When the Manifold 'family decided to emigrate to Van Diemen's Land, Thomas was sent ahead. He arrived in Hobart Town on 23 January 1828 with £1500 and a letter of recommendation from the Colonial Office.' The remainder of the Manifold family - parents, William and Mary, brothers, John and Peter, and three sisters - arrived on 8 July 1831. 'Land grants had then finished, but William bought ninety acres (36
ha) next to his son's land, and on the combined properties the family
built Kelso House.
Their holding was comparatively poor
and, when news came of the Port Phillip District, Thomas lost no time in
seeing it for himself in February 1836. What he saw made him hurry back
to buy ewes and lambs, comprehensive stores, a horse and a dog. On 9
July, with one of his brothers, he put ashore what he claimed to be the
first sheep ever landed at Point Henry, and proceeded to occupy both
sides of the Moorabool River.'
Associated with founding the districts of Camperdown and Purrumbete, the Manifold brothers were among the first pioneers to establish sheep/cattle stations in the pastoral country of western Victoria.
(Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography Online)
