William Thomas Goodge was an English writer and journalist, who arrived in Australia in 1882, after jumping ship in Sydney. He worked in various jobs in New South Wales, including as a coal-miner, until he was engaged to write for The Tribune in North Sydney, a small weekly associated with the Daily Telegraph. From there he was chosen by Harry Newman to edit The Leader newspaper in Orange, New South Wales. Goodge remained in Orange, becoming part-owner of The Leader at some point, until in the early 1900s he returned to Sydney and began writing for that city's newspapers, especially The Sunday Times.