Dewar Wilson Goode was a prominent pastoralist and conservationist who played a considerable role in soil conservation and management of farming land in Australia. As the owner and manager of several stations in the semi-arid regions of South Australia and properties in the Western District of Victoria, Goode developed and refined his deep knowledge about land use and environmental issues. He initiated the formation of the National Parks Authority, and was a founding member of many significant organisations, including the National Trust Landscape Committee, Conservation Council of Victoria, and the Australian Conservation Foundation. In 1981 he was awarded Membership of the Order of Australia for work in conservation.