Bush poet and journalist.
The son of John Goodchild, he was born in London, 'and had a good scholastic, as well as good collegiate education till about fifteen years of age, when he landed in Melbourne from Now Zealand, and got work on Argus' ('Keighley J. Goodchild', Riverine Herald, 6 April 1888, p.2). It is not known whether his father, who was also later living in Echuca, travelled out with Keighley or joined him later.
Keighley Goodchild wrote the ballad While the Billy Boils, the work for which he is best known, in 1882. He worked for various newspapers and as editor of the Echuca Advertiser. At the time of his death, he had worked in the literary department and composing room of the Riverine Herald for two years ('Keighley J. Goodchild). His work for the paper included the short essays published as 'Municipal Musings'. Goodchild published his poetry himself - a practice common among poets of his time.
According to the local historical society, Goodchild is buried in an unmarked grave in Echuca Cemetery with his father. His obituary notice said that he died 'after a long and painful illness' (Riverine Herald, 5 April 1888, p.2).
