He is credited with founding the settlement of Kempsey, New South Wales. He arrived from Birmingham in 1834 and bought land on the southern bank of the river in 1836, at what was then the limit of authorized settlement (the boundary of County Macquarie). He was initially attracted by red cedar cutting opportunities but planned also to profit by selling parts of his land. He had riverside blocks surveyed and established a private town, with the first blocks sold in November 1836. He called it Kempsey because the surrounding areas reminded him of the Kempsey Valley in Worcestershire.
Children
Offspring of Enoch William Rudder andEmma Betts (1802-1883)
Enoch William Rudder, the oldest inhabitant of this district, who, 50 years since, founded Kempsey, and throughout his life had taken an active interest in colonial matters, died last night, after very slight indisposition. His sons, daughters, grand and great-grand children alive, number about 200, and are highly esteemed. Mr. Rudder was 88.