Where "Good Sort" Comes From
No single documented coining story exists for this one either. "Sort" is simply an old, general English word for "a person of a particular kind" (as in "she's not a bad sort"), and Australian speech kept that usage alive in everyday conversation more than British or American English generally has.
Paired with "good," it became an easy, understated way to describe someone as decent, likeable, or good-looking — "good sort" covers both a person's character and their looks, depending on context.
"He reckons she's a good sort."
How Aussies Actually Use It
"Good sort" is typically used when talking about someone rather than to them directly — it's the kind of thing said to a friend, not as a pickup line.
It's light and casual rather than deeply romantic, closer to "good-looking" in tone than a more serious compliment.
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