1900-1902

The sisters initially worked as barmaids in Brisbane, but within a year moved to  Sydney where Mary was offered an opportunity to manage a country hotel in Nyngan, New South Wales.

On arrival, Mary discovered the hotel to be run down and in a state of disarray, with no customers or stock due to an outstanding debt. Always one to rise to a challenge, Mary joined forces with the young woman who had taken the position of cook, and with some clever deals they built the hotel’s trade back up from scratch.

Despite successfully revitalising the hotel and being a licensee in all but name, Mary’s success was short-lived. Liquor laws did not allow an unmarried woman to hold a licence and she was unable to formally take over the property. With a drought gripping the surrounding area, Mary decided to leave the establishment she had revived and return to her sister Daisy in Sydney.