was that they must put their hands in their pockets and pay the balance. The public tea meeting raised £30. The outstanding amount was £124.

The founders of the Macclesfield Public School in 1855: William Dancker, Stephen Robinson, Henry Marker, Matthew Linn and Henry Lewis.

As a lad, Alfred (Talf) used to accompany Mr Charles Fry from Macclesfield to Wallaroo with two horses and a van laden with fruit and vegetables. The trip took two weeks to complete and on several nights, they camped on the roadside.

In later years, both boys became well-known blacksmiths. Their stepfather, George Leedham, is likely to have taught them the trade. From Arthur’s obituary, we gather that he served six years working with Mr Stephen Robinson, another local blacksmith. At one time, 4 blacksmiths were working in the town.

It is said that they were responsible for making the first ‘velocipede’ in the district. The term describes an early form of bicycle with iron wheels and no tyres, sometimes referred to as a bone shaker due to the uncomfortable ride!

Arthur eventually left Macclesfield and set up shop in Carrington Street, Adelaide. He died in 1926 at the age of 76, leaving a widow, Eleanor, one brother (Mr. AW Gooch), two sons, Messrs. Arthur and Alfred of Adelaide, and two daughters, Mrs. Thomas and Miss Francis Gooch. He is buried at the West Terrace Cemetery.

Our Alfred (Talf) served as a councillor on the Macclesfield Council and was involved in the creation of the Crystal Lake swimming pool on the Angus River. He was also a Past Grand for the Loyal Macclesfield No. 32 Independent Order of Oddfellows (IOOF). In 1892, Talf married Annie Howe, nee Fry, a widow with 2 children, Raymond and Lillian. They lived in a house next door to their blacksmith shop on Venables Street between Yates cottage and the Macclesfield Hotel. It no longer exists today; in its place is another house and an old garage. Mrs. Gooch was said to have had a lovely garden down to the creek at the back of her home. In 1940, Talf died in Macclesfield aged 89.

From left, Mr & Mrs Supple (Mrs. Gooch’s sister) and Talf & Annie Gooch, c 1937.

Footnote: Talf & Arthur’s mother, Susannah Leedham, died at Macclesfield in 1878. George, their stepfather, died in Adelaide in 1887. Over the generations, the Leedhams of Macclesfield intermarried with other local families, including the Edmonds, Smiths and Frys. Likely, there are still descendants living in the area.

Macclesfield History Group July 2025.