 She was taught singing by her mother.On 1 May 1878 she appeared with an Italian opera company at Hobart, Tasmania as Norina in "Don Pasquale" and made an immediate success.Proceeding to Melbourne with the company she sang Lucia in "Lucia di Lammermoor" on 3 June 1878, and was received with great enthusiasm, though it was realized that her voice needed further training.