Tourle, Thomas (c. 1806 - 1899)

Tourle arrived in Sydney on the Lady Raffles in 1839 having befriended Reverend John Morse during the voyage. He and Morse went into partnership to purchase Balala Station in New England and in September 1840 Tourle travelled there 180 miles by horse.

By 1845 the station was running 380 head of cattle, 9 horses and 10,000 sheep. Although they worked hard they made little money through the 1840s depression but eventually survived to become wealthy. Tourle married Helen Morse in 1846 and in 1854 bought Waratah House at present-day Mayfield, near Newcastle. He lived there until his death.

[Brief Biography compiled by Robin Hammond, January/February 2004]